Grant me a chance to back up. In general, I read in these verses and the surrounding chapters that:

some things are more important than other things

Love is one of those more important things. Other things, for example tongues, prophecy, knowledge, come and go here and there this and that…What is more important is love.

I guess that is my paraphrase or summary of this passage. I've never seen these verses as a discussion about the arrival of the New Testament and the passage of miraculous speaking in foreign languages. If I can love people like Jesus, I won't care about other things so much.

What becomes complete? What disappears? I don’t know.

I can certainly relate to your comment about not remembering details, and other things that I used to be able to do that I no longer can. However, the passage explicitly tells us what it means about the things that pass away. It says tongues, prophecy, and knowledge will pass away. So it's not talking about my memory lapses, and it's not talking about my tennis game.

“10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.”

This seems to be a simple, almost redundant, statement that when something is finished or complete it is no longer unfinished or incomplete.

I don't know “teleios” from television and I don't believe that God requires me to read ancient languages to be saved. Perhaps I trust in the English translators too much.

What becomes complete? What disappears? I don't know. I haven't found it yet in my life. The change may be so gradual that I don't notice it. The complete thing is probably different in everyone's life. I do know that some things have passed from my life and other things are closer to being complete. For example, I don't remember every little fact I read any longer. I used to be able to do that when I was 18.

I do seem to have a greater capacity for love, empathy, compassion and such now than when I was 18. That is closer to being complete in my life.

I believe “pass away” is about things that pass away in an individual’s life. I used to be able to do a lot of things physically, mentally, emotionally when I was 20. I cannot do those things now that I am 50. They have passed away for me, but there are things I can do physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually now that I could not do at 20.

Some things in my life have passed away and some things have become complete.

That is how I have always read this passage.

The passage says that when the "teleios" comes, the partial things will pass away. What is the complete thing ("teleios") that comes into an individual's life, as the partial things pass away?

Please excuse me for injecting a comment here.

You make some very good points of how to best show respect in these online discussions. I will try to remember and practice.

One comment on the 'inserting words' point. I often reflect back intentionally changing the words to see if I have properly interpreted what has been said. Or sometimes, I will list what seems to be a logical ramification of the original premise. This is intentional to give the originator the opportunity to agree, refute, clarify or qualify their original statement. I might not always be consistent at it but that's my intention.

Thank you for your thoughtful posts here. They help keep it interesting for this conservative to keep coming back.

Thank you for your reply and the manner in which you replied.

My comment is about words and how the words we use often hurt other people. A "belief" is something personal. Calling a "belief" a "theory" knocks the person out of the discussion – hence killing the person in the discussion. In the same way, challenging a person's belief challenges the person and chases them out of the discussion.

What I believe a better way to answer is, "I read what you believe. I believe something different," allows the person to be who they are and what they believe. It continues the discussion.

In the same way, inserting words into a person's talk ends a discussion. I never used the word immaturity or maturity, yet you answered me by inserting the word "immaturity."

Again, I appreciate you answering and the manner in which you answered. Thank you. I wish and pray that we all learn to use words that keep people in the discussion – any discussion.

(1) Calling what I believe “a theory” angers me. It is not a theory. It is what I believe.

I'm startled by your response. I certainly did not intend to anger you. Maybe I should have chosen a different word rather than "theory." On a discussion forum like this one, if someone chooses to post their beliefs, they generally can expect them to be challenged by someone. Please accept my apologies for having challenged yours in a way that offended you. That was absolutely not my intent.

(2) I have no idea how my belief “suggests those gifts are provided to support the individual in their immaturity.” Where did I use the word “immaturity?”

Apparently I misunderstood. I thought you were saying that the gifts pass away in an individual's life as the individual matures, and that is what my responses address. That interpretation at least connects to the translation of "teleios" as "mature" which some here have advocated. Obviously you meant something different causes the gifts to pass from the individual's life, but at this point I have no idea what that something else is, nor what it is in the text that leads you to that interpretation.

Several things.

(1) Calling what I believe "a theory" angers me. It is not a theory. It is what I believe.

(2) I have no idea how my belief "suggests those gifts are provided to support the individual in their immaturity." Where did I use the word "immaturity?"

(3) I have no idea how your statements 2) and 3) relate to what I wrote. I would appreciate you showing me how they do.

I just don't follow your comments. Please forgive me for my ignorance and instruct me. I would like to learn.

I believe “pass away” is about things that pass away in an individual’s life.

That's a unique perspective. Then there are several problems reconciling that with the text:
1) That theory suggests those gifts are provided to support the individual in their immaturity. But remember, the gifts are given for the common good, not for the individual.
2) Paul spoke in tongues more than all of them. Was he the most immature?
3) The text says those gifts would pass away because they are partial. How does their partial nature lead to them passing away, if the maturing of the individual were the real reason they pass away? And how does that serve the common good?

I believe "pass away" is about things that pass away in an individual's life. I used to be able to do a lot of things physically, mentally, emotionally when I was 20. I cannot do those things now that I am 50. They have passed away for me, but there are things I can do physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually now that I could not do at 20.

Some things in my life have passed away and some things have become complete.

That is how I have always read this passage.