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. 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. 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. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 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. 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. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Commentary
Vs. 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."
The Corinthians overt emphasis on tongues speaking as being the mark of someone being a Spirit filled person is now being tactfully put to rest. Indeed if anyone, anywhere, exalts any Spirit gift as the mark of anyone being more Spirit filled than another member of the Body of Christ, then really they are just being carnal. For it's not the gifts of the Spirit that God wants us to exemplify to each other, and even the world as Christ's disciples, it's the fruits of His Spirit. The first of which is love (see John 13:34-35; Gal 5:22-23). And that is why the Apostle Paul now says that though I (meaning himself as an Apostle of Christ) speak with tongues of men, or tongues of angels (see 1 Cor 14:2), but have not love, I would only become a sounding brass or a clanging symbol. For tongues languages in of themselves do nothing for the church's edification, nor the Gospels furtherance, for without interpretation, and specifically here, the love of God at the forefront of it all, all they would be doing is making a bunch of discordant noise, which would neither edify the church, nor inform those who are currently ignorant. And so all they would be doing is confusing the uniformed as to what it all meant. And thus they would not be making the Gospel any more accessible to them. Indeed some might even think that they were crazy (see 1 Cor 14:23), or that the church was out of control (see 1 Cor 14:26-33). Thus it's not tongues speaking that is the mark of Spirit filled person, it's God's love flowing through them, and thus reaching others with a language that is universally understood.
Vs. 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."
Similarly though I have the gift of prophecy (a gift which the Apostle Paul commends to every believer above tongues speaking in chapter fourteen), yet even with this Spirit gift from God; or the Spirit given ability to understand the deep mysteries in the Word of God; or the Spirit given ability to have all knowledge regarding something in His Word, or all faith, so that one could remove mountains; that is overcome whatever seemingly insurmountable obstacles and barriers we may encounter in seeking to do the Will of God; (for our God is the God of the impossible, who enables us all who trust in Him, to do His Will). Yet without love whatever gifts, talents, abilities, and even faith one has would all become unprofitable for the Kingdom of heavens sake, without love.
Vs. 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."
Even the greatest personal sacrifices for the Kingdom of heavens sake, (presented to us here as "giving ones body to be burned"; which itself maybe alluding to the Old Covenant burnt offering sacrifice and the entirety of it there, see Lev. 6:22). And thus even the most extreme personal sacrifices, or the most generous and charitable giving, profits one nothing unless love underlies it. That said, is love just a feeling that we have inside ourselves? Or is there something more tangible and enduring to it? To answer that the Apostle Paul gives us arguably one of the greatest definitions, and dare I say justifications, of love ever given in verses four to seven. Love then, like wisdom not only touches our emotions and intellect, but inevitably it impacts on how we live and how we speak. For just as wisdom is justified by her children, so is love (consider Matt. 11:19).
Vs. 4-7 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
"Love suffers long and is kind"
The thought here is that love patiently endures with the shortcomings and misgivings of others. It's not quick to point out faults, or sever ties because of them. And when it is necessary to critique someone, it does so with kindness; not harshness or rudeness of speech etc., and thus love does so only after considering another's feelings and well-being. Love is not short-tempered (James 1:19-20).
"Love does not envy"
Envy is one of the most personally poisonous (Prov 14:30) and collectively destructive sins in the Bible (consider Acts 8:23). Murders, violence, wrath, and all manner of injustice and strife are said to be born from it (consider 1 John 3:12). Not only can it destroy you personally (Job 5:2; Ecc 9:6); it will poison and ruin your friendships and relationships, if you let it rule you (Prov. 27:4). For marriages, families, even churches have all been poisoned, and or, ruined by envy (Heb. 12:15; James 3:13-18, vs. 14-16). Envy then is not the mark of one who is being led by the Spirit of God, rather it marks one who is living carnally (Gal. 5:19-21; Titus 3:3). Love then does not envy, because abiding in Christ's love means celebrating the successes and good fortune that God brings forth too and through all brethren.
"Love does not parade itself"
The word translated parade implies boastful speech. And so when one is walking in love, one does not need to boast about ones own Spirit giftedness, or anything else about themselves. Love then does not need to make oneself front and center to the detriment of others, love does not parade itself.
"Love is not puffed up"
That is haughty, arrogant; thus love neither thinks to highly of itself, as if anything comes from ourselves, nor does it despise, or look down on others, because we all have weaknesses and limitations.
"Love does not behave rudely"
Love is polite and considerate of others, it has both a moral and social conscience.
"Love does not seek its own"
Self-seeking and or selfish ambition is one of the old nature sins that is rebuked in James 3:13-18. For to be self seeking is only to be living contrary to how Christ lived, and would have us all live (consider Phil 2:3-11, vs. 3-4). Therefore as the Apostle Paul has already exhorted us all: "Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being." 1 Cor. 10:24
"Love is not provoked"
Love can endure slights and wrongs, it doesn't need to repay a wrong with a wrong, or an insult with an insult. Jesus' commandment about turning the other cheek immediately comes to mind (Matt. 5:39; also consider Prov 20:22; 24:29; 1 Thess. 5:19; 1 Peter 3:15).
"Love thinks no evil"
Love does not judge motives, or attribute evil intentions to the good will and acts of others. It sees the best, not the worst in people. Unfortunately one of the most frequent areas of spiritual attack on believers is in this area of the mind where distrust is often first sown. "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God." 1 Cor 4:5
"Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth"
Love does not rejoice in iniquity (that is in evil, wickedness, injustice etc.). And thus love does not rejoice in seeing those who have harmed them stumble and fall, or be repaid with cruelty (consider Prov. 17:5). Instead love rejoices in the truth. That is in the Gospel's truth that God desires all people, all sinners everywhere, to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; also consider Ezek 18:23, 32; John 3:17). And so in contrast to rejoicing in the downfall of the sinner, Love came down from His throne in heaven, and became the atoning sacrifice for ever sinners sins.
"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
The Apostle Paul now rises with a crescendo that celebrates the wonderful qualities of love. First is that love bears all things. For whatever else love feels and does, love first bears all things, which means it endures not just the faults and failings of others, but also when life's circumstances go south, love does not then fold up and go south with them. Love does not then forsake it's responsibilities. As well associated with this word is the notion of "covering". Love then does not broadcast the failings of others, nor does love make public those things that should be dealt with privately. For love not only covers those things that should be covered (consider Prov. 10:12; 17:9; 1 Peter 4:8), but also love patiently bears with the weaknesses, failings, and faults of others (consider Rom 15:1; Gal. 6:2; 2 Tim. 2:24; gleaned from NKJ center column). Now that love believes all things is saying that love is not manipulated by life's circumstances, rather love knows and believes in God's sovereignty over all things, and thus believes the best. And thus love also hopes all things, and love endures all things.
Vs. 8-9 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
It is clear in these verses that the Apostle Paul saw in the Spirit gifts of prophecy and tongues and even knowledge their short comings and temporal nature. For it's not prophesy and tongues, nor even knowledge (i.e. those things not yet revealed, consider Deut. 29:29) that God our Father wants to ultimately grow us up into, it's His love. For where there are prophecies they will fail (not Biblical prophecies, these will all be fulfilled in their time), but prophecy as a Spirit gift will not always be necessary. Same with tongues, they will cease, and where there is knowledge it too will vanish away. "For we know in part and we prophesy in part." We don't have the complete picture of how all things will unfold, and even if we did, we don't have the perfect understanding of all things as God does. So whatever things are revealed to us now, until He fulfills all His Word, are given us to guide us and encourage us into His Will and plans for us down here. For there is still eternity, and whole lot of stuff that God is going to do that we know nothing about (consider 1 Cor. 2:9). Thus exalting any Spirit gifts above love (which is the fundamental Nature of God and is to be the predominate characteristic of all believers everywhere) is only being shortsighted and immature in ones faith. For gifts of the Spirit are not the defining characteristic of the King, nor the Kingdom of heaven, nor of all believers both here and there, rather love is, because love never fails.
Vs. 10-11 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 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.
All Spirit gifts that are given to us now are to grow us up into the fullness of Christ (consider Eph. 4:13), all which culminates with love. Thus Spirit gifts are not the end goal, Christ with His bride the church glorified with Himself is the end goal. All that takes place from now till then is to serve that great grand purpose. And so it is that the Apostle Paul sees that which makes for our growth, both personally, but also collectively for believers everywhere, as what we are all to pursue (consider Rom 14:19; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Tim 6:11-12; 2 Tim 2:22; Heb 12:14; 1 Peter 2:2; 3:8-12; 2 Peter 1:5-11 etc.). Thus Spirit gifts have their purpose and place as we move from infancy to maturity, but they themselves are not the end goal, our being like Christ in every way is. Thus we are to desire them, yes, but we are to pursue love (1 Cor 14:1). For love is eternal, Spirit gifts are not. And so looking back to the Spirit gifts that were once widely practiced amongst believers and then seeking to emulate the same is not going forward in faith, it is only returning to the previous childlike state.
Vs. 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.
And so it is until that which has perfect has come; and thus we are all with Christ in that glorified state and with glorified bodies; we see our future with the Lord now dimly, but then face to face. For then on that day, "I shall know just as I am known." That is I shall know the Lord just as He now knows me. I will not lack in any knowledge or understanding of Him.
Vs. 13 "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
And so it is until that Day that we are to abide in faith, hope, and love. For these are the essence of Christian faith and living, and of these three great and grand virtues, the greatest is love.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). (1 Co 10:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Additional Resources Consulted
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 430). New York: United Bible Societies.
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1796). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 430). New York: United Bible Societies.
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1796). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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