The greatest is love

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 O ne thing that I often find myself saying when studying God’s Word is “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” This is true as we study the Old Testament and notice the rebellious nature of the Israelites and also when we study the New Testament and the many problems that were addressed to the church during the first century.

The letters to the church at Corinth prove this statement to be true, as there was a number of problems that plagued that congregation.

The church in Corinth was a congregation that was plagued with many problems; there are 11 abuses (problem areas) listed in this letter (division among brethren chapter1-3; false pride chapter 4; immorality chapter 5; pagan court battles chapter 6; marriage chapter 7; idolatry chapter 8; not supporting the work of the church chapter 9; fellowship abuses chapter 10; worship abuses chapter 11; miraculous gifts chapter12-14; denying the resurrection chapter 15); all of the following problems can be seen today in a number of congregations. It is in this congregation, with all of its problems, that God would deliver the greatest teaching on the subject of love.

As we have already given the outline for the book of 1 Corinthians, we have noticed the immediate context of chapters twelve through fourteen is a discussion regarding the miraculous gifts. This was one of the major abuses of the congregation and one of the reasons for the letter being written.

There were members of this congregation that supposed they had the “more perfect gift”, and it was this thinking that was being corrected. As there were some desiring to have the best gifts, Paul would now show them a more excellent gift (1 Cor. 12:31). Although this congregation had the spiritual gifts, there was something more excellent they had to gain or had lost and needed to be reminded.

This more excellent wat is the essential element needed in every congregation. Love is an essential element to being a Christian and as the apostle Paul will begin explaining this more excellent and essential way, he will explain that without it we are nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3).

Not only does Paul reveal this most excellent way, but he will begin to elaborate on this most excellent way (v.4-7). The charity (translated in other verses and in this article as “love”) that is essential to Christian living is long suffering. Love is enduring, it does not quit when things become difficult, but is long suffering in those moments. Love is kind, as it has a gentle behavior; kindness is something that each Christian must possess (Romans 12:19-21; Eph. 4:32; Matt. 7:12). Love is not envious and is not unhappy when others are happy. Love is not boastful and does not parade itself around playing the braggart. Love is not proud or puffed up; it is not arrogant. Love is not unbecoming or behave unseemly; it is not indecent.

Love is not selfish, seeking its own but is humble. Love is not easily provoked, it is meek, and does not fly into a rage. Love thinks no evil, it is trustful, and does not take account of evil. Love is a rejoice in truth; instead of rejoicing in iniquity it is saddened by wrongdoing of any kind and rejoices in the triumph of truth. Love is enduring through all that may come its way; it will bear, believe, and hope through all things. As we notice the elaboration of love, in each of these characteristics can be seen attributes of the Godhead that should also be attributes of each Christian.

Noticing the essentiality and elaboration of love, we now notice the endurance of love. Unlike the miraculous gifts that will cease, love will endure forever. Speaking in tongues, prophecies, knowledge, and other spiritual gifts will cease put love will never fail (1 Cor. 13:8). The miraculous gifts were needed until the time the “perfect” is come.

The perfect is the completed revelation of God, the written Word of God, and when the written Word was completed there was no longer any need for men to speak in tongues, to have miraculous knowledge, to prophecy because they could rely upon the written Word of God. Although the miraculous would cease we are comforted because abiding (enduring until the end) is faith, hope, and love, and of these three the greatest is love (1 Cor. 13:13).

May we always remember the essentiality of love, the elaboration of love, and the endurance of love. The congregation at Corinth was plagued with problems but was given the Word of God to instruct them in righteousness. We have the same instruction in righteousness and can pattern ourselves after the love of God as is seen in 1 Corinthians 13.

Jeremy Thornton is Minister of Highway 77 Church of Christ in Marion, Arkansas.

Jeremy Thornton

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