"But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." (1 Cor. 13:8-10)

A gospel preacher in a religious debate on miraculous gifts, after citing Mark 16:20; 1 Cor. 13:8-10 and other passages, illustrated the purpose and passing of supernatural gifts by the scaffold. He said that the gifts were to the written New Testament as a scaffold is to a new building. When a building is being built, the scaffold is used in aiding its construction, but once it is completed, the scaffold is removed. Similarly, once the written New Testament was completed, being duly confirmed as the word of God, the miraculous gifts were no longer needed and were done away.

His opponent, when it was his time to speak, replied by saying that it would be perfectly suitable to replace the scaffold from time to time to make repairs on the building. He said that scaffolds are often replaced and, likewise, miraculous gifts often reappear from time to time. The gospel preacher, at his time, responded by saying that he would gladly grant his opponent's affirmation, if there ever came a time when the written New Testament needed repairs!