Principles from Paul's Epistles

The Preeminence of Love

1 Cor. 13

Introduction

In the last sermon, we considered most of 1 Cor. 12. In that chapter, Paul gave instruction concerning not only what the Holy Spirit was doing in that congregation, but also why He was operating as He did. The Corinthians were well-acquainted with various spiritual gifts, but they were not knowledgeable when it came to understanding why the Spirit equipped the members of the body with those various gifts. Instead of using their gifts to edify one another and instead of appreciating the gifts which they saw in one another, members of this church boasted in some gifts and discounted the importance of others. Consequently, since the gifts resided in people, some of the brethren were being elevated in status while others were being overlooked.

Paul corrected this faulty perspective by explaining how the church is like a body. A body is composed of many members and no member alone is the body. All members together constitute the body. The apostle's point was that the church in Corinth was composed of many members and the members had differing gifts or functions within the body. And since those gifts had been given by the same Spirit to each one, all the gifts and all those possessing the gifts were to be valued.

That chapter concluded with Paul explaining how the believers in Corinth were part of Christ's body (cf. vv. 27 ff.). He further explained that God had appointed various offices or gifts in the church-apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healings and so forth. Not everyone, Paul pointed out, was an apostle and not everyone was a prophet and not everyone worked miracles. The gifts and callings were distributed in the body as deemed wise by the Holy Spirit. Together, all these offices and gifts made for a strong, growing body.

After giving all of that information, after correcting the Corinthians' thinking about gifts and how they should value one another, and after writing about this vital work of the Spirit, Paul says something striking: “But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.” (12:31) After everything he has said about the importance of the Spirit giving gifts and after Paul stressed how essential it was for the Corinthians to have a right perspective on this matter, he says that there is something which is of even greater worth. There is something which, in spite of the tremendous significance of what he's just been writing about, holds greater benefit for the congregation when it is understood.

This verse forms the beginning of an interlude in Paul's lengthy instruction on spiritual gifts. This section begins in the eleventh chapter and extends through the next chapter. At the end of chapter 12, however, Paul gives his attention to a matter which had to be understood, as I just noted, before the Corinthians could really benefit from the Spirit's work of giving gifts. There was a basic quality or trait which had to accompany the gifts or the gifts themselves would fail to edify the congregation fully. Therefore, Paul pauses to insert comments which have come to be regarded as some of the most moving and most essential in all of Scripture.

Put yourself in the place of the Corinthians. As a congregation, you have been boasting in certain gifts and overlooking others. As a result, there is obvious disregard shown by some for others and there is evidence of threatening divisions in the body. Paul has written to you and corrected issue after issue. Now the topic he addresses really hits home-he starts talking about love. He starts talking about one characteristic which stands alone in importance. The apostle writes about a trait which is fundamental, but clearly lacking in Corinth. Paul writes about a trait which comes before concern over which teacher to follow or which freedom to flaunt or which gift to admire.

Listen to the apostle:

1 Cor. 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

01. The Issue (vv.1-3)

Paul reveals his insight regarding this congregation of believers. He was not limited in his perception to what was “on the surface,” so to speak. He was not limited in his evaluation to the squabbles taking place, or the rudeness shown by some to others as they came together for the Lord's Supper, or the shameful manner in which some looked down on others within this portion of Christ's body. Paul understood what was behind all of these manifestations of tension and discord. He could see that the Corinthians were emphasizing many things-gifts and status, for example-but were failing to emphasize the one thing which mattered most. And that one thing was love for one another.

That this is, indeed, the issue in this passage is made evident by Paul's statements in the first three verses. Let's consider what he says. Paul writes that “if I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging symbol.” (v. 1) This declaration reveals immediately the preeminence of love. He's going to define love later, but for now, it's plain that Paul believed that a man might excel in one matter, but be completely ineffective if, in his excelling, he did not have love. Speaking of himself hypothetically, the apostle writes that even if he had the supreme manifestation of tongues, even he could converse in whatever language the angels use, but did not have love, his great ability would be worthless.

Paul teaches that the advantage of speaking with the tongues of men and angels is negated and, in fact, becomes a disadvantage, if love is lacking. That gift is turned into an annoyance in the body of Christ if it is not exercised with love, Paul states. That which should bring blessing and understanding instead brings irritation and harm because it is not working in the context of love. In the end, a good quality or gift can become a problem for the body because the one possessing the good quality or gift exercises it without love. The point here is the preeminence of love, not the gift of tongues. Love is more important than tongues, Paul teaches. Love is more important than some other ability.

This truth is emphasized as Paul continues. “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (v. 2) Paul underscores his basic notion even more with this statement. He presents a striking image. Literally, Paul says “and if I have prophecy,” meaning the abilities of a prophet. He asks the Corinthians to imagine him possessing divine insight and divine knowledge. Suppose, he says, I have this particular gift and it is of such a character that I “know all mysteries” and have “all knowledge.” Anyone would conclude that such a gift in such measure would be a wonderful thing, an ability with tremendous potential for good in the body. Add to that, the apostle says, the supreme expression of faith-a faith so strong that I can remove mountains (this was a Jewish proverb which conveyed the idea of doing the impossible).

Imagine an individual possessing such abilities, such gifts, such enablement of the Holy Spirit-and then imagine, too, that this individual does not have love. He is characterized by the ability to prophesy and the ability to understand all the mysteries one might encounter and the ability to know all things; this man even has a faith so strong, so grounded, so perfect that he can believe what appears to be impossible-but he does not have love. That is, this person, Paul says, has these gifts and abilities but they are not exercised in the context of love. What is the conclusion? The conclusion is not “well, he can still do a lot of good for the body” or “it would be nice if he were also a loving individual, but we'll take what we can get.” No, Paul's conclusion is: “I am nothing”-not “I am a little less than I could be,” but I am nothing. The absence of love ruins the other gifts; the absence of love nullifies those other abilities as great and as impressive as they are.

We need to keep in mind the context of this chapter. Paul has been speaking of spiritual gifts and will continue to do so after this section. Later, for example, he extols the gift of prophecy as that which edifies the church (cf. 14:1-4). How much more desirable could any gift be? What greater gift could one hope to possess than one which builds up the body of Christ? But Paul says that even if you have that most wonderful gift and have it in a supreme manifestation, you are nothing if you don't exercise that gift in love. If love is not the context in which that gift is used, you are of no benefit to the body, Paul declares.

There's more to be said as Paul identifies the issue in this chapter. He adds: “And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” (v. 3) What a statement. If I give all that I own so that the hungry can be fed-that is, if I am a man known for my charity, known for my generosity, but have not love, “it profits me nothing.” Or, if I give up my life in a noble act of self-sacrifice, but have not love, “it profits me nothing.” Apart from love, no gift, no act, no sacrifice has meaning.

The word translated “profit” (opheleo) means “to assist, to be useful or advantageous.” Would we not say that a man who gives all his possessions to feed the poor is doing a good thing? Would we not say that such a man is worthy of honor and respect? Would we not say that a man who gives his life to a noble cause, either literally or figuratively, is worthy of adoration? Paul says that if such a man does these things but does not do them in the context of love, there is no advantage, no honor, no respect to be gained. Without love, such conduct does not profit us.

Paul has written some stunning words. He has identified perhaps the most significant issue in Corinth-the lack of love. Here was a congregation with many gifts, but it was in a state of disorder. Factions had developed, the people were divided, some were being exalted and others were being mistreated; the rich were lording it over the poor and the hungry were going without food. How could a congregation with knowledge of the gospel and the obvious presence of many spiritual gifts be so troubled? Paul has explained why: the believers in Corinth, as a group, did not have love.

The term he uses throughout this passage is agape. This word represents a uniquely Christian perspective on love-this is a disposition resulting from deliberate choice. Agape is not, in the first place, an emotional expression, although emotions are connected to it. Agape is, before everything else, an act of the will or an act of choice. This is love which originates with God and which is supposed to be reflected in His people. This is the “more excellent way” mentioned at the end of the previous chapter.

02. The Response (vv.4-13)

In Paul's response to this issue in Corinth, he is going to explain precisely what agape is-he's going to describe how it is manifested, what it does and how it affects believers who possesses it and believers who receive it. Paul gives us a detailed account of what this love, which he has said is so essential and even more significant than the greatest of spiritual gifts, looks like. My intention is to go through Paul's descriptions of agape one at a time.

The apostle writes: “love is patient...” ” (v. 4) The word used here (makrothumeo) refers to the quality of long-suffering. It describes a person who does not lose heart, a person who perseveres even when enduring trouble. It also describes a person who is slow in avenging a wrong. Overall, this word refers to a person who does not immediately seek an end to or a way out of an unpleasant situation. Whether being the one enduring the unpleasant situation or the one dealing with someone else who is involved in an unpleasant or difficult circumstance, the one who practices what this word teaches is the person who counts the outcome of more importance than immediate relief. This, Paul writes, is an aspect of the love which he has said is so vital.

“Love is kind,” he adds. This term (chresteuomai) means “to demonstrate mildness.” This word describes a person who is truthful, yet calm in their communications and behavior. “Love is not jealous,” the apostle says. This time, he uses a word (zeloo) which means “to burn with zeal, to be heated, to exhibit hatred or anger.” Paul says that love, the supreme characteristic of the Christian faith, does not function in this way. The one who is not jealous is the one who controls his anger, does not manifest contempt for another and does not show disrespect for another.

“Love does not brag and is not arrogant,” Paul states. The word translated “brag” (perpereuomai) means “to boast in oneself” or “to engage in some type of self-aggrandizement.” The word rendered “arrogant” (phusioo) means “to inflate, to blow up, to puff up, to bear oneself loftily, to be proud.” Paul writes that love, which is the greatest of all Christian attributes, does not behave like this. A Christian who practices the love Paul describes does not brag about himself or his accomplishments; he does not do or say things to elevate himself in the eyes of others. On the contrary, the Christian who practices love will be humble. In fact, humility is the essence of the next two characteristics of agape as related by Paul. This love “does not act unbecomingly” (aschemoneo) and “does not seek (zeteo) its own”.” (v. 5) Both of these phrases describe a person who is not attempting to call attention to himself or promote himself.

Further, “love is not provoked,” Paul says. Here he uses a word (paroxuno) which means “to make sharp, to irritate, to make angry.” The Christian who is practicing love, as Paul defines it, is the Christian who is not easily led into controversy. Such a person analyzes before speaking, such a person gathers facts before stating conclusions, such a person subdues the flesh when the first impulse of the flesh is to assume the worst about someone. This aspect of love ties in with Paul's statement that love is patient. Love speaks after careful deliberation.

“Love does not take into account a wrong suffered,” the apostle continues. Paul uses a very broad term for “wrong” (kakos). It can mean anything that is troublesome. So, Paul's concern here is not the wrong done but the response to it. The word translated “take into account” (logizomai) means “to reckon, to calculate, to count up, to keep a mental list.” The idea behind this word is that of keeping a ledger so that an account can be settled. The Christian who practices love, as defined by Paul, does not do such a thing. He does not keep a mental record of wrongs for the purpose of somehow, someday getting satisfaction for those things. At the heart of this aspect of love has to be forgiveness. There is no way to avoid keeping an account of wrongs suffered unless you forgive those wrongs. This is, of course, what Paul means. This kind of love, this agape, is God-like, as I indicated before. To refuse to keep a mental ledger of wrongs done and to, instead, forgive those wrongs, is God-like.

One commentator said this:

Here is a verbal portrait of a bookkeeper who flips the pages of his ledger to reveal what has been received and spent. He is able to give an exact account and provide an itemized list. Some people are keeping a similar list of wrongs that they have experienced. But love is extremely forgetful when it comes to remembering injury and injustice. When wrongs have been forgiven, they ought to be forgotten and never be mentioned again. (Kistemaker)

“Love is extremely forgetful when it comes to remembering injury and injustice.” That is a beautiful summary of what Paul says here. It follows from previous descriptions of love that this is exactly how the Christian would respond to wrongs suffered if he is patient and kind, if he is not jealous or proud, if he is humble and does not seek his own, and if he maintains self-control. Of course such a person is not going to keep a mental ledger of wrongs done to him. Of course such a person is going to be quick to forgive and extend to his brother the grace of Christ.

Paul continues: “love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.” (v. 6) The one who practices this love is made glad by what pleases God; he is saddened by iniquity, but encouraged by the manifestation of truth. This person is going to grieve for those who are in sin and give thanks for those delivered from sin. This person is going to be ready and eager to impart truth so that unrighteousness is understood and avoided.

The apostle closes his comments with a four-fold summary of what love is and how it behaves. Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (v. 7) The word translated “bears” can mean “to cover” and “to endure.” The meaning seems to be that the person who lives as Paul describes, as a rule, cloaks everything in love. The love described here is present whenever an issue arises. The next phrase, “believes all things,” implies that the person who practices this love is a person of faith, one who trusts God to work out all things for His glory according to His purposes. “Hopes all things” means that the person who behaves as Paul has described will be a person characterized by confidence or optimism regarding how his life unfolds. Finally, the phrase “endures all things” tells us that love perseveres. The word rendered “endures” (hupomeno) means “to remain, to abide, to take patiently.” Love as Paul has defined it leads to stability.

In the remaining verses of this chapter, Paul again emphasizes the preeminence of love (vv. 8-13). Gifts, about which the Corinthians showed such interest, will be done away, Paul writes. Now we know in part and we prophesy in part, he says, perhaps meaning that at that time, not everything God intended to impart was known or had been revealed. But that state of affairs would come to an end “when the perfect comes.” It may be that by “the perfect” Paul means the complete revelation from God to His people. Or, another interpretation suggests that Paul is referring to the consummation. Now, he writes, we have incomplete knowledge but, one day, we will see clearly and understand completely. We will know fully, he says, just as we are fully known.

Exactly what Paul means here is hard to say. I tend to favor the first explanation. If we maintain Paul's pattern, we would assume that “the perfect” (or that which is complete) is the same thing as that which was then known only “in part.” In this case, Paul would be referring to the completion of the canon-it was then “in part,” but would soon be “perfected” or completed. However this section is understood, Paul's point is that love abides. As he does in other epistles, Paul cites the triad of the most vital and desirable of characteristics in v. 13-faith, hope, love-but once again extols love as “the greatest of these.”

Consider how Paul has described the characteristic of love which he has said is to be desired more than other traits or gifts, and which, if absent, makes other traits or gifts ineffective and even harmful. If love is all these things, if the person who practices agape is the kind of person described in vv. 4-7, then we can see why the Corinthian congregation had such trouble. The elements which Paul has listed as components or examples of love were in short supply among these believers. Their conduct, as related to us in Paul's letter, proved that they lacked love for one another. That was the issue and Paul's response was to describe love in detail-he described love in ways which provided clear guidance for the Corinthians.

Application

In terms of application, there is one message which comes through clearly in this passage: whatever else you do, whatever else you are, whatever else you are known for, whatever else people see in you, if you are not a person who manifests the quality of love, then your witness and your service are pointless. There is no getting around this conclusion. Paul said that if he had a wonderful and impressive gift, but did not have love, he would become “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Paul said that if he had the supreme manifestation of a gift, but did not have love, he was nothing. Paul said that if he gave all he had to feed the poor or surrendered his life, but did not have love, he gained nothing. Without love, nothing else matters. Love is preeminent.

Paul teaches that if you excel in one spiritual gift or another, or excel in one righteous characteristic or another, and yet lack love, then your confidence is without foundation. There is no substitute for love in your words and love in your treatment of others; there is no substitute for love as a defining characteristic of your life. If you are not a loving person, you cannot put something in the place of love and think everything is alright. You can't put some spiritual gift in the place of love; you can't put some act of generosity or self-sacrifice in the place of love. Love is preeminent. Love, as Paul defined it, has to be the context in which all other things are said and done for them to be truly effective.

There are people who take great pride in the way they handle matters or the way they address others or the way they react; there are people who believe that they are examples of piety in one area or another. But sometimes those same people lack love-and if that is the case, then nothing else matters, as Paul teaches so clearly. If your confidence is in any quality you possess and that quality is not love, as Paul described it, then your confidence is without foundation.

You may be a person who prides yourself in being “up front” about issues. When you see something that disturbs you, you go right to the source. But if you do that without love for whoever it is you're about to confront, your boldness, which in another context would be helpful, becomes destructive. You may be a person who has a well-ordered life and you may believe that you are in a position to impart guidance to others. But if you impart that guidance without love for the person you desire to instruct, your good intentions may not be realized and you may, in fact, drive away the person you wanted to help. Whether we are talking about the use of spiritual gifts or simple, day by day interactions with one another, Paul teaches that love must characterize all that we do. Love guarantees that our gifts will be effective and love guarantees that our examples will be helpful.

Another point which comes from Paul's words is that there is no substitute for love and there is no greater quality than love. I want you to think about what you believe is your very best characteristic. What is it which, if you were asked and could answer in all honesty, you would say is your very best Christian trait? If it isn't love, Paul says that characteristic, that trait, that gift can become an annoyance in the body and you, the one lacking love, are nothing. Hard talk, wouldn't you agree? It's hard talk because love is so important. Paul speaks as he does because of what is at stake. Love is more important and more essential and more edifying than whatever quality you may have in your mind at this moment as you think of your own life.

Is there anyone here who would claim that they have some greater gift than those mentioned by Paul? Is there anyone here who would claim that they have done more than give all their possessions to feed the poor or more than give their bodies to be burned? Is there anyone here would thinks they have a gift or a characteristic which surpasses Paul's list in vv. 1-3? If not, then his words are for you. Where is love in the list of qualities which define you as a person? This question should cause everyone of us to pause and take a serious look at ourselves. Were you defined by the character of love this past week as you interacted with your husband or wife or children or parents or others outside your family? Were you defined by love as you handled whatever issues came up in your life this past week?

Maybe I can help you answer those questions by returning to Paul's descriptions of love. He said “love is patient.” Did you exhibit long-suffering this past week? Is this a trait of your life, generally speaking? Are you a person who counts the outcome of a conflict as more important than an immediate, self-serving resolution?

Paul said that “love is kind.” Did you demonstrate mildness this past week in your conversations? “Love is not jealous,” he said. Did you control your anger this past week? Is control of anger or self-control in general a trait by which you are known? Did you show contempt for another Christian this past week? Is that something you do on occasion?

“Love does not brag and is not arrogant... l love does not act unbecomingly... l love does not seek its own” Paul added. Were you boastful about yourself in any way this past week? Are you, generally speaking, a boastful person-perhaps not out loud, but in your heart? Did you say things to elevate yourself in the eyes of others? In short, are you a humble person?

“Love is not provoked,” Paul wrote. Are you a person easily led into controversy? Does it take only a sharp word or questionably look to get you upset? Are you that touchy? Paul said love doesn't behave like that. Love analyzes before speaking, love thinks before acting. Love doesn't believe the worst about another before careful deliberation.

“Love does not take into account a wrong suffered,” Paul stated. How did you react this past week to perceived wrongs against you? How do you normally act? Are you a person known for keeping a ledger of wrongs or are you a person known for extending forgiveness before it is sought? What brings you the greatest satisfaction-remembering a wrong suffered or forgiving a wrong suffered? Are you, as that commentator said, one who is extremely forgetful when it comes to remembering injury and injustice?

Paul says more, but we stop here. There is a way to live which is God-like and there is a way to live which is contrary in character to God and what He has done for us. You need to take a look at yourself right now and determine where you stand on this matter. Go through Paul's list while on your knees before the Lord and see what conclusions you reach. Go through Paul's list and think of your Savior who is a perfect example of everything Paul says about love. And be thankful that He is because in Him you are saved from your sin and in Him you are loved by God even though you are not lovely or loving yourself.

We needed a Savior to manifest the love of God to us and for us, and we have such a Savior in Christ. As you consider what Paul said about love, you should be thinking of Christ even as you think of yourself. Think of how you measure up to Paul's description and then think of how Christ measures up-He is the measure. And for that we should be most thankful. And we should bring that thankfulness to His Table as we commune with Him. Christ is love; He is all that Paul described and more. He is not just our example, He is the One who helps us be like Him in our associations with one another. Enjoy these elements which He has appointed; take courage in them as you receive them. They testify to the Savior's love and they testify to your acceptance in Him.

Let's pray...

As we prepare to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, we're going to sing hymn number 195. This hymn captures the essence of what Paul has written-it captures the essence of God-like love demonstrated for us by our Savior. Dedication to Him, love for His people-these are the only responses which are appropriate.

Conclusion