The Excellence of Love

 1 Corinthians 13 Amplified Bible (AMP)

13 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. 3 If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.

4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete]. 10 But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away.
Perfect , Perfection Greek: teleios    Perfect         of "things, complete, perfect," Rom 12:2; 1Cr 13:10 (referring to the complete revelation of God's will and ways, whether in the completed Scriptures or in the hereafter); Jam 1:4 (of the work of patience); Jam 1:25; 1Jo 4:18.
Teleios the word in Greek in the above, perfect   Rom 12:2 KJV - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  
The word Transformed  Greek: metamorphooTransfigure: 
of believers, Rom 12:2, "be ye transformed," the obligation being to undergo a complete change which, under the power of God, will find expression in character and conduct; morphe lays stress on the inward change, schema (see the preceding verb in that verse, suschematizo) lays stress on the outward (see FASHION, No. 3, FORM, No. 2); the present continuous tenses indicate a process; 2Cr 3:18 describes believers as being "transformed (RV) into the same image" (i.e., of Christ in all His moral excellencies), the change being effected by the Holy Spirit.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma],   The gifts he spoke of are still working through an imperfect man a vessel of flesh . Even with the these gifts the flesh is still involved , Eph 4:7 ASV - But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the Measure of the gift of Christ.
Measure Greek that which is measured, a determined extent, a portion measured off," Rom 12:3; 2Cr 10:13 (twice); Eph 4:7, "(according to the) measure (of the gift of Christ);" the gift of grace is "measured" and given according to the will of Christ; whatever the endowment, His is the bestowment and the adjustment; Eph 4:13, "the measure (of the stature of the fullness of Christ)," the standard of spiritual stature being the fullness which is essentially Christ's; Eph 4:16, "(according to the working in due) measure (of each several part)," i.e., according to the effectual working of the ministration rendered in due "measure" by every part.   This was a plan of the father every man had a measure and each man had different gifts according to the gifts of Christ.
As long as we are in this body we are bound to this earth ,  The verses above are about the Love of God being established in his church , Paul is speaking this truth by knowing in part , and we are vessels of flesh and the only way the church can fulfill this plan is by Love .     Rom 5:5 ASV - and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.  With out the Holy Spirit a man cannot reach this perfection in Christ .   The father is establishing his true church or body of his son the body of Christ .
Eph 4:8 ASV - Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:11 ASV - And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12 ASV - for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:


but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. 13 And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.