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1 Corinthians Chapter Thirteen

                             

I. Content of the Chapter

 

Love is the Most Excellent Way

A.  The importance of love (v.1-3);

B.  The definition of love (v.4-7);

C.  The excellence of love:

1. Love never fails, and yet other gifts will fail and vanish away (v.8-12).

2. Faith, hope and love abide, and the greatest of these is love (v.13).

 

II. Verse by Verse Commentary

 

1Cor. 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

YLT: “If with the tongues of men and of messengers I speak, and have not love, I have become brass sounding, or a cymbal tinkling;”

Literal Meaning: “though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, the tongues of men” refer to the languages of all the nations on the earth instead of the meaningless voice of tongues; “the tongues of angels”, the words that only angels can speak. Paul here does not mean that we can really speak the tongues of angels, but shows that even “if” we have received the incomparable gift like speaking the tongues of angels, it will still fail one day. 

“But have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal”, “sounding brass or a clanging cymbal”, they utter voices without life. This is the true picture of speaking in tongues.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     The function of the church lies in gifts (see 1Cor.12), and the nature of the church is love. The more the gifts are functioned without love, the more difficulties will be increased. Therefore, when the apostle mentions the spiritual gifts in the previous chapter and the functioning of the gifts in the next chapter, he introduces the paragraph concerning the “best gift” of love between the two chapters. Love is “the more excellent way” of using gifts (see 1Cor. 12:31).

2)     Gifts are talents and functions given by God, and yet love is the nature and life of God. The biggest fault of believers at Corinth is measuring one’s spiritual life by whether he can speak tongues, but not by whether he has manifested the divine love in his walking. Spiritual gifts are helpful and necessary for the church. However, if there is no love, all the gifts are of no value.

3)     Love gives value to gifts and talents. Though those who have talents and gifts in words can speak fair-sounding words and various tongues, it is still of no value sounding brass or a clanging cymbal without love. Therefore, we shall hold the truth in love (see Eph. 4:15 the original).

 

1Cor. 13:2 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, but have not love, I am nothing.

YLT: “and if I have prophecy, and know all the secrets, and all the knowledge, and if I have all the faith, so as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing;”

Literal Meaning: “and though I have the gift of prophecy, it means that he has the gift of prophecy and can speak for God to preach God Himself and things of God to others.

“And understand all mysteries and all knowledge, all mysteries refer to the deep things of God (see 1Cor. 2:10); “and all knowledge” refers to the worldly and spiritual knowledge. Here, the hyperbolic way shows that even though one has boundless knowledge, he is still nothing.

“And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, “all faith” refers to the faith that can do everything (see Matt. 17:20). “Could remove mountains”, can remove the difficulty as huge as mountains.

“But have not love, I am nothing”, among the Christians, anyone who has the three gifts ---- 1) the gift of prophecy; 2) rich knowledge about the truth; 3) all faith; ---- he will be considered as spiritual giant and be honored by others. However, Paul says that man who has no love is nothing, that is to say, he is of no value before God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     God does not value what is valuable in the sight of man. What is valuable in the sight of God is not cherished by the carnal and worldly believers. May the Lord give us right sight so that we can judge everything according His sight.

2)      Gifts, talents and faith are not “love”. Those who have no love may have very spiritual appearance, but lack spiritual reality. We should never judge spiritual things by appearance, but by love and spiritual reality.

3)     Love is none other than the vivid manifestation of the God of love ---- the full Christ (see 1John 4:8). Therefore, one can make his gifts work by Christ only, for He is the reality of all gifts. No matter the ministry of words ---- “the tongues of men and of angels” (v.1), “prophecy”, or spiritual knowledge ---- “all mysteries and all knowledge”, or “all faith”, or the best works ---- “bestow all one’s goods to feed the poor, and give his body to be burned” (v.3), if there is not the reality of Christ, it is still vain ---- “of nothing”. Oh, the full Christ ---- who is the value of all.

4)     Someone says that if we replace each word of “love” in this chapter with the word “Christ” and read the whole chapter, the meaning will be clearer.

 

1Cor. 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

YLT: “and if I give away to feed others all my goods, and if I give up my body that I may be burned, and have not love, I am profited nothing.”

Literal Meaning: “and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, to feed the poor”: to hand out material things. However, it is not done out of love, but of vanity so as to draw one’s attraction and gain one’s praise.

“And though I give my body to be burned, give my body”: deliver one’s body, namely, sacrificing one’s self; to be burned”, it is for boasting oneself in the original. The whole sentence means that one delivers his life for the sake of vainglory.

“But have not love, it profits me nothing”, Paul here means that the abandonment of material things and even sacrifice of oneself are lofty moral expressions, but they are not equal to “love”. If we have no love, anything that we have done can profit nothing before God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     Here, it clearly points that man’s good works and God’s love are two entirely different things. God’s love must carry good works, but man’s good works may not be out of the divine love. If we seek the love of God, we will surely have love. If we only pursue good works, we are at most like the moral gentlemen who have not been saved and of no value before God.

2)      The spirit of fraternity and martyrdom may not be love, for only God Himself is the source of love. Benefaction and denying oneself may make man boast of himself more. Only the benefaction and denying one’s self out of love may let the constitution of “the Lord” be increased in man.

3)     We can see from verse one to three that no matter we can say something, or know something, or do something or be willing to bestow something, they are nothing without love. It profits nothing to men as well as to oneself.

4)     We can see from verse one to three that the three sects in the Christianity today have their respective focal points. The Lee’s sect puts emphasis on the gift of tongues, and the Fundamentalist focuses on knowledge and faith, the Social Evangelist regards helping others by denying one’s self very important. However, it profits nothing without love.

 

1Cor. 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

YLT: “The love is long-suffering, it is kind, the love doth not envy, the love doth not vaunt itself, is not puffed up,”

Literal Meaning: “love suffers long”, “love” in the original is the divine and perfect love. Such love is God Himself (see 1John 4:16). Love is that the life of God in believers manifests on man with loving-kindness. “Suffers long”, it means suffering afflictions for long in the original.

“And is kind”, “kind”: one gives generously ---- this is the manifestation of God’s life.

“Love does not envy”, “envy”: one is jealous of the better achievements of others.

“Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up”, “parade itself”, it is blowing up balloons in the original, so it is self-praise to debase others; “puff up”: be conceited;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     Love suffers long”, the love of God is entirely different from that of man. Man’s love is transient and conditional. Even the highest love of the parents can also be changed for some reasons. However, the love of God suffers long. He loves us unto the end forever.

2)     Love can not only bear the bully treatment of others but also give others generously. This is the way that the Lord Jesus treats us. Love and long-suffering are the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) as well as the testimony of the apostle Paul (see 2Cor. 6:6).

3)     In the service of the church, what we most need is the long-suffering of love and kind treatment, without which there will be no service.

4)     In the service of the church, the differences lying in the contents and importance of the gifts may cause envy in believers’ heart. “Love does not envy”. The problem roots in the lack of love.

5)     Love makes one joyful for others even though their spiritual life grows better than him and their gifts are greater than him.

6)     Self-praise and conceit are works of the flesh, which can only excite the flesh and make the flesh puffed up and hurt the spiritual life and destroy the church of God.  

 

1Cor. 13:5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

YLT: “doth not act unseemly, doth not seek its own things, is not provoked, doth not impute evil,”

Literal Meaning:does not behave rudely, behave rudely”, reckless acts, referring to things that are unworthy of the manner of Christians, namely, walking in good manner with politeness.

“Does not seek its own, it is not seeking one’s own gain in the original, so it is not clinging to one’s own view. Love delivers one from his self but drives him to seek to profit the whole assembly and others.

“Is not provoked”, “provoked”, explosive temper; it indicates that one can control oneself and consider the feeling of others when he is irritated by others.

“Thinks no evil”, “think”: remember in one’s heart; one cannot forget the memories that others do wrong to us

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     “Does not seek its own, this is the core of love (see 1Cor. 10:24, 33). Believers should not be selfish to seek things that profit themselves only. However, one would prefer to sacrifice himself rather than perfect others.

2)      Love makes one not consider him in priority. One does not request priority or approval or praise or reward of others ---- this is the sign of love.

3)     “Is not provoked”, man may not be able to observe or deal with things in an objective angle when he is in great wrath. Moses smote the rock in his fury for the second time and was rebuked by God thus could not enter into Cannon (Num. 20:2-12). This is a great example.

4)     There is an excellent way to heal the bad temper ---- to keep oneself in unselfish love.

5)     “Thinks no evil”, it is like the Lord who prays for others on the cross. In the life of the church, we may be easily offended by others, but we should not take it into account. Otherwise, we should be stumbled. “Forgive” (see Matt. 18:21-35) others means that one should forget things that others own to us.

 

1Cor. 13:6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

YLT: “rejoiceth not over the unrighteousness, and rejoiceth with the truth;”

Literal Meaning:does not rejoice in iniquity, when one does wrong and goes astray, we shall have not any pleasure in our heart.

“But rejoices in the truth”, “rejoice” is a compound in the original, which means being joyful together and having joy with others. “Truth”, things concerning God; one rejoices at all the good works, merits, good names and achievements out of the truth (see Phil. 4:8). He is in no wise jealous of them or self-contemptuous.

“Iniquity” and “truth” are opposite. Unrighteousness is out of Satan. And truth is out of God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     The one who has truly manifested love in his life will surely reject unrighteous things and feel distressed about the unrighteousness worked by others.

2)     One likes to see the faults of others and expose the secrets of others in contentions and then look down upon and attacks them. These are really actions that disobey love. Love makes one not delighted at the failures of others so as to exalt him.

3)     “Love” rejoices the truth. One not only has pleasure to walk in the truth himself but is also pleased when others are walking in truth.

4)     The totality of “unrighteousness” is the Satan. The totality of “truth” is God. Love is the manifestation of God’s life. Therefore, the divine love will not make one rejoice because of Satan’s unrighteousness but can make one rejoice on account of God’s truth.

 

1Cor. 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

YLT: “all things it beareth, all it believeth, all it hopeth, all it endureth.”

Literal Meaning:bears all things, there are three aspects meanings: 1) the heart is as large as a container that can bear and tolerate the violations of others; 2) to cover the faults of others as the roof; 3) to become the covering and shelter of others as the roof;

“Believes all things, “believe”: no doubt, no suspicion; one not only believes in God but also trusts in and accepts men.

“Hopes all things, it indicates that one abides in positive hope instead of treating anyone or anything in a negative view or attitude or giving up hope easily.

“Endures all things”, “endure”, it is a military vocabulary, which means holding the position.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     “Bears all things”, love can cover many sins (1Pet. 4:8). When we see the weakness of brothers, we shall cover it instead of exposing it. We often unconsciously uncover the weakness of others. However, if we live in love, we will take heed of our words and deeds.

2)     “Believes all things, believers who have deep knowledge of God know the faithfulness and great power of God and believe that He has good will in everyone, so they can wait for the works of God in science.

3)     “Hopes all things, one does not put his hope upon others or himself. Our hope lies in God.

4)     “Endures all things”, we should not pray for or wait for or bear the members who are weak and failed all the time until God saves them.

5)     Love makes one deny him, and love is for others, so love cannot do without patience. Therefore, it is “longsuffering” at the outset (v.4) and “enduring all things” in the end.

 

1Cor. 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

YLT: “The love doth never fail; and whether prophecies, they shall become useless; whether tongues, they shall cease; whether knowledge, it shall become useless;”

Literal Meaning: “love never fails”, “never fails”, it means “never devalue” or “stumble”. The whole verse means that love abides longer than any other thing. Love never fails or fades or vanishes or finishes, just like the eternal life of God, for love is the manifestation of God’s love.

  “Whether there are prophecies, they will fail”, “fail”: become of none effect, be entirely idle. 

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     God works through the prophecies and tongues and knowledge, but they are not the manifestations of God’s life, for they are temporary and will ease and will vanish away. Only love is the manifestation of God’s life. And since God’s life abides forever, love will also abide forever.

2)     “Love never fails”. The end of what is enjoined is love, and all the gifts will be unto love. Only this love will abide forever in the perfect age in the future.

3)     Nothing is longer than love, for even when the prophecies and tongues have ceased, love has still not ceased and will never cease. Nothing is wider than love, for only love bears all things (v.7) and can cover many sins. Nothing is higher than love, for only love can be added to love (see 2Pet. 1:7). God’s love is great unto the heavens ---- there is love on the earth as well as in the heavens. Nothing is deeper than love, only love can edify man and penetrate deeply into man’s hearts.

4)     All the gifts are “limited” (v.9), “will ceasewill vanish away”; only Christ of love “abides” forever (v.13). “Never fails”, it indicates that Christ is the ultimate goal of all gifts. God sets Christ as the goal and gives all the gifts. When the fullness of Christ has perfectly fulfilled, the works of all the gifts have also been achieved. What ultimately abide are no longer gifts, but the full Christ!

5)     Since love is Christ Himself, it is the full manifestations of Christ of love from verse four to seven.

 

1Cor. 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

YLT: “for in part we know, and in part we prophecy;”

Literal Meaning: “in part”: partial;

Enlightenment in the Word: one should not criticize or judge in the church according to his partial knowledge.

 

1Cor. 13:10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

YLT: “and when that which is perfect may come, then that which in part shall become useless.”

Literal Meaning: “but when that which is perfect has come, “perfect” is opposite to “in part” in verse nine. It can also be translated as “the mature”, which is opposite to “the child” in verse eleven. “Has come”, it refers to the coming age: the approaching of the age of the kingdom.

“Then that which is in part will be done away”, “in part”, it indicates that the degree, function and value of the gifts ---- the prophecies and tongues and knowledge mentioned in verse eight ---- are in part. “Be done away”, when all have been perfect, all the gifts are of none effect.

Enlightenment in the Word: if we compare all that in this age with that in the coming one, the former is in part and the latter is perfect (the whole number) concerning the quantity. And besides, as to the quality, the former is immature and the latter is mature.

 

1Cor. 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

YLT: “When I was a babe, as a babe I was speaking, as a babe I was thinking, as a babe I was reasoning, and when I have become a man, I have made useless the things of the babe;”

Literal Meaning: “when I was a child, it means that when we believers live in this age, our performances in many aspects are still very childish since we are still not mature.

I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child”, the words of a child are naive and thoughts are shallow and mind is simple and innocent. 

“But when I became a man, I put away childish things”, “became a man”, it means that the perfect time has come (see v.10); “put away”, it is the same word as “vanish away” in verse eight.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     The gift of tongues is not only the smallest gift among all the gifts but is also as childish as things that the child is fond of. Therefore, we shall not pursue tongues but the growth of life.

2)     All the gifts are for the purpose of childish believers. And they are of none effect when believers have been full-grown up in the coming age. Today, we are still spiritual babes, so we have childish views upon gifts. When we are fully grown up, we will naturally put away childish things.

3)     Gifts are things of children ---- it is not only tongues but also prophecies. Only walking in love is the thing of full-grown man.

4)     Love is the manifestation of God’s love. Therefore, the pursuit of love can make us grow more speedily in life. The pursuit of the gift of tongues does not foster our growth of life but even makes us linger about the phrase of babes.

 

1Cor. 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

YLT: “for we see now through a mirror obscurely, and then face to face; now I know in part, and then I shall fully know, as also I was known;”

The Background: see in a mirror, dimly”, man in the old age used the polished metal (generally) as mirror. The images reflected from the mirror are probably vague figures (see James 1:23).

Literal Meaning: “for now we see in a mirror, dimly”, “see in a mirror”, some Bible exegetes say it is “seeing through a window”. The windows in the old age were not glass windows, so the line of sight of man inside would be blocked and things man saw through the windows were dim, just like guessing riddles.

“But then face to face”, “face to face”, look on the Lord with unveiled face (see 1Cor. 3:18; 1John 3:2), which indicates that we see all spiritual things clearly, no longer dimly.

“But then I shall know just as I also am known”, “know”, know just as I am known by the Lord, so it is knowing like the Lord who knows all.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     It seems that we know many spiritual things today, but we actually we do not really know them or know in part. We have only some incomplete and fragmentary knowledge. However, when the Lord comes back, we will see Him face to face and will have complete and thorough knowledge about the Lord and all spiritual things.

2)     What is most important is not seeking the external objective knowledge but obtaining subjective experience and knowledge of the Lord through the intimate face-to-face fellowship with the Lord everyday. Such experience and knowledge can help us grow in life.

 

1Cor. 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

YLT: “and now there doth remain faith, hope, love -- these three; and the greatest of these love.”

Literal Meaning: “and now abide faith, hope, love”, “faith” is receiving things of God (John 1:12) and substantiating of them (Heb. 11:1). “Hope” is to make the things of God received and substantiated by faith as the goal of our patience, expectation and pursuit (Rom. 8:24-25). “Love” is to practically experience, enjoy and manifest the things of God received and substantiated by faith in the process from “faith” to “hope”.

“These three, but the greatest of these is love”, there are three reasons for the fact that love is the greatest one among these three: 1) love is the origin of believing all things and hoping all things (see v.7); 2) faith and hope are characteristics of man, but love is the nature of God; 3) love is the bridge linking faith and hope.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)     Faith, hope and love can not be separated and yet are inter-related with one another. The whole spiritual way of us is relevant to them. Faith is the foundation of our spiritual way. Hope is the glorious goal of the way. Love is the provision on the way that makes us go ahead no matter what difficulty we are experiencing. Therefore, love is the greatest one.

2)     Love is not “worked” by man, but “lived” out in life. The life of love is in the spirit of believers. Therefore, if we live through the life in our spirit, we will naturally bear fruit of live.

3)     Love is to believe all things and hope all things (see v.7). True and perfect faith and hope are only in true and perfect love.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lesson

 

The Comparisons between Gifts and Love

A.  If one has gifts but no love, he is nothing (v.1-3).

B.  Gifts are transient but love never fails (v.8).

C.  Gifts are in part but love is perfect (v.9-10a).

D.  Gifts will cease but love abides forever (v.10b-13).

 

The Nature of Love

A.  The dual characteristics of love:

1. Passive and active ---- love suffers long and is kind (v.4a);

2. Toward others and toward oneself ---- love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up (v.4b);

3. Unrighteousness and the truth ---- does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth (v.6);

B.  Four “no”s of love (v.5):

1. Do not behave rudely;

2. Do not seek its own;

3. Be not provoked;

4. Think no evil;

C.  Four “all”s of love (v.7):

1. Bears all things;

2. Believes all things;

3. Hopes all things;

4. Endures all things;

 

The Contents of Love

A.  To man ---- love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; does not seek its own; thinks no evil (v.4a, 5b, 5c);

B.  To oneself ---- love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely; is not provoked (v.4b; 5a, 5b);

C.  Nature ---- does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth (v.6);

D.  Sphere ---- bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (v.7);

E.  Time ---- love never fails (v.8a);

 

The Comparisons between the Nine Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and the Manifestations of Love

A.  Love ---- does not envy; does not seek its own (v.4b, 5b);

B.  Joy ---- rejoices in the truth; hopes all things (v.6b, 7b);

C.  Peace ---- thinks no evil; bears all things (v.5c, 7a);

D.  Long-suffering ---- suffers long; endures all things (v.4a, 7c);

E.  Kindness ---- kind (v.4b);

F.  Goodness ---- does not behave rudely; does not rejoice in iniquity (v.5a, 6a);

G.  Fidelity ---- believes all things; never fails (v.7b, 8a);

H.  Meekness ---- is not provoked (v.5b);

I.    Self-control ---- love does not parade itself, is not puffed up (v.4c);

 

Love is a Way of More Surpassing Excellence

A.  The importance of love (v.1-3);

B.  The definition of love (v.4-7);

C.  The excellence of love:

1. Love never fails, and all other gifts will cease (v.8-12);

2. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (v.13);

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Mary Zhou