1 Corinthians 13: The Greatest Love Chapter of the Bible
1 Corinthians 13 is written against the backdrop of internal conflicts and divisions within the church of Corinth as the believers there tried to outdo and outperform each other in the exercise of their spiritual gifts. In the previous chapter, Chapter 12, Paul, the author, had been exhorting the believers about the different kinds of spiritual gifts available to all believers and the importance of having unity even in diversity. He concluded this chapter with the words, “And yet I will show you the most excellent way.”
The most excellent way is the way of love. The apostle Paul started Chapter 13 with these profound observations: “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 (verse 1).” Paul stated that no matter how eloquent our words may be, if love is absent, then they are all meaningless and hollow. They’re just empty words.
He went on to say that “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 (verse 2).” We may possess all the wisdom of this world and be known as a person of great faith, but if we don’t operate under the banner of love, then it’s worthless.
Paul also pointed out that even if we are the most generous person on planet earth and sacrifice our body for the poor, we will still have gained nothing if love is not present in our heart and mind. Paul put it plainly, “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing (verse 3).”
Then Paul wrote the most sublime yet practical description of what true love is: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, and it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres (verses 4-7).”
That is love in its very essence. Pure love displays patience, kindness, humility, and deference. It is marked by selflessness, self-control, and forgiveness. It upholds the truth, promotes trust, and protects the other person at all costs. Love will always hope for the best and persevere in the toughest situations. That is the true test of love in every relationship.
The apostle Paul concludes the chapter highlighting the preeminence of love: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love (verse 13).” The reason love is the greatest is because it is the very personification of God, Himself. The apostle John said, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-8).”
Some 2,000 years ago, Love walked on the dusty roads of Judea and Galilee, seen and touched by the people. He went about doing good - feeding and healing the people, forgiving them of their sins. His name is Jesus – God in the flesh. He went to the cross and died for us. When we trust Him and receive His life, divine love will flow out of us—the pure kind of love that displays His patience, kindness, humility, selflessness…