Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. (1Corinthians 13: 8-10)

When the complete comes - the Greek is teleios - when the fulfillment of purpose is achieved, when God's intention is realized, when our current state of being is finished - love will persist when all else passes away.

Knowledge, interpretation of knowledge, and the ability to communicate knowledge are steps to the whole, but remain partial and instrumental. Love is our purpose. Love is the culminating step. Love is the purpose and end.

We so often mistake means for ends. We are so often distracted from what really matters. Paul honours our individual gifts. But these gifts only have value if we apply them to the wholeness of love.

Above are two panels from the Last Judgement by Hieronymous Bosch.