1 Corinthians 13

Greetings,

1 Corinthians 13 is one of the most recognizable passages in the Bible. This 'hymn to love' sticks out as a pinnacle of Pauline poetry. Quick study can not uncover the tremendous structure and balance to these verses. So, while quick study this is, I encourage you to take time to meditate more closely on this chapter.

The memory passage is
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, 12-13 (ESV)
⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. ¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The outline theme is Correct Love.

After spending Chapter 12 on the gifts of the Spirit, Paul now expands on 'the more excellent way' of love. The first three verses contrast the power and importance of gifts with the supreme importance of love. Whether one speaks in tongues, prophecies, understands knowledge and mysteries, has tremendous faith, or gives sacrificially of life and resources, if it is done without love 'I gain nothing'. Even the most selfless act of sacrifice can be done selfishly if it is not covered in true love.

In verses 4-6, he then defines true love in positive (what it is) and negative (what it isn't) ways. The list is full of virtue and truth. And then in verse 7 he states what love 'does'; bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.

Love is eternal; it will last forever, while the gifts will pass away (prophecy, tongues, knowledge). These things are partial (imperfect) while the 'perfect' is coming. And when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.

There are many views as to what the 'perfect' is. Some say it is the completion of the New Testament. Some say it is the completion of the new heavens and earth. While others say that it is the state of the church when Christ returns. I know there are much smarter people than me who have studied this extensively, but I can't help but read this very simply. The only thing I know that is perfect is not an 'it' but a "He". And when the Lord returns, there will be no need for special revelation or gifts; we will see Him as He is and He will be our Lord and King.

The last few verses speak to our continued spiritual growth and maturity. We grow in the Lord from infancy to maturity (but never 'full' maturity until He comes). We see and know incompletely (as in a 'fogged-up mirror'), but when we see Him face to face, we will see and know as we have been seen and known.

While faith, hope and love abide to the end, love never ceases. Faith will be replaced with sight and hope with actual fruition (2 Cor 5:7, Rom 8:24) when we see Him face to face, as He is (1 John 3:2).

How does this affect my worship?
If my worship is simply a cleverly selected group of songs played skillfully and effectively, but I have no love in my worship; it is nothing. I can have mission statements and vision statements and policies and mandates about worship...but if my encounter with God in worship is void of love, my worship crashes like a cymbal and then quickly fades away. Even though we know in part, we should seek to know our part fully. Our worship now, while dim and imperfect, should strive to honor Him as He is.

How does this affect my discipleship?
The qualities of love are best demonstrated, not just illustrated. The context that a disciple of Christ learns His love and compassion is through another disciple living it in front of them. We are not to be just learners of doctrine and text, but absorbers of the very character of Christ. As disciple-makers grow in this character, we have an obligation to live it out in those we help disciple.

May you walk in His love today, and forever,

Ethan