The “Most Excellent Way”

In the midst of Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian brethren regarding spiritual gifts, he
states that they should “desire earnestly the greater gifts,” but then proceeds in Chapter 13 to show
them a “most excellent way,” (1 Corinthians 12:31). What is this “most excellent way,” and how
does it supersede the spiritual gifts of the first century?
In the first place, the spiritual gifts were temporary. These miraculous, spiritual gifts are
listed in chapter 12, verses 8 through 10. They included miraculous wisdom, knowledge, and faith,
as well as special healings, miracles, prophecy, discernings of spirits, tongues and interpretation
of tongues. Notice how each of these would have been necessary prior to reception of the written
gospel, because Christians needed a means of knowing God’s will before they had the document
in hand as we do. Once the word of God was by inspiration written down, Christians would have
the completed revelation of the gospel, and the need for miraculous gifts would vanish away.
“When that which is perfect as come, that which is in part shall be done away,” (13:10). “That
which is perfect” is obviously a reference to the completed, written revelation of God’s word, or
as James refers to it, “the perfect law of liberty,” (James, 1:25). It is “perfect” in that it is able to
make God’s people complete, (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Until they had these writings in hand, they
would have no way of verifying or confirming whether any particular teaching was from God. But
once they had the gospel in writing, they could check as we do today any message purportedly
from God, and determine whether it was genuine. We have the same opportunity today, using our
Bibles, and thus there is no need today for the miraculous knowledge and insight temporarily
available during the first century.
In the second place, the miraculous gifts were limited. They were limited to the apostles,
and those upon whom the apostles laid their hands. When Peter announced to the penitent, Jewish
crowd on Pentecost, that following their baptism, they would receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit,”
he was speaking to people who were about to be baptized by the apostles, (see Acts 2:37-40).
Accordingly, each of them would have the hands of an apostle laid upon them, and would receive
one or more of the miraculous gifts. Such a “jump-starting” of the church was essential at the
beginning, and it was necessary for each member to thereafter utilize these spiritual gifts as the
early church took hold in a hostile environment, and grew to influence the whole world. The same
was true when the first Gentiles were converted. Cornelius and his household received the “gift of
the Holy Spirit,” began to demonstrate the gift of tongues and magnify God, and then were
baptized, (Acts 10:45-48).
But notice that the miraculous gifts were only given directly from God to the apostles and
then to Cornelius and his household. After that, they were only given to those upon whom the
apostles laid their hands. “Now, when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands,
the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,” (Acts 8:18). Here, the reference to the “giving
of the Holy Spirit,” is shorthand for the impartation of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. That
was the thing in which Simon the sorcerer was particularly interested. And that was the power that
he was requesting: “Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive
the Holy Spirit,” (Acts 8:19). So not just everybody was given all of the gifts. They were limited.
And those who did receive them were required to “stir them up” and make use of them. As the
apostle Paul admonished Timothy, “For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up
the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands,” (2 Timothy 1:6).
Paul was showing the Corinthians in advance that once the temporary need for the
miraculous gifts was satisfied, God would usher in a better way, a “most excellent way.” It would
not be limited or temporary. It would not be vacuous or subject to abuse. It would not be a show
or demonstration, but a sincere, pure and eternal change of heart and life. Surpassing, even faith
and hope itself, the “most excellent way” is the way of love.