United Commentaries

1Cor.12.1-14.40

The church at Corinth had placed too much emphasis on the gift of tongues (see 14:1-25, 27; cp. the lists in 12:8-10, 28, where Paul places tongues last), so Paul gives corrective advice regarding the value and use of spiritual gifts.

1Cor.13.1-13

Paul interrupts his discussion of spiritual gifts (resumed in ch 14) to emphasize that love is more important than any spiritual gift (cp. 8:1-3). The most important thing for Christians is to become deeply and consistently loving people.

1Cor.13.1-3

Spiritual gifts in themselves do not define our worth to God or to the church. In fact, apart from the expression of love, spiritual gifts are of no value.

1Cor.13.1

all the languages of earth (literally the tongues of men) and of angels: Tongues was the spiritual gift most highly prized by the Corinthians (see also 12:10, 28; 14:1-25, 27). Some may have thought tongues to be the language of angels; in Acts, Luke uses the same term to refer to natural human languages (see Acts 2:4-13).

1Cor.13.2

If I . . . possessed all knowledge possibly refers to the gift of “special knowledge” (12:8).

1Cor.13.3

sacrificed my body, I could boast about it: Some manuscripts read sacrificed my body to be burned; it would have been easy for a copyist to change the text accidentally, because in Greek the two readings differ only by one letter. It is unclear which reading is to be preferred; however, the manuscripts supporting the reading I could boast are generally better.

I would have gained nothing: Even the most impressive sacrificial acts mean nothing if not motivated by love.

1Cor.13.4-7

This description of Christian love emphasizes the willingness to give up one’s own desires for the good of others (see also 8:1–10:33; Rom 5:6-8; 15:3; 2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:4-8).

1Cor.13.5

It does not demand its own way: Love is not self-centered, not concerned simply with its own interests (see Phil 2:4-8).

1Cor.13.8-13

Love, in contrast to spiritual gifts, will last forever.

1Cor.13.8

Love will last forever, because God is love (cp. 1 Jn 4:7-12, 16).

1Cor.13.9

None of the spiritual gifts gives us full understanding; unlike love, they are all limited in their benefits.

1Cor.13.12

The contrast between now and then is between this age and the coming age.

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror: In Paul’s day, mirrors were usually made of polished bronze, so the view was imperfect. Our perception in this life is limited and our understanding is partial and incomplete.

then: When the end comes and Christ establishes his eternal kingdom, we will see everything with perfect clarity. Then the spiritual gifts that give knowledge will be unnecessary.

1Cor.13.13

Faith, hope, and love are more important than spiritual gifts because they last forever (see also Rom 5:1-5; Gal 5:5-6; Col 1:4-5; 1 Thes 1:3; 5:8). Of the three, the greatest . . . is love, because love is the quintessential nature of God himself (see 1 Jn 4:7-12, 16-21). So love should epitomize our relationship with him and others.