Fathers

1 Corinthians 13

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Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 13:12

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For now we see in a mirror." Further, because the glass sets before us the thing seen indefinitely, he added, "darkly," to show very strongly that the present knowledge is most partial. "But then face to face." Not as though God hath a face, but to express the notion of greater clearness and perspicuity. Seest thou how we learn all things by gradual addition? "Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I have been known." Seest thou how in two ways he pulls down their pride? …

Homily on 1 Corinthians 34 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

He explains what was said about the infant, and shows that our present knowledge is something dark, whereas then it will be most clear. For, he says, now we see in a mirror. Then, since a mirror shows the object reflected in it quite distinctly, he added: "dimly," in order to show with the greatest precision the incompleteness of this knowledge. He says this not because God has a face, but in order to show through this the clarity and directness of knowledge. …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Clement of Alexandria

In saying, therefore, "I have given you milk to drink," has he not indicated the knowledge of the truth, the perfect gladness in the Word, who is the milk? And what follows next, "not meat, for ye were not able," may indicate the clear revelation in the future world, like food, face to face. …

The Instructor Book 1 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

But when we begin to have a spiritual body as we are promised in the resurrection, let us see it even in the body, either by an intellectual vision or in some miraculous manner, since the grace of the spiritual body is indescribable. We shall then see it according to our capacity, without limitations of space, not larger in one part and smaller in another, since it is not a body, and it is wholly present everywhere.

Letter 120, To Consentius ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Here he speaks of the vision, which is knowledge of God. Hence, all the preceding gifts must be understood as destined to be eliminated inasmuch as they are directed to knowledge of God. In regard to this he does two things: first, he proves what he proposes in general; secondly, in detail about himself (v. 12b). He says, therefore: I have said that we know imperfectly, because we know in a mirror dimly, but then, namely, in heaven, we shall see face to face. …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Bonaventure

In heavenly glory there is a substantial, consubstantial, and accidental reward. The substantial reward consists in the vision, fruition, and possession of the one highest good, namely God, whom the Blessed will see face to face, that is, nakedly and without veil; whom they will enjoy eagerly and delightfully; whom they will also hold for all eternity. The supreme light, which darkened eyes cannot see, cannot be seen face to face without deiformity of mind and joy of heart. …

Breviloquium, Part 7 ↗