“1 Corinthians 13”

Monday, March 13, 2017

The “more excellent way” talked about in this chapter is love.

The first section (verses 1-3) shows us that, without love, nothing else really matters.

Great talent is insignificant is it is not used to love and serve others. Helping others is important but we must serve them because of our love for God and people. Miracles are performed (in the first century) in vain if they are not offered out of a motive of love.

The second section (verses 4-8a) is the most beautiful description of love man has ever heard, because it was inspired by God.

Paul describes love, by inspiration, as being patient, kind, not envious, not quick to anger, not arrogant or proud. Love behaves politely and properly. Love bears, believes, hopes and endures. Love never fails.

The third section (verses 8b-13) reveals the duration of the gifts. They were to fail, cease, or vanish away “when that which is perfect has come.” There are two basic views in the religious world about what this means.

Some believe this is speaking of the return of Christ. When He comes back, spiritual gifts will cease. Of course, this event is in the future and would therefore mean that the gifts continue even in our present time. But these gifts were given by the laying on of an apostle’s hands (Acts 8:17-18) and when the apostles had all died, there was no provision for them to continue.

The other view, which is more consistent with the teaching of the New Testament, is that this refers to the completed revelation of God’s word. When the Bible was finished, the spiritual gifts ended.

--Roger Hillis

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