I Corinthians Study I Corinthians 13:1-13 The Superior Way of Love

Having dealt with the subjects of Marriage (Chapter 7), Meat offered to Idols (Chapter 8), Paul’s Defense of His Apostleship (Chapter 9), Paul’s discussion of Israel’s Past History (Chapter 10), Paul’s discussion of Women at Worship, The Lord’s Supper (Chapter 11), Paul’s discussion of Spiritual Gifts (Chapter 12), we come now to Paul’s grand discussion about Love (Chapter 13).

This Chapter 13 is aptly called the Love Chapter.  Paul begins this lofty Chapter on Love in verse 1 by stating that having the superior ability to speak without love is nothing but a noisy clash of cymbal.  Having the gift of prophecy which Paul advocated as a great gift for the Corinthian church (Chapter 14:1) or the gifts of wisdom, knowledge and faith were nothing compared with love.  Paul was not depreciating these gifts but was simply saying that without love they were worthless (v. 2).

Moreover, one may have a keen knowledge of the bible, and may understand adequately the great truths of the bible; yet, if love is missing, it amounts to nothing!  One may be awfully generous and make the ultimate sacrifice, but if love is absent, it is futile indeed (v. 3).  Paul states further that love is patient, kind, and does not envy, does not boast and is not proud (v. 4).  In verse 5, Paul gives four negative descriptions of love: love is not rude, nor self-seeking, nor easily angered, and love does not keep a tablet of wrongs.  Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rather, love rejoices in the truth (v. 6).

It should make us feel terrible when we hear bad news about someone!  Do you feel good or bad when someone experiences calamity?  Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and will endure in the face of adverse circumstances (v. 7).  One of the most astonishing features of love is that it is eternal – “it never fails.”  The gifts of prophecies, tongues and knowledge will fail, but love will never fail.  Prophecies will fail, for they will eventually be all fulfilled; tongues will cease; knowledge will vanish away.  However, love abides, and is eternal! (v. 8).

In verses 9-10, Paul asserted that prophecy, which is very important to church life, was of limited scope.  However, when God’s program for the church would reach its consummation at His (Christ’s) Coming, then prophecy will be done away with.  In verses 11-12, Paul revealed that the partial or imperfect knowledge that we presently have would be replaced by a complete or perfect knowledge.  Paul concludes this glorious Chapter 13 on Love in verse 13 by saying: “And now abideth, faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

May God Bless!