1 Corinthians 13 Part 1 Bible Teaching

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1st Corinthians 13 Part I
October 7th 2018
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So we left off with Paul, after describing the various spiritual gifts that were in operation by the same Spirit in the Apostolic church, telling the believers in Corinth that he was writing to:

Covet the best gifts, and YET I will show you a more excellent way. And we are immediately introduced to chapter 13 of 1st Corinthians – which is known all over the world as the chapter on Christian love.

Why do I say Christian love? Perhaps we should read the first verse and then discuss.

After saying, “and yet I show you a more excellent way,” Paul now says in the first verse of chapter 13:

1st Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Putting the last line of chapter 12 in with the first line of 13 we would read it this way:

“and yet I show you a more excellent way, (because) though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

In other words, Paul, referencing all the spiritual gifts mentioned in chapter 12, now says,

But I want to show you all a more excellent way . . . and it is so much more excellent that even if I speak with the tongue of men and angels and have not charity, all my tongue speaking will be nothing more sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

The key word I want to focus on however is the word translated “charity” here in the King James.

In other versions of the Apostles Record we read:

LOVE

But in our day and age we are presented with a real difficulty because while we generally agree with the condition of love being nice and kind and friendly and such, the word from the Greek is not to be considered through this definition alone.

So let’s talk about . . . love – in the many ways it is used by us and how it is being used here in the Apostles Record.

ON BOARD (list Greek only first)

Agapao (Godly love)
Phileo/Philadelphia (brotherly love/friendship)
Thelo – (desire) love chocolate cake
Eros – (romantic Love)
Storge – (love for family, esp. parent to offspring)

Let’s work backward on these:

We note that the term “storgay” is only used once in the entire Bible – Romans 12:10 – and it is not used alone – its a compound word and it’s where Paul says:

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;

The phrase, Be kindly affectioned one to another is derived from the Greek term

PHILOS-TORGAS

and from its presence we get the notion that it is a “type of love” is endorsed by the Apostles as viable among believers.

Again, storgay love is best represented as the love a parent has for a child – and while strong and close to agapao love, it is not the same because even that love is inferior to the Love that God is.

The next term is eros (for erotic love) and it is never used in the Apostolic Record. In fact in discussing the love a husband is to have for his wife, the word is agapao, not eros, not phileo, not storgay – it is a command to love her well above the realms of these expressions.

Of course, we do find expressions or erotic love in the Old Testament Song of Solomon, and we know that it is a primary biological driver that unites the sexes.

I wonder if eros love existed in the Garden of Eden but I am personally inclined to think it certainly did in part because God created Adam and Eve, it is part of our nature, and what else would cause Adam to openly choose to follow Eve in a willful display of rebellion against God than some good old fashioned eroticism?

And while tremendously potent and persuasive, I tend to describe eros love in a fuller expression – erosion love – because in time it will abate between most people, hopefully replaced with more storgay, philos and especially agape.

Can any or all of these loves exist without agapeo love? I’m not certain because even when we speak of eros love I tend to think that true eros love it is a by-product of Agapeo love, and that it is not one and the same as Lust.

Just my opinion and worth what you paid for it.

Thelo love is not frequently mentioned by scholars as a name of love in scripture – but I see it as one.

Thelo means want, or desire. It’s closely related to eros toward another individual but it is typically used toward objects or things in scripture. It is used over 200 times in the Apostolic Record and often means prefer.

So you can see why I think it can be included in the terms to describe human or even Godly love.

But it probably best remains, if we are going to use it, in terms of, “I thelo tacos,” and the like.

Of course our next term is very big in the Record, Phileo – it means friend, with its derivative terms, philadelpho and philadelphea, meaning brotherly love (love between friends close as siblings).

This form of love was used by Jesus on several occasions – even when He asked Peter if he loved him after His death and resurrection and so we see from this that this type of love is very important to God among His creations.

And while beautiful and good and closely underwritten by agape love, neither phileo, nor thelo, nor storgay, nor eros is used in the Greek here to describe the love Paul means – it is always and only agape love.

This is the love God is, has, and operates in completely. There has been a lot written on this type or kind of love (if you will) but all of the writings seem to be able to be boiled down to a couple concepts:

First of all, the essence of agape love begins with goodwill – not evil will – goodwill.

It seeks and wants and willfully desires the best for all receivers of it.

Secondly, agape love appears contextually to always – listen to this folks – it is always an act of the will.

It is an act (that is point three) that people CHOOSE to adapt when confronted with the presence of others.

Where philos love might sometimes have choice involved, and eros, storage and even Thelos desire is often self-sustaining and not a matter of choice, Agape love will always choose the beneficial the well-being, the good of the other – over any other option or drive.

So, we can see in this point that agape love would always reign over all other forms of love – though, as stated, philos love does border nearby.

In other words, in the philos, storgay, thelo or eros love we have and FEEL for others, the truest love we can actually EXPRESS to another, one that we CHOOSE over the others, is agape – because Agape love is always concerned with the well-being, the benefit of the other, and never the self.

Having said this agape love is often misunderstood – especially in this world – and for this reason, amidst all the ways people use LOVE and AGAPE and GOD’S LOVE in this world, Paul takes the time to describe what this ultimate love looks like – right here in this chapter we are blessed to consider.

Third, and because of point two, agape love is only expressed when there is a choice or option for non-agape.

In other words, agape love is present and chosen when there is a reason to choose otherwise.

This is a factor that separates it from Philo, eros, thelo, and storgay love.

We are merely doing what we would normally do when we are expressing these other loves.

What parent would not want what to bless the lives of their children? What person doesn’t want to help their friend?
Who wouldn’t desire a chocolate cake, or love their better half erotically?

These are natural, even self-interested at times responses.

It’s when our children are rude, our friends betray us, our erotic loves reject us, and the like that agape chooses the benefit of the other.

Now, since we are on this point, we might admit that without God in us, none, no not one would be willing to choose to unconditionally love those who do not deserve it.

In other words, when we are left to the devices of our own types of love, they will fail – even parent to child in extreme cases.

But the love that God is NEVER fails. Ever. Which is why it is so utterly different that all other forms.

Eros love certainly fails, as does thelos desire, philadelphos love and as stated, storgay love.

But Agape love – the goodwill, beneficial, from the freewill of one to another – never fails.

And it is to this love that Paul speaks now.

So let’s read the contents of chapter 13 now, let the Spirit move, and consider all that has been said relative to what Paul is about to reveal as the more excellent way, and he starts off by saying:

1st Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling 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, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me
nothing.

Now, I want to stop right here and clear something up present in the King James which uses the term charity to describe this love.

In our day this is a poor word choice because charity is sort of defined as what verse 3 describes, right?

So, for the rest of this discussion I am going to strike charity from the reading and say God’s love in place of it. Okay?

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not God’s love, it profiteth me nothing.

4 God’s love suffereth long, and is kind; God’s love envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 God’s love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake 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 through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, God’s love, these three; but the greatest of these is God’s love.

After last weeks message on God writing His laws on the hearts of people, this message is so apropos because it allows each of us to clearly understand how and what this love looks like.

Remember, the letter killeth, but the Spirit gives life. And if we were to really look at this, the four terms

God’s Spirit,
God’s Love,
God’s Word, and
Eternal life, they are wholly related and entirely interchangeable!

When we love express God’s love we are living and full of the Spirit!

When we are full of the Spirit we are alive and expressing God’s love!

When we truly alive we are full of the Spirit and therefore loving with God’s love!

So, as we said, this chapter is a continuation of the subject Paul initiated in chapter 12 where he introduced the subject of the various spiritual gifts or endowments that the Holy Spirit confers on Christians for the edification of the church bride.

But at the end of the chapter he said that it while it was lawful for them to desire the most eminent of the gifts conferred by the Spirit he admits that there was way (a more excellent way) that was more valuable than all others – so much so that if a person possessed all the others buy lacked in (ready) lacked in CHOOSING to love with Godly love, then nothing they did by the Spirit mattered.

This is SO important because right here Paul lays out in no uncertain terms the import of Christians CHOOSING to love with God’s love.

I would suggest that there are some really good reasons for this, which might include (but are not limited to) the fact that:

God is this Love. He is not speaking in tongues, or even knowledge. He is love. And therefore the preeminence of God’s love in those who are His cannot be overstated.
I would suggest that based on what Paul says in this chapter that all of the gifts of the Spirit that Paul has mentioned and will mention are temporally based and will fade away. This includes faith, hope and knowledge. But the choice for love will not ever go away. And scripture says neither will He ever Go away, nor His Word, nor eternal life.
I would also suggest that His love overcomes all things – all things. As do the Synonyms of His love – His Word, His Spirit, His Life – all eternal and forever. Other things are not.

And so, we have ultra-preeminence in God’s love, especially in relation to the spiritual gifts Paul has mentioned.

So, back to verse one:

1st Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not God’s love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Paul uses tongues here – so to me it means he is talking about someone who speaks all human tongues – every language – what a spiritual gift – and not only that, but he adds in, the tongue of angels too.

So, we are talking about one hyperbolic description of tongues – a man or woman that roams around and can readily converse with all people of every clime and culture.

Based on the contents of chapter 14 it seems fairly evident that among the Corinthians the power of speaking a foreign language was quite valuable – when we consider the geographical placement of the city.

Perhaps some of the believers who possessed the spiritual gift were thinking that they were all that in comparison to someone who merely cleared tables of food – and Paul seems to be setting the record straight.

When Paul adds, “and of angels,” we have to consider what language angels speak.

Now first, I think we have to admit that Paul is referring to heavenly angels here, not just typical human messengers.

I think we can say this because Paul distinguishes between men and angels.

And because angels are considered superior in every way to human beings, I think we ought to believe that their manner of speech is superior too.

Now some suggest that this reference to angels is speaking about praying in tongues – but I’m not so sure. It’s possible, but I’m not convinced.

I personally think that the tongue of angels refers to the fact that angels have a superior form of speaking – in terms of eloquence and power and clarity – and Paul, reaching into the heights of hyperbole, is suggesting that even if a human being had the capacity to speak like heavenly angels, if they failed to love with God’s love, all that they said would be like

“As sounding brass or a tinkling symbol.”

In these two illustrations Paul again speaks in extremes – without God’s love in the speaker of all tongues or the tongues of angels a person (Paul uses I here by the way) would be like

Sounding brass – which in all probability refers to a trumpet which would be made of brass or copper and makes a mighty sound but not one of clear distinction like words and or they would be like a tinkling symbol, something that Paul appeals to which was probably to the clashing of symbols and not what we might think, which would be a wind chime.

I say this because the Greek for tinkling here is alalazon (which comes from alalh or alala and means a “war-cry”) which again, would be distinct and even loud, but not producing direct instructions.

So, just imagine someone who is gifted with the spiritual gift of tongues who stands up and blasts out a trumpet sound, and then another person stands up and produces the clashing of cymbals!

That is what the superabundant gift of tongues would be if it was presented in the absence of God’s love.

Not only worthless, but annoyingly so – and the end result would be that the Spiritual gift was worthless.

In verse two, Paul then addresses the spiritual gift of prophecy (which would be enhanced by spiritual discernment and knowledge) and then faith, and says:

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, and have not charity, I am nothing.

In the first verse, Paul says that if he had the superabundant gift of tongues without love then he becomes as loud brass and clanging cymbals.

Here in verse 2 he says that if he has the gift of prophecy, which is enhanced by his understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, and then all faith, he says:

I am nothing.

In the first verse he, through the loveless gift of tongues, becomes like a noisy trumpet and cymbals and in the second verse he himself IS nothing (even though he has mad prophetic skills and extreme faith).

Because Paul is speaking of spiritual gifts here without love, I am of the opinion that when he says he (would be) “nothing,” he means that he would be an “empty-vessel” before God, a “fruitless branch,” a “waterless well.”

But lest we forget, Paul first establishes that he was fully a possessor of many extreme spiritual gifts, presumably gifts that could or would have greatly blessed the Kingdom of God.

Is that possible? For an individual to be superabundantly blessed to the point that they contribute mightily to the Church bride of that day (or even this) but they themselves are before God nothing?

Apparently so. I think its vital to understand that Paul is speaking to two separate things here:

In the first sense, he is referring to the spiritual gifts that believers would possess that would bless the lives of others.

But the second part seems to be where he speaks to the condition of the individual who actually possesses and executes the gifts in the body.

They are mutually exclusive – because someone is a great teacher by no means that they are anything before God. And I think this principle is really hard for human beings to grasp.

Based on this alone we can see why we should never be respecter of persons.

The principle is mentioned in Matthew 9:11 where we read:

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:” for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

That recitation of the Lord, “Go and learn what, “I will have mercy and not sacrifice” means” is Jesus pulling from Hosea in the Tanahk, where God says in Hosea 6:6:

“For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

This is akin to the point Paul is making – who cares what your spiritual gifts are if you don’t possess mercy – which is a part of Christian love – and which is the truest Christian command?

God can make a monkey speak in a thousand tongues – but He cannot force human’s beings to choose to love. This is why God wants His primary and most powerful command to be present in the midst of all these spiritual gifts Paul has mentioned.

Any other approach will amount to a hill of beans. Going back to 1st Samuel, we read a of a similar tale and it takes place between the Prophet Samuel, King Saul and God’s command for Saul to go and wipe out Amalak and his people.

Its worth the read:

1Samual 15:1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.
8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

10 Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Paul is telling the Church-Bride that over and above all things, Godly Love – and the command to choose it, is of the utmost import to those who are His children. And nothing on earth – nothing that operates for the benefit of this earth or the kingdom on it IF Godly love is not primary or the foundation behind it.

So again, Paul says:

2 And though I have
the gift of prophecy (and with this gift I understand all mysteries, and all knowledge)

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Godly love, I am nothing.

The prophetic office that Paul mentions along with Apostles and Teachers in chapter 12, appears to bear with it an ability to comprehend all mysteries and to have access to certain levels of knowledge.

Here Paul says, speaking exuberantly of this appointment or calling of Prophecy, that if he (using I again) had the gift to the extent that he understood ALL mysteries, and had ALL knowledge, that the absence of Godly love for others would make the possession of such wonders meaningless.

That is powerful isn’t it?

I mean if we take it literally and in context of Christianity, Paul is implying that knowing EVERYTHING about science, and medicine, and history, and engineering, and philosophy and understanding all the mysteries of the universe and how it functions means NOTHING compared to the choice to love as God loves.

It doesn’t get more radical in terms of comparisons than this – if we allow it.

And it goes hand in hand with the phrase Jesus uttered when he asked:

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses soul?”

Hopefully these professions by Paul are helping all who tune in or show up here at CAMPUS to understand why we focus so much on LOVE.

It is the currency of heaven.
It is the person of God.
It is the environment of eternity.
It is the only thing that overcomes all other things.
It is the only thing that lasts as it is eternal, and for this reason, it is entirely optional and up to every individual to choose it . . . or not.

Godly love is so important, so vital, so eternal and so much God that Paul even includes . . .

Faith – a superabundance of faith, in his list of things that are not meaningful in the least without love – is added here!

Can you believe that! Faith! So much faith that Paul says that even if he possessed enough to move mountains, without the presence of Godly love, he would be . .
. NOTHING.

(beat)

We will talk more about this . . . next week.

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