Love Above All Spiritual Gifts: 1 Corinthians 13

In the previous passage of 1 Corinthians, Paul talked about spiritual gifts, which was an issue of contention in the Corinthian Church. Paul talked about the importance of spiritual gifts but emphasised about keeping in mind their true purpose, which was not self-glorification but rather to build the Church and to bring Glory to God. He talks about pursuing helpful/useful/ and gifts of greater need.  And then he proceeds to talk about a more excellent way, Love.

1 Corinthians 13 is not independent of what Paul talks about in ch 12 or follows in Ch 14 where he continues about Spiritual gifts, but is juxtaposed in between as an anchor for the reason to how a Christian should operate and it also expands on the theme that Paul had raised in Ch 8:1 that “Knowledge puffs up but love builds up”

Paul begins by saying that one may possess spiritual gifts, but if it is unaccompanied by love it is useless. He uses three examples of spiritual gifts; tongues, prophecy and giving to the needy. All wonderful in themselves but also notice that they are gifts that are very visible to anyone and everyone. While pointing this out he reminds that without love for God and for our neighbour being the motive behind any said action, it is useless. Without love, the seemingly most impressive spiritual gifts and actions are ultimately meaningless and can even be destructive. 

Paul then goes on to define what love is and is not, he does not define love as an emotion but an attitude and action towards others which would include our words. It is a way of life characterized by actions like patience, kindness, selflessness, and truthfulness. 

When we think of the qualities of this love as Paul portrays them, we can see them realized in the life of Jesus himself.

Romans 5:8 says “God showed His love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

This love that Paul describes, is a gift from God and we are called to cultivate it. It is rooted in the cross of Christ. 1 John 4:19 says “We love because He loved us first.”

Galatians 5:14 says, “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbour as yourself.”  Agape love, the love that God has for us and we are to reflect is not a feeling, it is an act of our will. It flows through our Spirit and our flesh follows.

Colossians 3:12-14 “ Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

When Paul calls Christians to have compassion he prefaces that with three identifiers of who we are – God’s chosen, Holy and Beloved ones. He then says put on love, which binds everything in perfect harmony. With what Christ did on the cross for us, we have the hope to love more and more like Him. The Joy to love comes because of the truth that because of Christ we are no longer our old selves but a new creation. It is the work of Christ in us. Therefore, the source of such love does not come from us but is Rooted in Christ.

It is sustained and shaped by the Holy Spirit: It is the Spirit that takes what Christ did on the cross for us and causes it to be real in the sense of the transformation that it brings within us.

The Goal and the purpose of such love is to glorify God as we reflect Him through expressing such love, which is radically different to how the world defines love.

Paul ends this passage talking about the temporary nature of these gifts and the permanence of love, when all the things in which men glory have passed away love will still stand. When we are face to face with Jesus, the need for gifts will pass away, overshadowed by the presence of Christ. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are necessary and appropriate for this present age, when we are not yet fully mature, and we only know in part. There will come a day when the gifts are unnecessary, but that day has not come yet. So may we not overemphasize spiritual gifts, forgetting what God calls us to place greater emphasis on, which to love Him and our fellow brethren.

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

When we are in eternity, faith and hope will have fulfilled their purpose but love for God and each other remains. Paul reminds us that without love as the motive and goal, spiritual gifts are useless. It is the greatest and most essential virtue, surpassing even miraculous spiritual gifts.

God Bless.