uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἔλθῃ τὸ τέλειον

/may/_come the perfect

Connecting Statement:

Here Paul speaks as if the perfect could “come,” by which he means that people experience the perfect. He uses this metaphor because he uses the verb comes also for Jesus’ return (See: 4:5; 11:26), and he wishes to identify the coming of the perfect with the coming of Jesus. The time when the perfect comes will be when Jesus comes back. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly and connect the perfect to Jesus’ return in another way. Alternate translation: [we experience the perfect at Jesus’ return]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸ τέλειον, τὸ ἐκ μέρους

the perfect the_‹thing› by part

Connecting Statement:

Here, that which is partial refers back to the “knowing” and “prophesying” in 13:9. The phrase the perfect contrasts with partial, so the perfect refers to full knowledge and experience of God and of what God says. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind what perfect and partial refer to more explicitly. Alternate translation: [the perfect experience of God … the partial experience of God, including knowledge and prophecy,]