I Corinthians 13: The More Excellent Way of Love
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.
Context: Love Within the Corinthian Church
I Corinthians 13 sits nestled between Paul's discussions on spiritual gifts in chapters 12 and 14. While its tone and style differ slightly, suggesting it might have been inserted from a previously written piece, its message is central to addressing the issues plaguing the Corinthian church. The Corinthians were struggling with division, pride, and misunderstandings regarding spiritual gifts. Paul emphasizes that I Corinthians 13 is not a detour but a corrective lens. He reveals that love, God's kind of self-sacrificing love, is the foundation upon which all spiritual gifts should operate. Gifts are for building up the church, but love endures for eternity. Christ-like love, therefore, is the greatest virtue and the priority for every believer.
The Futility of Gift Without Love (13:1-3)
Paul begins by highlighting the emptiness of spiritual gifts devoid of love. Even the most impressive displays of spiritual prowess – speaking in tongues, prophetic insight, profound knowledge – are rendered "worthless" (13:2) if they are not motivated by love for God and for fellow believers. He uses striking imagery: tongues become a "noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" (13:1), signifying empty noise. The most extreme acts of self-sacrifice, like giving all possessions to the poor or even martyrdom, are "of no value" (13:3) without love. The gift does not matter when love is missing. It's a powerful reminder that outward actions, no matter how seemingly spiritual, are meaningless without a heart rooted in genuine love.
Tony Evans points out that in Scripture, angels only spoke human languages. No matter what language one speaks, without love the sound is nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (13:1). No matter how visible and effective my gift or ministry may be, if I do not have love for my fellow Christians, I am nothing and I gain nothing because spiritual gifts are for the benefit of others (13:2-3).
Defining Love: Actions, Not Just Feelings (13:4-7)
Paul then proceeds to define the love he's talking about. It's not a fleeting emotion or a superficial sentiment. It's agape love, God's unconditional, self-giving love. This love isn't dependent on the worthiness of the recipient but on the commitment of the giver.
He uses a series of verbs, both positive and negative, to illustrate its character. Love is patient and kind, actively waiting and moving for the good of others. It is not envious or boastful, even concerning spiritual gifts. It is not arrogant, convinced of its superiority. It is not rude, acting indecently or breaking cultural norms to draw attention to itself.
Biblical love is the decision (not merely a feeling) to compassionately (out of concern for someone else), righteously (based on God’s standards), and sacrificially (giving to meet a need) seek the well-being of another. Notice each of the characteristics of love: it is patient . . . kind . . . not [envious] . . . not arrogant . . . not irritable. These things are only possible when we put others before ourselves (13:4-5).
Love puts others first, not seeking its own status or satisfaction. It is not easily angered or resentful, not keeping a record of wrongs. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. It doesn't set limits but perseveres through difficulties, trusting the best in others and never giving up. Love does not affirm someone in their sin or their false beliefs because love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth (13:6). Love does not quit; it endures through thick and thin (13:7).
The Eternal Nature of Love (13:8-13)
Paul contrasts love with spiritual gifts, which are temporary. "Love never fails" (13:8). Unlike gifts like prophecy and tongues, which will cease when Christ returns and we experience the fullness of God's presence, love will endure forever.
Tony Evans explains that one day when we experience the joyous intimacy of God’s presence, spiritual gifts will come to an end because we will no longer need them. But not love. Love never ends (13:8). When the perfect comes, though, the partial will come to an end (13:10). By “perfect,” Paul is referring to spiritual maturity. The more a person grows in spiritual maturity, the less dependent one is on the particular gifts of prophecy and tongues (13:8).
He uses the analogy of a child growing into adulthood (13:11). As children, we speak, think, and reason childishly. But as we mature, we put aside childish ways. Similarly, our current understanding is like looking at a reflection in a dim mirror (13:12). One day, we will see face to face, knowing fully even as we are fully known. All will be made clear.
Tony Evans points out that a child speaks, thinks, and reasons like a child. But a man has grown in maturity and put aside childish things (13:11). Our Christian goal is spiritual maturity. Full maturity will only finally occur in God’s glorious presence, but we are to progressively mature now. Currently, our experience is like looking at our reflection in a dim mirror, but eventually we will see face to face. Even as I am fully known to God now, one day I will know fully reality as God meant me to know it (13:12). All will be made clear.
Paul concludes by emphasizing the enduring importance of faith, hope, and love, but declares that "the greatest of these is love" (13:13). In eternity, faith will give way to sight, and hope will be realized. But love, which is the very essence of God (1 John 4:8), will continue to characterize our eternal relationship with Him.
Tony Evans explains that these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love. In eternity, you will no longer need faith because you will have sight. You will no longer need hope because your expectations and anticipations will all have been met and exceeded. But the love that will characterize our eternal relationship with God will continue since “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
This chapter serves as a powerful call to prioritize love in all aspects of our lives, especially within the church. It challenges us to examine our motives, ensuring that our actions are rooted in genuine love for God and for others. By embracing this "more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31), we can build up the body of Christ and reflect the character of God to the world.
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.
Context: Love Within the Corinthian Church
I Corinthians 13 sits nestled between Paul's discussions on spiritual gifts in chapters 12 and 14. While its tone and style differ slightly, suggesting it might have been inserted from a previously written piece, its message is central to addressing the issues plaguing the Corinthian church. The Corinthians were struggling with division, pride, and misunderstandings regarding spiritual gifts. Paul emphasizes that I Corinthians 13 is not a detour but a corrective lens. He reveals that love, God's kind of self-sacrificing love, is the foundation upon which all spiritual gifts should operate. Gifts are for building up the church, but love endures for eternity. Christ-like love, therefore, is the greatest virtue and the priority for every believer.
The Futility of Gift Without Love (13:1-3)
Paul begins by highlighting the emptiness of spiritual gifts devoid of love. Even the most impressive displays of spiritual prowess – speaking in tongues, prophetic insight, profound knowledge – are rendered "worthless" (13:2) if they are not motivated by love for God and for fellow believers. He uses striking imagery: tongues become a "noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" (13:1), signifying empty noise. The most extreme acts of self-sacrifice, like giving all possessions to the poor or even martyrdom, are "of no value" (13:3) without love. The gift does not matter when love is missing. It's a powerful reminder that outward actions, no matter how seemingly spiritual, are meaningless without a heart rooted in genuine love.
Tony Evans points out that in Scripture, angels only spoke human languages. No matter what language one speaks, without love the sound is nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (13:1). No matter how visible and effective my gift or ministry may be, if I do not have love for my fellow Christians, I am nothing and I gain nothing because spiritual gifts are for the benefit of others (13:2-3).
Defining Love: Actions, Not Just Feelings (13:4-7)
Paul then proceeds to define the love he's talking about. It's not a fleeting emotion or a superficial sentiment. It's agape love, God's unconditional, self-giving love. This love isn't dependent on the worthiness of the recipient but on the commitment of the giver.
He uses a series of verbs, both positive and negative, to illustrate its character. Love is patient and kind, actively waiting and moving for the good of others. It is not envious or boastful, even concerning spiritual gifts. It is not arrogant, convinced of its superiority. It is not rude, acting indecently or breaking cultural norms to draw attention to itself.
Biblical love is the decision (not merely a feeling) to compassionately (out of concern for someone else), righteously (based on God’s standards), and sacrificially (giving to meet a need) seek the well-being of another. Notice each of the characteristics of love: it is patient . . . kind . . . not [envious] . . . not arrogant . . . not irritable. These things are only possible when we put others before ourselves (13:4-5).
Love puts others first, not seeking its own status or satisfaction. It is not easily angered or resentful, not keeping a record of wrongs. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. It doesn't set limits but perseveres through difficulties, trusting the best in others and never giving up. Love does not affirm someone in their sin or their false beliefs because love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth (13:6). Love does not quit; it endures through thick and thin (13:7).
The Eternal Nature of Love (13:8-13)
Paul contrasts love with spiritual gifts, which are temporary. "Love never fails" (13:8). Unlike gifts like prophecy and tongues, which will cease when Christ returns and we experience the fullness of God's presence, love will endure forever.
Tony Evans explains that one day when we experience the joyous intimacy of God’s presence, spiritual gifts will come to an end because we will no longer need them. But not love. Love never ends (13:8). When the perfect comes, though, the partial will come to an end (13:10). By “perfect,” Paul is referring to spiritual maturity. The more a person grows in spiritual maturity, the less dependent one is on the particular gifts of prophecy and tongues (13:8).
He uses the analogy of a child growing into adulthood (13:11). As children, we speak, think, and reason childishly. But as we mature, we put aside childish ways. Similarly, our current understanding is like looking at a reflection in a dim mirror (13:12). One day, we will see face to face, knowing fully even as we are fully known. All will be made clear.
Tony Evans points out that a child speaks, thinks, and reasons like a child. But a man has grown in maturity and put aside childish things (13:11). Our Christian goal is spiritual maturity. Full maturity will only finally occur in God’s glorious presence, but we are to progressively mature now. Currently, our experience is like looking at our reflection in a dim mirror, but eventually we will see face to face. Even as I am fully known to God now, one day I will know fully reality as God meant me to know it (13:12). All will be made clear.
Paul concludes by emphasizing the enduring importance of faith, hope, and love, but declares that "the greatest of these is love" (13:13). In eternity, faith will give way to sight, and hope will be realized. But love, which is the very essence of God (1 John 4:8), will continue to characterize our eternal relationship with Him.
Tony Evans explains that these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love. In eternity, you will no longer need faith because you will have sight. You will no longer need hope because your expectations and anticipations will all have been met and exceeded. But the love that will characterize our eternal relationship with God will continue since “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
This chapter serves as a powerful call to prioritize love in all aspects of our lives, especially within the church. It challenges us to examine our motives, ensuring that our actions are rooted in genuine love for God and for others. By embracing this "more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31), we can build up the body of Christ and reflect the character of God to the world.