Introduction
For many Christians, 1 Corinthians 13 is one of the most interesting chapters in the New Testament. It is a verse that has real-life virtue, and its core foundation is on the meaning and the virtue of love among Christians. Love is the foundation of Christian teaching, and it stands out as the best virtue a Christian should possess. At the time Paul wrote this Hymn, the church in Corinthian was trouble. During this time, the church in Corinthian had an intense rivalry, jealousy, partisanship, quarreling, immorality, contention, and divisiveness threatened to splinter the church. 1 Paul oversaw the lack of Love, although most of the church members had different gifts that could enable them to heal or speak in tongues. Therefore, the core to the 1 Corinthians 13 was to underline the need to prioritize love over other gifts from God. Furthermore, the intent was to highlight that despite the God-given gifts, lack of love overrule any of them and render them useless. Therefore, the emphasis is that Christian need to love each other to be closer to God. It implies that in everyday life, Love should be the foundation of interactions and relationships in Christian life.
Content and Structure of the Passage
1 Corinthians 13 is Hymn Love. It has thirteen verses, all of which are based on traits of love and pieces of advice of nature of the love people need to seek, and how the gift of Love overrule other gifts from God. 2 The first three verses of the hymn focus on the possession of the other different gifts and how they are useless when the Gift of love is missing. In the first three verses, Paul claims that despite possessing the gift of intellect, knowledge, faith, and charity, lack of love renders all these Gifts useless. 3 In the first Corinthian 13 verse one, Paul states that " If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not to love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal." 4 In verse two, Paul states that "if I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains but has not to love, I am nothing." 5 In the same Manner, verse three claim that despite surrendering the body to flame and giving all that a person possesses; such actions still do not count when a person lack Love. A look at the first three verses of this chapter, therefore, reveals that they focus on the need to incorporate love in all actions as Christian.
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From verses four to seven, Paul talks of the nature of Agape or the unconditional love that Christians need to possess. The content of these verses is as follows: In verse four, Paul states that " Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy; it does not boast; it is not proud." In verse five, Paul states that love is not rude and is not easy to anger, and neither does it keeps the record of wrongdoing. In this verse also, Paul says that love is not self-seeking. 6 Proceeding to verse five of the same chapter, Paul says that love rejoices in truth but does not have any delight in evil. In verse six, Paul says that the love from God and the one that the true Christians should always possess always protect, has hoped to preserve, and also enhances trust. 7 Lastly, Paul says that " Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." 8
The Last part of the hymns is six chapters deal with the supremacy of love that Christian needs to possess. It is a message to the Christian on how to uphold love and its supreme status among all Gifts. The content of the last six verse of the 1 Corinthian 13 are as follows: In verse eight, Paul says that " but where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." 9 In the next verse, Paul focuses on the perfection of the prophecy as he claims that prophecy is part, and when the full time comes or when the perfection comes in, the imperfect in the prophecy disappears. In verse eleven, Paul says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." 10 In verse twelve of the chapter, Paul gives a glimpse of how Christianity understands God. From his point of view, Paul claims that Christianity's understanding of God is not clear. 11 Paul states that "now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 12 The last part of the 1 st Corinthian 13 states that "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." 13 Therefore, Paul declares that Love is the greatest of all the gifts that God gives to His people.
The Structure of 1 Corinthians 13 can be summarized in three parts based on the message they convey to the Christians. The first part of the Hymn is 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. All these parts communicate a message of the supremacy of Love over other Gifts. It compares the gift of love to others can conclude that it is supreme. The second part of the Hymn is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, which outlines the traits of Agape. In this section, Paul outline what defines a true love that Christians should seek in their lives. 14 The last part of this Hymn is the last six verses of the chapter. In this section, Paul has the last message for Christian, and in most verse within the section, he works to convince them of the power of love.
Context of the Passage
Corinth was an ancient city in Greece. The name Corinth was adopted from the Dorian Greeks in the early first millennium B.C. It was built on the north side of the Acrocorinthus, which rises 1900 feet above the plain and served the Corinthians as their citadel. As Corinth was a Roman colony, its citizens were Romans, probably freedmen from Italy. However, the population of Corinth was greatly augmented by Greeks and Levantines, the latter including a considerable Jewish community. 15 Paul came to Corinth in weaknesses and fear. During this time, the church in Corinth was wicked, and it was full of intense rivalry, jealousy, partisanship, quarreling, immorality, contention, and divisiveness threatened to splinter the church. The root of the problem in the Corinthians church was religious Enthusiasm. 16 Some so valued ecstatic speech as the spirit inspired language of angels that they looked condescendingly on the less gifted. Some made glossolalia a prerequisite for rather than an expression of life in the kingdom. What was apparent during this time in Corinth was the fact that despite people having different gifts from God, there was no love among them. Therefore, the first Corinthian aimed at exhibiting the need to love each other amidst having all the precious gifts from God.
The 1 Corinthians 13 is embedded between two chapters in the Catholic Bible. It has an ecclesiological perspective, and it is theological and anthropological. The chapter underscores the essential quality of the Christian life. All such comparing of one's self with others and all judging of one's neighbor has ceased in "love." 17 The chapter emphasizes the Agape or the unconditional love that was missing during the time it was published in the Corinthian church. The purpose of the chapter is purely ethical. At the core of the message is that amidst the gift of knowledge, intellect, faith, and fairness, the churches in Corinthian and other people must incorporate the gift of love as the core foundation of the church and Christian life. 18 Paul spends a lot of time on this chapter describing the quality love to the Corinthians with a view of making them understand the nature of love that was necessary for them during this time. Paul is seeking to promote the character formation of the members of the Corinthian community.
Notably, the book of the first Corinthians is divided into six main divisions under the Catholic Bible. These chapters include the Address, the disorders in the Corinthian community, answers to the Corinthians' questions, problems in liturgical assemblies. 19 The last two parts include the resurrection and conclusions. 20 Chapter thirteen is included in the fourth division known as spiritual gifts, where it underlines and compares the spiritual gifts that God grants people. Paul places the Gift of Love on top God's gifts and urges Corinthians that understanding God better, adopting the gift of love.
Interpretation of the Passage
In the first three verses of chapter 13, Paul emphasizes the possession of the gifts but renders them useless when a person cannot accompany such gifts with love. In chapter 13:1, Paul claims that despite the ability to speak in tongue, lack of love renders such an ability a noise with no useful meaning. Note that the Bible documents instances where the Angels who were close to God use to speak in tongue. Among Corinthians, therefore, speaking in the tongue of Angel was a value. It was perceived as a closer link to God, and it is due to such value in the church that Paul uses speaking in tongue in the Hymn. Therefore, speaking in the tongue was a gift that was bringing people closer to God. 21 Gong that Paul uses in this chapter was a form of musical element or sound that was used mostly in the Corinthian church. 22 Therefore, in this case, it is used as an idiomatic expression to depict a loud noise. The verbal arrogance of public speakers was also labeled as the sound of a gong or cymbal. Therefore, Paul implies that with no love, speaking in the tongue is empty and only leads to loud or gong noise that does not make any sense or impact in the Christian life.
In chapter 13:2, the message is equally the same. Paul focuses on the gift of prophesy, the gift of intellect or knowledge, and the gift of faith. Prophesy, which is the core of this chapter, 13:2 refers to utterances deriving from altered states of consciousness experiences that apply the gospel of God to a new situation. Prophecy indicates what has to be done in the here and now in line with Jesus's experience. Knowing mysteries means knowing God's secrets, and His will. However, the person must possess the intellectual gift of knowledge. 23 Faith is about the trust in God, and it is the force that Christians need to move a mountain, as Paul suggests in this chapter. Paul uses the gift of knowledge, the gift of trust, and the gift of prophecy because these were critical gifts that many people had in the country and churches by this time. However, Paul state that despite having such precious gifts, missing love among them means that such a person still has no meaning.
In chapter 13:3, Paul still focuses on perseverance that some Christian undergo at a personal level to serve others. Jesus is an excellent example of a person who underwent self-sacrifice to save the humankind. In this sense, selflessness was highly valued among the Corinthians. 24 Also, Christianity is defined by the fact that they were ready to give their belonging and properties to others. So, the act of giving away the possession was something that was cherished among Christian. Therefore, the fact that Paul is comparing the act of giving away property and self-sacrifice with nothing without love means that Paul is elevating the gift of love above all the sacrifices that a person may make in life.
In the first three chapters, therefore, Paul is still not clear on the nature of love that Christians need to uphold. But in chapter 13:4-7, Paul defines the traits of Agape or the unconditional love that Christian in Corinthians were lacking that was leading to sinful acts in the churches despite the gift some of them were having. The love that Paul insists on, therefore, has unique traits. 25 First, it is patient with people. In the Catholic Bible, patience describes those who are slow to anger. These people are described as patience because God is usually patient with His people. Also, the love that Paul emphasizes is kind. Kindness has been a great virtue in among the Christians. Kindness is the foundation of Christianity, and this empathizes in many verses in the Bible. The love that Paul insists on, therefore, means that people must show kindness to others. 26 Another trait that this love should portray is that it should not be unfair to enemies. Christianity believes that people should love all people the way they love themselves. Therefore, unconditional love should be fair for all despite the relationship between people.
Also, love should not brag. It implies that despite the amount of properties a person who has unconditional love possesses, they should not be boasting or intimidating others because of such possessions. It is also a love that should not be inflated with its importance. There is a self-effacing quality in love. True love will always be far more impressed with its unworthiness than its merit. Also, true love should be graceful. 27 The term grace is critical in Christianity. Grace and kindness are intertwined, and the results they should produce are unconditional love for Christianity. 28 It is also a love that does not insist upon its rights, and it is a love that never flies into a temper. In many books in the Bible, the Bible is against being hot-tempered. Therefore as a Christian, checking the emotional condition is a virtue that defines a person that possesses true love. Lastly, the love that Paul emphasizes does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received, finds no pleasure in evil-doing. However, it is a Love that rejoices with the truth Love can endure anything.
The last part of chapter 13:8-13 is the supremacy of love in comparison to other gifts from God. In these verses, what Paul sees and places priority is the permanency of Love. In this chapter, it is evident that Agape love is long-lasting and permanent. It is a love that is complete. What Paul understands in this life is that people only see the reflections of God and are left with much that is mystery and riddle. "People see the reflection in God's world, for the work of anyone's hands, tells us something about the workman, we see it in the Gospel, and we see it in Jesus Christ." 29 Even if in Christ, people have the perfect revelation, the seeking minds can grasp it only in part, for the finite can never grasp the infinite. Therefore, Love is the supreme among all the most important gifts that God has given His people.
Contemporary Application of the Passage
In the contemporary world, the word Agape or unconditional love is highly valued and applied in many cases. For instance, it is mostly applied to describe unconditional romantic love. In most weddings in the contemporary world. The emphasis is on absolute love and togetherness on marriages as a way to reduce the chances of devoicing and break up when the conditions toughen up. Therefore, it emphasizes on sticking together both during the happiness and during the tough times, such as sickness. 30 Unconditional love is also an emphasis on the family of Christianity in society. It is also applicable when people come together to fight disasters. Such are the conditions where love and togetherness supersede the other matters when the community comes along and join forces to fight emergencies such as terrorism and natural disasters they face. Therefore, 1 st Corinthians 13:1-13 is critical and relevant in today's society.
Conclusion
In the 1 st Corinthians 13:1-13, Paul focuses on love as a gift that stands above all other gifts from God. Paul understands the gift that God bestowed people within the Corinthian church. However, the problem Paul sees is the fact that people are overlying on such gifts to the extent that they ignore the power of love. Therefore, Paul wrights the 1 st Corinthians 13:1-13 as a reminder to the Corinthians that Love was the supreme gift of all.
Bibliographies
Campbell-Reed. The healing power of love in the "tragic gap" (1 Corinthians 13: 1–13). Word & World , 30 (1), (2010). 91-97.
Compton, R. B. (1). 1 Corinthians 13: 8–13 and the Cessation of Miraculous Gifts . Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal , 9 (2004), 97144.
Cox. 1 Corinthians 13—an Antidote to Violence: Love. Review & Expositor , 93 (4), (1996). 529-536.
Hays. First Corinthians (Interpretation. Louisville. (1997).
Morton. Gifts in the Context of Love: Reflections on 1 Corinthians 13 . (1999).
Vang, P. 1 Corinthians (Teach the Text Commentary Series) . Baker Books. (2014).
Witherington, Conflict and community in Corinth: A socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians . Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1995.
1 Campbell-Reed. The healing power of love in the “tragic gap” (1 Corinthians 13: 1–13). Word & World ,
2 Compton, R. B. (1). 1 Corinthians 13: 8–13 and the Cessation of Miraculous Gifts . Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal ,
3 Campbell-Reed. The healing power of love in the “tragic gap” (1 Corinthians 13: 1–13).
4 Vang, P. 1 Corinthians (Teach the Text Commentary Series) .
5 Hays,First Corinthians
6 Compton, R. B. (1). 1 Corinthians 13: 8–13 and the Cessation of Miraculous Gifts
7 Morton. Gifts in the Context of Love: Reflections on 1 Corinthians
8 Compton, R. B. (1). 1 Corinthians 13: 8–13 and the Cessation of Miraculous Gifts
9 Campbell-Reed. The healing power of love in the “tragic gap” (1 Corinthians 13: 1–13).
10 Hays,First Corinthians
11 Morton. Gifts in the Context of Love: Reflections on 1 Corinthians
12 Vang, P. 1 Corinthians
13 Compton, 1 Corinthians 13: 8–13 and the Cessation of Miraculous Gifts
14 Witherington
15 Vang,
16 Campbell-Reed. The healing power of love in the “tragic gap”(
17 Compton,
18 Morton. Gifts in the Context of Love: Reflections on 1 Corinthians
19 Witherington, Conflict and community in Corinth
20 Campbell-Reed. The healing power of love in the “tragic gap”(
21 Witherington, Conflict and community in Corinth: A socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians
22 Compton,
23 Hays,First Corinthians
24 Witherington, Conflict and community in Corinth: A socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians .
25 Compton,
26 Campbell-Reed. The healing power of love in the “tragic gap”(
27 Witherington, Conflict and community in Corinth: A socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians .
28 Cox. 1 Corinthians 13—An Antidote to Violence
29 Witherington, Conflict and community in Corinth: A socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians
30 Cox. 1 Corinthians 13—an Antidote to Violence: Love. Review & Expositor
