By Robert L. Olsen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
Understanding Love
1 Corinthians 13:1–13
This is one of the most famous passages of Scripture as it is often read at weddings. In the context of the letter, this follows the section on spiritual gifts.
Since the Corinthian church struggled with a proper understanding of spiritual gifts and how to use them, Paul needed to remind them that the purpose of gifts is for the edification of the church, not personal gain or a source of pride.
Therefore, the topic of love is vital in this context.
Necessity of Love (1–3)
Paul points out that the use of spiritual gifts is meaningless without love. While the gifts might be beneficial to others — after all, giving to the poor is helpful even without love — it certainly isn’t producing an eternal reward.
In Matthew 6:2, Jesus points out that if we do good works so that others will see them or so that others will speak well of us, then that is our earthly reward — that others notice us or that our works give us some sort of prestige.
But Jesus then points out that the purpose of giving and helping others is to glorify God. That needs to be our real purpose.
So Paul is just echoing what Jesus has taught, that the practicing of spiritual gifts should be to build others up and encourage them, not for the purpose of building up our pride or status. The practicing of our gifts needs to be out of love — love for God and love for others, the two greatest commands.
Nature of Love (4–7)
In contrast to a selfish use of spiritual gifts, Paul explains to the Corinthians what love looks like when practiced. Love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not conceited, not selfish and rejoices in truth. Therefore, Christians need to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.
This impacts the way we treat one another within the Church. For example, we need to extend grace to our brothers and sisters.
I have heard it said that the Church is the only entity that shoots its wounded, meaning that Christians are quick to abandon those who have fallen into sin. This is not the way Christians ought to treat other believers.
Christ loves us even when we sin and we need to exhibit this attitude toward others. This is not to undermine church discipline, but if a believer sins and repents, he needs to be reconciled to the Church and be shown mercy and love.
Permanence of Love (8–13)
To once again show how the Corinthians have the wrong idea about spiritual gifts, Paul tells them that their gifts will end because their purpose is to build others up in the Church.
The Corinthians have placed an emphasis on gifts that would ultimately cease. How foolish! When Christ returns, the need to build up the Church will be fulfilled and those gifts will no longer be necessary.
The most important gifts are faith, hope and love, the greatest of which is love. When we see Christ face to face the gift of love is the one that endures because faith and hope will be realized.
When we see Christ we no longer need faith because faith deals with things we can’t see. Likewise our hope will be realized at this point but love perseveres because we will always reflect on the love God has for us.
This is why Paul emphasizes love at the expense of all the other gifts.
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