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. c. Love… is not puffed up: To be puffed up is to be arrogant and self-focused. Love can always stand with and on truth, because love is pure and good like truth. The 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, which is in many ways the thesis statement for the entire book, says that Love is the most essential and eternal of all Gods gifts. “You must have fervent charity towards the saints, but you will find very much about the best of them which will try your patience; for, like yourself, they are imperfect, and they will not always turn their best side towards you, but sometimes sadly exhibit their infirmities. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. ii. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 1. ii. b. His love showed itself in not having a big head about himself. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Corinthians [Moody Press], p. 341). Some believe the burning referred to here is not execution, but branding as a criminal or as a slave for the sake of the gospel. Popular culture and thought says that love is important and so does the Bible. He specifies, 1. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” Explanation and Commentary of 1 Corinthians 13:12. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues. 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. But he does say that if we are spiritually mature, we will not over-emphasize spiritual gifts, especially at the expense of love. f. Love… is not provoked: We all find it easy to be provoked or to become irritated with those who are just plain annoying. One of the three major types of rhetoric was epideictic (involving praise or blame), and one of the three types of epideictic rhetoric was the encomium, a praise of a person or subject. If you tear it apart too much, you lose the beauty. They do things many would perceive as loving, yet they do them in a manner that would parade itself. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. There were some early Christians so arrogant as to think that the blood of martyrdom would wash away any sin. The ancient preacher John Chrysostom said this is the word used of the man who is wronged, and who easily has the power to avenge himself, but will not do it out of mercy and patience. 1 Corinthians. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Click on the different category headings to find out more. 1 Corinthians 13:1. It also says that God is Love. Agape love gives and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels: The Corinthians were enamored with spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of tongues. d. For now we see in a mirror: This speaks again to the perfect fellowship with God we will have one day. “Love, as far as she can, believes in her fellows. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: Chapter 10 is part of a larger unit (8:1 - 11:1) focused on the question of eating meat sacrificed to idols. ii. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. There were problems among the Christians, too: party-spirit leading to disputes (1 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Corinthians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 11:18); brother went to law with brother (1 Corinthians 6:1-8); disorder in the meetings (1 Corinthians 11:20-34; 1 Corinthians 14:33) and finally they even denied the fundamental Christian truth of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12; 1 Corinthians 15:35). Proud member “If we knew more of our own sinfulness, we might be driven to despair; if we knew more of God’s glory, we might die of terror; if we had more understanding, unless we had equivalent capacity to employ it, we might be filled with conceit and tormented with ambition. Clarke describes the heart which does not envy: “They are ever willing that others should be preferred before them.”. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. The apostle introduces into the discussion of the gifts a more efficacious discussion respecting love. It is the love of deep friendship and partnership. The braggart tries to impress others of his great accomplishments in order to make himself look good: “After all I’ve done for you, and you treat me this way!” e. Then I shall know just as I also am known: God knows everything about me; this is how I also am known. You can check these in your browser security settings. We could replace the word love with the name Jesus and the description would make perfect sense. g.] ought to be estimated, exercised, and elevated, according to love and its standard. This chapter of Corinthians is addressing themes of integrity, and of the heart. But the gifts of the Holy Spirit will not be appropriate forever. Such persons have what is termed, and very properly too, sour godliness.” (Clarke). b. Love suffers long: Love will endure a long time. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. b. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (8-13) Verses 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. Love does not envy: Envy is one of the least productive and most damaging of all sins. b. “Preaching is essentially a merging of the gifts of teaching and exhortation, prophecy has the primary elements of prediction and revelation.” (Farnell, cited in Kistemaker). iii. Though some that believe the miraculous gifts ceased with the apostles say it refers to the completion of the New Testament, they are wrong. Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 The reading for this Sunday continues to build upon the vision of community developed in the previous two Sundays. a. Bestow all my goods to feed the poor: This is what Jesus told the rich young ruler to do (Matthew 19:16-30), and he refused. But God calls us farther and deeper into love for Him, for one another, and for a perishing world. But those are not the best measures of someone’s true spiritual credentials. Be prepared, therefore, to contend with “all things” in them.” (Spurgeon), ii. Love stands in the presence of a fault, with a finger on her lip.” (Spurgeon), ii. 1 John 3:2 tells us when we get to heaven, we shall see Him as He is. b. c. There is a reason why Paul put this chapter in the midst of his discussion of spiritual gifts. Salem Media Group. There is no other way to understand the reference to tongues of… angels. While Paul recognizes the importance of the spiritual gifts and their place in the Christian’s life, he tells that there is something superior to these gifts. Stand fast in love; endure not some things, but all things, for Christ’s sake; so you shall prove yourself to be a Christian indeed.” (Spurgeon). Who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. When Paul was in Ephesus, he received newsabout troubles in the church at Corinth. i. We choose to believe the best of others. i. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Paul here says, that that Spirit had so endowed them as to fit them to constitute one body, or to be united in one, and to perform the various duties which resulted from their union in the same Christian church. Bragging is an outward manifestation of pride. (1-3) Its excellency represented by its properties and effects; (4-7) and by its abiding, and its superiority. These destroy more souls by tithing mint and cummin, than others do by neglecting the weightier matters of the law. a. a. 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. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Once when Carey was at a dinner party, a snobbish lord tried to insult him by saying very loudly, “Mr. We see Jesus now only in a dim, unclear way, but one day we will see Him with perfect clarity. What an amazing thing it would be to have faith that could work the impossible! Both to parade itself and to be puffed up are simply rooted in pride. i. 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. Read commentary on this popular Bible verse and understand the real meaning behind God's Word using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. From envy, and very properly too, sour godliness. ” ( Poole ) is... Does it sound totally ridiculous or just a “ little ” far-fetched features! Damaging of all the gifts are appropriate for children, and love sacrificing. Love and gifts of the gifts let you be tempted beyond what you can bear as loving yet. Good like truth Black people, and love that describe the nature of love, Christians all over world. An amazing thing it would be to have faith that could work the hardest at love are so important that. … Adam Clarke Commentary1 Corinthians 13 is our measure of love is so valuable, that! 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