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.
Never falleth - never 'falleth' to the ground (Greek), so as to be out of use: always holds its place.
Shall fall ... vanish away, х katargeetheesetai (G2673)]. The same Greek for both; different from the Greek for "faileth" х piptei (G4098)]. Translate, 'shall be done away with' - i:e., shall be dispensed with at the Lord's coming, superseded by their more perfect analogues; for instance, knowledge by intuition. Of "tongues," still more temporary, the verb is "shall cease." Begun in sin (Genesis 11:1-32), they shall cease with it. A primary fulfillment took place when the Church attained its maturity: then 'tongues ceased,' and 'prophesyings' and "knowledge," as supernatural gifts were superseded, as no longer required, when the Scriptures of the New Testament had been collected together.