Revision as of 19:30, 29 June 2018

Objectives

Opening

Main Body

The Superiority of Love V. 1-3

Compared with tongues

• What comparison does Paul make to tongues without love?
  • Corinth was known for its production of Corinthian brass. The people would have been very familiar with the sound of a hammer striking brass.
  • Paul's comment on the tongues of angels may be a play on the people's view that they had arrived. The people may well have identified themselves as having arrived and being at the level of angelic beings in their worship. Paul's contrast with a clanging symbol is striking.

Compared with Prophecy and Knowledge

• What are some spiritual things that you do not understand? Wouldn't you like to know the answer?
  • It is worth noting that commentaries disagree on how many gifts are actually mentioned here. For example some argue that prophecy, understanding mysteries, understanding knowledge, and faith are all separate. Others think of this as just prophecy and faith. In this context it is somewhat irrelevant, the key here is that none of this matters without love.

Compared with self-sacrifice

• What does our society typically think of as being the ultimate testament of a person's spirituality?
  • We often think of self-sacrifice as being the ultimate test of spirituality. However, again, Paul brings love into the equation.

The progression

To the person who would argue that gifts of the Spirit give spiritual standing Paul offers the following: without love I am just a lot of noise, I am nothing, and I gain nothing.

Love Defined V.4-7

Is and Is nots

For Paul, love is not just a theoretical abstract concept, but something that has real consequences in the life of the one who has love.

• According to verses 5-6 what is love? (be sure not to include any of the love is no statements yet!).
  • forbearing (Present active verb)
    • God's forbearance was often linked with His love. Joel 2:13
  • kind (present indicative verb indicates continuing action)
  • joyful in truth
• It is often useful to give a few non-examples when defining a term. Sometimes it is easier to describe what something is not rather than to describe what it is. According to verses 4-6, what is love now?
  • Does not envy
    • The Greek word for eve means earnest striving after,
  • boastful
    • Compare this with the envy. It seems there was probably issues in the church where some people were working hard to reach a high position and others were boasting in there high position. Neither of these is love.
  • puffed up
    • 1 Corinthians 8:1 had already stated that knowledge puffed-up. Here we have a contrast, knowledge puffs-up and love builds-up. It is not that knowledge is itself evil, but rather that love is the more important.
  • rude
    • The word for rude is only used here and in 1 Corinthians 7:36 where it refers to how one should not act toward a future spouse. The word falls between puffed-up and self-seeking.
  • self-seeking
  • easily provoked
    • The verb here is in the passive voice.
  • a recorder of wrongs
  • joyful at evil

Actions V.7

• What does love do?
  • • In the greek Paul uses the word παντα after each verb, the emphasis is clearly on all things.
  • Puts up with all things
  • Believes in all things
    • Does this mean truth can be safely relativized?
      • No, but we must exercise great care in explaining this.
  • Hopes in all things
  • Endures all things

Love's Endurance V. 8-13

Closing