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1
Corinthians Chapter Thirteen
1 Corinthians 13
Nevertheless there was something more excellent than all
gifts. They were the manifestations of the power of God and of the mysteries of
His wisdom; love, that of His nature itself.
They might speak with all tongues; they might have prophecy, the
knowledge of mysteries, the faith which can remove mountains; they might give
all their possessions to feed the poor, and their bodies to be tortured: if
they had not love, it was nothing. Love was conformity to the nature of God,
the living expression of what He was, the manifestation of having been made
partakers of His nature: it was the acting and feeling according to His
likeness. This love is developed in reference to others; but others are not the
motive, although they are the object. It has its source within; its strength is
independent of the objects with which it is occupied. Thus it can act where
circumstances might produce irritation or jealousy in the human heart. It acts
according to its own nature in the circumstances; and by judging them according
to that nature, they do not act upon the man who is full of love, except so far
as they supply occasion for its activity, and direct its form. Love is its own
motive. In us participation in the divine nature is its only source. Communion
with God Himself alone sustains it through all the difficulties it has to
surmount in its path. This love is the opposite of selfishness and of
self-seeking, and shuts it out, seeking the good of others, even (as to its principle)
as God has sought us in grace (see Eph. 4:32; 5:1, 2). What a power to avoid
evil in oneself, to forget all in order to do good!
It is worthy of note that the qualities of divine love
are almost entirely of a passive character.
The first eight qualities pointed out by the Spirit are
the expression of this renunciation of self. The three that follow, mark that
joy in good which sets the heart free also from that readiness to suppose evil,
which is so natural to human nature, on account of its own depth of evil, and
that which it also experiences in the world. The last four shew its positive
energy, which-the source of every kind thought-by the powerful spring of its
divine nature, presumes good when it does not see it, and bears with evil when
it sees it, covering it by longsuffering and patience; not bringing it to
light, but burying it in its own depth-a depth which is unfathomable, because
love never changes. One finds nothing but love where it is real; for
circumstances are but an occasion for it to act and shew itself. Love is always
itself, and it is love which is exercised and displayed. It is that which fills
the mind: everything else is but a means of awakening the soul that dwells in
love to its exercise. This is the divine character. No doubt the time of
judgment will come; but our relationships with God are in grace. Love is His
nature. It is now the time of its exercise. We represent Him on earth in
testimony.
In that which is said of love in this chapter we find the
reproduction of the divine nature, except that what is said is but the negative
of the selfishness of the flesh in us. Now the divine nature changes not and
never ceases; love therefore abides ever. Communications from God; the means by
which they are made; knowledge, as attained here below, according to which we
apprehend the truth in part only, although the whole truth is revealed to us
(for we apprehend it in detail, so that we have never the whole at once, the
character of our knowledge being to lay hold of different truths singly); all
that is characterised by being in part-passes away. Love will not pass away. A
child learns; he rejoices too in things that amuse him; when he becomes a man,
he requires things in accordance with his intelligence as a man. It was thus
with tongues and the edification of the assembly. The time however was coming
when they should know even as they were known, not by communications of truths
to a capacity that apprehended the truth in its different parts, but they
should understand it as a whole in its unity.
Now love subsists already; there are faith and hope also. Not only
shall these pass away, but even now, here below, that which is of the nature of
God is more excellent than that which is connected with the capacity of human
nature, even though enlightened by God, and having for its object the revealed
glory of God.
Believers therefore were to follow after and seek for
love, while desiring gifts, especially that they might prophesy, because thus
they would edify the assembly, and that was the thing to aim at; it was that
which love desired and sought, it was that which intelligence required, the two
marks of a man in Christ, of one to whom Christ is all.
── John Darby《Synopsis of 1 Corinthians》
1 Corinthians 13
Chapter Contents
The necessity and advantage of the grace of love. (1-3)
Its excellency represented by its properties and effects; (4-7) and by its
abiding, and its superiority. (8-13)
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
(Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
The excellent way had in view in the close of the former
chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word,
almsgiving, but love in its fullest meaning; true love to God and man. Without
this, the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the
sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding, are of no value without a
benevolent and charitable heart. There may be an open and lavish hand, where
there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to others will do none
to us, if it be not done from love to God, and good-will to men. If we give
away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will not profit. Nor
even the most painful sufferings. How are those deluded who look for acceptance
and reward for their good works, which are as scanty and defective as they are
corrupt and selfish!
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
(Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Some of the effects of charity are stated, that we may
know whether we have this grace; and that if we have not, we may not rest till
we have it. This love is a clear proof of regeneration, and is a touchstone of
our professed faith in Christ. In this beautiful description of the nature and
effects of love, it is meant to show the Corinthians that their conduct had, in
many respects, been a contrast to it. Charity is an utter enemy to selfishness;
it does not desire or seek its own praise, or honour, or profit, or pleasure.
Not that charity destroys all regard to ourselves, or that the charitable man
should neglect himself and all his interests. But charity never seeks its own
to the hurt of others, or to neglect others. It ever prefers the welfare of
others to its private advantage. How good-natured and amiable is Christian
charity! How excellent would Christianity appear to the world, if those who
profess it were more under this Divine principle, and paid due regard to the
command on which its blessed Author laid the chief stress! Let us ask whether
this Divine love dwells in our hearts. Has this principle guided us into
becoming behaviour to all men? Are we willing to lay aside selfish objects and
aims? Here is a call to watchfulness, diligence, and prayer.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
(Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13)
Charity is much to be preferred to the gifts on which the
Corinthians prided themselves. From its longer continuance. It is a grace,
lasting as eternity. The present state is a state of childhood, the future that
of manhood. Such is the difference between earth and heaven. What narrow views,
what confused notions of things, have children when compared with grown men!
Thus shall we think of our most valued gifts of this world, when we come to
heaven. All things are dark and confused now, compared with what they will be
hereafter. They can only be seen as by the reflection in a mirror, or in the
description of a riddle; but hereafter our knowledge will be free from all
obscurity and error. It is the light of heaven only, that will remove all
clouds and darkness that hide the face of God from us. To sum up the
excellences of charity, it is preferred not only to gifts, but to other graces,
to faith and hope. Faith fixes on the Divine revelation, and assents thereto,
relying on the Divine Redeemer. Hope fastens on future happiness, and waits for
that; but in heaven, faith will be swallowed up in actual sight, and hope in
enjoyment. There is no room to believe and hope, when we see and enjoy. But
there, love will be made perfect. There we shall perfectly love God. And there
we shall perfectly love one another. Blessed state! how much surpassing the
best below! God is love, 1 John 4:8,16. Where God is to be seen as he is,
and face to face, there charity is in its greatest height; there only will it
be perfected.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians》
1 Corinthians 13
Verse 2
[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, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I have the gift of prophecy — Of foretelling future
events.
And understand all the mysteries — Both of God's word
and providence.
And all knowledge — Of things divine and
human, that ever any mortal attained to. And though I have the highest degree
of miracle working faith, and have not this love, I am nothing.
Verse 3
[3] 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.
And though I — Deliberately, piece by piece.
Give all my goods to feed the poor, yea, though I deliver up my body to be
burned - Rather than I would renounce my religion.
And have not the love — Hereafter described.
It profiteth me nothing — Without this,
whatever I speak, whatever I have, whatever I know, whatever I do, whatever I
suffer, is nothing.
Verse 4
[4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth
not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
The love of God, and of our neighbour for God's sake, is
patient toward, all men. It, suffers all the weakness, ignorance, errors, and
infirmities of the children of God; all the malice and wickedness of the
children of the world: and all this, not only for a time, but to the end. And
in every step toward overcoming evil with good, it is kind, soft, mild, benign.
It inspires the sufferer at once with the most amiable sweetness, and the most
fervent and tender affection.
Love acteth not rashly — Does not hastily
condemn any one; never passes a severe sentence on a slight or sudden view of
things. Nor does it ever act or behave in a violent, headstrong, or precipitate
manner.
Is not puffed up — Yea, humbles the soul
to the dust.
Verse 5
[5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is
not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
It doth not behave indecently — Is not rude, or
willingly offensive, to any. It renders to all their due - Suitable to time,
person, and all other circumstances.
Seeketh not her own — Ease, pleasure,
honour, or temporal advantage. Nay, sometimes the lover of mankind seeketh not,
in some sense, even his own spiritual advantage; does not think of himself, so
long as a zeal for the glory of God and the souls of men swallows him up. But,
though he is all on fire for these ends, yet he is not provoked to sharpness or
unkindness toward any one. Outward provocations indeed will frequently occur;
but he triumphs over all. Love thinketh no evil - Indeed it cannot but see and
hear evil things, and know that they are so; but it does not willingly think
evil of any; neither infer evil where it does not appear. It tears up, root and
branch, all imagining of what we have not proof. It casts out all jealousies,
all evil surmises, all readiness to believe evil.
Verse 6
[6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity — Yea, weeps at either
the sin or folly of even an enemy; takes no pleasure in hearing or in repeating
it, but desires it may be forgotten for ever.
But rejoiceth in the truth — Bringing forth its
proper fruit, holiness of heart and life. Good in general is its glory and joy,
wherever diffused in all the world.
Verse 7
[7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all
things, endureth all things.
Love covereth all things - Whatever evil the lover of
mankind sees, hears, or knows of any one, he mentions it to none; it never goes
out of his lips, unless where absolute duty constrains to speak.
Believeth all things — Puts the most
favourable construction on everything, and is ever ready to believe whatever
may tend to the advantage of any one character. And when it can no longer
believe well, it hopes whatever may excuse or extenuate the fault which cannot
be denied. Where it cannot even excuse, it hopes God will at length give
repentance unto life.
Meantime it endureth all things — Whatever the
injustice, the malice, the cruelty of men can inflict. He can not only do, but
likewise suffer, all things, through Christ who strengtheneth him.
Verse 8
[8] 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.
Love never faileth — It accompanies to,
and adorns us in, eternity; it prepares us for, and constitutes, heaven.
But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail — When all things are
fulfilled, and God is all in all.
Whether there be tongues, they shall cease — One language shall
prevail among all the inhabitants of heaven, and the low and imperfect
languages of earth be forgotten. The knowledge likewise which we now so eagerly
pursue, shall then vanish away - As starlight is lost in that of the midday
sun, so our present knowledge in the light of eternity.
Verse 9
[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part — The wisest of men have
here but short, narrow, imperfect conceptions, even of the things round about
them, and much more of the deep things of God. And even the prophecies which
men deliver from God are far from taking in the whole of future events, or of
that wisdom and knowledge of God which is treasured up in the scripture
revelation.
Verse 10
[10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which
is in part shall be done away.
But when that which is perfect is come — At death and in the
last day.
That which is in part shall vanish away — Both that poor, low,
imperfect, glimmering light, which is all the knowledge we now can attain to;
and these slow and unsatisfactory methods of attaining, as well as of imparting
it to others.
Verse 11
[11] 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.
In our present state we are mere infants in point of
knowledge, compared to what we shall be hereafter.
I put away childish things — Of my own accord,
willingly, without trouble.
Verse 12
[12] 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.
Now we see — Even the things that surround us.
But by means of a glass - Or mirror, which reflects only their imperfect forms,
in a dim, faint, obscure manner; so that our thoughts about them are puzzling
and intricate, and everything is a kind of riddle to us.
But then — We shall see, not a faint reflection, but the objects
themselves.
Face to face — Distinctly.
Now I know in part — Even when God himself
reveals things to me, great part of them is still kept under the veil.
But then I shall know even as also I am known — In a clear, full,
comprehensive manner; in some measure like God, who penetrates the centre of
every object, and sees at one glance through my soul and all things.
Verse 13
[13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but
the greatest of these is charity.
Faith, hope, love — Are the sum of
perfection on earth; love alone is the sum of perfection in heaven.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 1
Corinthians》
1 Cor.
13:8~10
The important
criterion in determining whether or not a particular spiritual gift will endure
is its purpose. The purpose of a mercury vapor light is to illuminate the
highway at night. When the sun rises, the highway becomes illuminated by a
greater and more perfect light. The mercury vapor light then goes out because
it has served its purpose. In a similar way, spiritual gifts—whether knowledge,
prophecy, or tongues—will cease to function when a state of perfect spiritual
maturity is attained. Their “light” will no longer be required then.
Chapter 13. The Interpretation of Love
Gifts Will End
Love Remains Forever
I. The
Importance of Exercising Gifts In Love
II. Various
Expression of Love
III. The
Greatest Is Love
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
Chapter Thirteen General Review OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To see the value of love in our service to the Lord 2) To understand the scriptural definition of "love" 3) To determine when spiritual gifts would cease SUMMARY
In the middle of his discussion on spiritual gifts, Paul describes the "more excellent way" of love. After first emphasizing the importance of love (1-3), he then defines love by what it is and what it does (4-8a ). Ending with love's quality of "permanence", Paul contrasts it with the temporary nature of spiritual gifts. Though such gifts fulfilled an important function, the time would come when they would cease, while qualities like faith, hope, and love would remain (8-13). OUTLINE
I. THE "IMPORTANCE" OF LOVE (1-3)
A. IN REGARD TO SPEAKING IN TONGUES (1) 1. Even if one spoke with tongues of men and of angels... 2. Without love, the person would be like sounding brass or a clanging cymbal B. IN REGARD TO THE GIFTS OF PROPHECY AND FAITH (2) 1. Even if one had the gift of prophecy to understand all mysteries and all knowledge... 2. Even if one had the gift of faith sufficient to remove mountains... 3. Without love, such a person is nothing C. IN REGARD TO GREAT PERSONAL SACRIFICE (3) 1. Even if one gave all their goods to the poor... 2. Even if one were willing to be burned at the stake... 3. Without love, it profits the person nothing