Love, the Measure of All Things Part 1

1Cor 12.31 – 13.3

Introduction.

Paul’s famous chapter on love comes smack in the middle of his three-chapters long treatment of spiritual gifts.  Thus 1Cor 13 is often seen as a digression.  If so, it is a digression which does not digress.  Rather it progresses the discussion by revealing Paul’s real theme — love.  “Spiritual gifts” is but the context in which the Corinthians’ real problem, a lack of love, has been displayed.  “Spiritual gifts” is thus necessary to Paul’s discussion in ch. 12 and instructions in ch. 14, but the real subject is love.

We might even say that love is the chief subject of 1Corinthians.  We might fairly say that what Paul has done up to this point is address the various contexts — of which spiritual gifts is just the latest — in which the Corinthians’ lack of love has been displayed.  In addressing the Corinthians’ problems, love has always been near at hand to Paul.  He has told them of God’s great love for them (1Cor 2.9-12).  And Paul has warned the Corinthians that while “we all have knowledge . . . [, k]nowledge puffs up, but love edifies. [Therefore,] if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.  But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.”  (1Cor 8.1-3.)  Behind Paul’s discussion of the Corinthians’ divisions, their immorality on the one hand and asceticism on the other, their lawsuits against fellow Christians, their public eating of idol food, their selfishness during the Lord’s Supper — beneath the surface of all these discussions has been the need for love.   But now love, which has peaked out from behind the clouds occasionally, breaks out into clear blue sky.  Here, Paul, in a kind of elegy, points directly and steadily at love.  This passage is like a fine Port or French Silk — it deserves to be savored.

A more excellent way (1Cor 12.31) .

Paul begins by telling the Corinthians he wants to show them a “more excellent way” (1Cor 12.31).  A more excellent way than what?   Here, as in 1Cor 12.1,  we encounter an ambiguity in the Greek.  The phrase may either be in the imperative (“Desire the greater gifts.”), or it may be in the indicative (“You are desiring [what you consider to be] the greater gifts.”).  The key is Paul’s parallel statement in 1Cor 14.1 where he clearly uses the imperative:  “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”  Paul is telling the Corinthians to stop lusting after what they consider to be the best gifts — gifts such as tongues which the Corinthians were using to promote their individual status.  When it comes to prayerfully desiring gifts, they should pray for the ones God esteems as best, and those are the ones which bring the most edification to the body.  And here I think Paul is really only comparing two gifts — tongues and prophecy — for that is the comparison he draws in ch. 14 when he flatly tells the the Corinthians that “he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets so the church may receive edification” (1Cor 14.5).  And shortly thereafter he says: “Since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.”  (1Cor 14.12.)  So, as between the speaking gifts, prophesy is to be desired above tongues.  But above all the spiritual gifts is something that should be not only desired but pursued, and that is love (1Cor 14.1).  You may prayerfully seek a gift like prophecy which edifies the body, but there is only one thing you should pursue — love.  Love, not gifts, is to be the lifelong quest for every believer. Why? Because without love, nothing matters (1Cor 13.1-3).

Without love, nothing matters (1Cor 13.1-3).

That is a strong assertion, and to drive it home, Paul takes up three dreams of greatness — three dreams involving spiritually superlative gifts (1Cor 13.1-2) and spiritually heroic service (1Cor 13.3). Each of those gifts and services without love not only falls short of its billing, but ends up amounting to nothing. The one who speaks with the tongues of angels — without love it were better had he never spoken, for his words are worthless and obnoxious (1Cor 13.1). The one with all knowledge and all faith to remove mountains — without love he is a nobody (1Cor 13.2).  The one who performs heroic spiritual service — without love he receives nothing from God (1Cor 13.3).