1 Corinthians 13:12
βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι’ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον· ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους, τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην.
For now we see through a mirror, dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will fully know, just as I also was fully known.
The Grammar of Contrast: Now vs. Then
Seeing Dimly Through a Mirror
βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι’ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι – “For now we see through a mirror in a riddle.”
- βλέπομεν – Present indicative active of βλέπω, “we see.” Marks the current state of limited perception.
- δι’ ἐσόπτρου – “through a mirror.” Mirrors in antiquity were made of polished bronze, producing an indirect or imperfect image. The preposition διά here emphasizes the mediated, indirect vision.
- ἐν αἰνίγματι – “in a riddle.” The noun αἴνιγμα (root of English “enigma”) refers to obscurity or cryptic form. It occurs in the LXX (e.g., Num 12:8) and Plato (e.g., Theaetetus) to indicate symbolic or unclear knowledge.
Direct Encounter: Face to Face
τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον – “but then face to face.” A stark contrast. The phrase recalls divine encounters (cf. Exodus 33:11: “Moses spoke to God face to face”). πρόσωπον (“face”) repeated in prepositional construction signals immediacy and intimacy. This is a vision of unveiled knowledge and relationship.
From Partial to Full Knowledge
ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους – “Now I know in part.” The verb γινώσκω (present active) implies ongoing, partial comprehension. The phrase ἐκ μέρους (“in part”) qualifies the knowledge as fragmentary—an echo of earlier verses in the chapter.
τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι – “but then I shall fully know.” The verb ἐπιγνώσομαι is future middle of ἐπιγινώσκω, an intensified form meaning “to recognize fully,” “to know completely.” Paul projects a future state of comprehensive understanding.
καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην – “just as I also was fully known.” The aorist passive ἐπεγνώσθην suggests divine knowledge of Paul—past, complete, perfect. The comparison (καθὼς) implies a symmetrical relationship: as God now fully knows him, so he will then fully know.
Summary Table
| Greek Phrase | Translation | Form | Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| βλέπομεν… ἐν αἰνίγματι | we see… in a riddle | Present indicative + prep phrases | Current perception is indirect and obscure |
| πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον | face to face | Prepositional phrase | Direct, unmediated encounter |
| γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους | I know in part | Present indicative + prepositional phrase | Limited knowledge now |
| ἐπιγνώσομαι | I shall fully know | Future middle indicative | Anticipated full recognition |
| ἐπεγνώσθην | I was fully known | Aorist passive | God’s complete knowledge of the believer |
Closing Insight
Paul’s Greek is poetic and philosophical. He moves from shadow to clarity, from partiality to fullness. Each contrast—seeing to beholding, knowing in part to knowing fully—is crafted with grammatical elegance and eschatological hope. This is not just theology—it is the language of longing for the unveiled presence of God.
