1 Corinthians 13 - All You Need is Love ... Really!

1 Corinthians 13 - NIV

Enduring Word Commentary

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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 do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

These verses in 1 Corinthians 13 are probably read at least 50% of the time at a wedding, especially a Christian one. But the reality is they are right in the middle of Paul's teaching the Corinthians on the role of the spiritual gifts in their life and mission together. 

But, that doesn't mean it is not relevant to a marriage, as Paul's definition of what true love is as good as it gets ... anywhere!

One of the situations in Corinth was the believers were enamored with the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. Paul will address this in the next chapter. But Paul has this chapter in between chapters 12 and 14 for a reason. The tendency we have is to get prideful about our spiritual gifts. It is so exciting to see these divine endowments given to us by God released for God's kingdom purposes. It is natural for us to focus a little too much on ourselves. 

But to Paul we can do experience incredible spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues of men and angels, fathom all mysteries, and faith that moves mountains, it doesn't mean anything if we don't have love. Without love Paul says frankly, "I gain nothing!" Nada, zilch. A pretty sobering statement. 

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I uses these verses when I do pre-marital wedding counseling because to me they are the key to marriage. How is that? Well, love is not a feeling. You don't fall in love. While feelings and attraction may draw two people together, it is the kind of love Paul describes here which will keep a relationship together. Why? 

Because the love Paul is describing is "sacrificial". I also teach couples to insert their name every time it says "love" to see the type of spouse they will need to have a great marriage. I.e "Mike is patient", "Mike is Kind" ... 

Note it says love keeps no record of wrongs. This doesn't mean we sweep under the tables hurts and resentments that naturally happen in the church. But we speak the truth in love to each other and not allow a spirit of forgiveness to toxify our hearts. True love is honest and always seeks the best for the other person. Speaking honestly to someone is the best relationship you can have. It prevents you from gossiping or talking behind the person's back. 

8 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 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 the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a 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.

Verse 8 is one of the greatest promises in the bible. Love never fails! You may say, "Wait a minute, I see love failing all the time!" Yes that is true as we see about 50% of marriages end in divorce, but was this the kind of love Paul was describing. No! God's love never fails! When we rely on God's love and use it to care, love and support one another it will never fail. In fact, even in the hard times it gets stronger if we speak the truth in love to one another. 

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This is quite a statement, as we know how important faith and hope are. But the greatest of these is love. God is love. God's love sent Jesus to the earth to save us from our sin. It's love for one another in the body of Christ that keeps the church strong and on mission. It is love that will lead someone Christ not necessarily every apologetic argument. 

Though we preach the gospel and use apologetics to give the reason for the hope we have, it will be love that presents Jesus in the clearest possible way. St. Francis of Assisi said, 

"Preach the gospel and if necessary use words!" What is he referring to? At the heart of the gospel is Jesus' love incarnated through you and me to people who need to know God loves them and cares for them so much he sent His only Son to die for them!

That's true love! And it never fails! 





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