TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGES. The Corinthians thought the ability to speak in _strange tongues_ was God's greatest gift to them, If Paul can speak every human language and even speak the language of angels, but has no love, this is worthless! Without love, the _strange tongues_ are only senseless noise (s... [ Continue Reading ]
INSPIRED PREACHING = prophecy, See note on 1 Corinthians 12:10. ALL KNOWLEDGE. The secrets of the Old Testament. See note on 1 Corinthians 12:8. FAITH. See note on 1 Corinthians 12:9. BUT IF I HAVE NOT LOVE. Then I am nothing, either in the sight of God or man!... [ Continue Reading ]
I MAY GIVE AWAY. [The NIV adds: _to the poor -_ which is implied.] EVEN GIVE UP MY BODY. To be burned for my religion. The language of this comes from Daniel 3:28. It points to those Christians who would die rather than turn away from Christ BUT IF I HAVE NOT LOVE. "If I am not motivated by love in... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND. Love is the _grace_ which makes men most like (similar to) God. Love best prepares men to live with God in Eternity. _Milton_ writes: "[love is] The golden key which opes [opens] the palace of eternity." Compare 1 John 4:17-18. One who loves, will be patient and kind to tho... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE IS NOT ILL-MANNERED. Does not behave in such a way as to shock good manners and morals. Love is polite. OR SELFISH. Selfishness causes irritability. One who centers all his thoughts on himself, will find no place for God. OR IRRITABLE. Love is not exasperated (does not "fly off the handle") at... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT HAPPY WITH EVIL. Love is not pleased with the evil others do, even when it results in an advantage to itself. IS HAPPY WITH THE TRUTH. Love is pleased by the good which others do, even when it results in a lost opportunity to itself.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE NEVER GIVES UP. Even though others fail, or are weak, love does not give up, and also works to help the others. The symbolism in this verse is a _stout-hearted soldier_ who helps his buddies toward the common goal. FAITH. Here it means _faith in others._ Love looks for the best in others, and d... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE IS ETERNAL. That is, love does not terminate at some predetermined point. Paul shows us the _gifts from the Spirit_ will terminate at some time. INSPIRED MESSAGES (prophecies) are temporary. GIFTS OF SPEAKING (tongues) will cease. KNOWLEDGE (gifts of knowledge) will pass.... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE ONLY PARTIAL. Our gifts are limited by the limitations placed on them. Compare 1 Peter 1:10-11 for an example of this. 10. BUT WHEN WHAT IS PERFECT COMES. Most scholars believe _the perfect_ will come with the Second Coming of Christ and our entrance into that eternal world. So Johnson, MacKnig... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I WAS A CHILD. This verse illustrates the partial disappearing as the perfect comes. As a child, his thinking, feelings, and speech were all childishly imperfect. With manhood, his need or use of the childish terminates. [The childish is needed, because it involves growth.]... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE THE DIM IMAGE IN A MIRROR. This is another example. Mirrors then were polished metal, and gave only a dim reflection. The _Expositor's Greek Testament_ says: "Divine revelation opens up fresh mysteries; advanced knowledge raises vaster problems. With our defective earthly powers, this is inevit... [ Continue Reading ]
MEANWHILE THESE THREE REMAIN. These three are eternal. They, along with the church, will never terminate, but will extend on into eternity. THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. It is the greatest because it is the one quality that is _divine._ "God is love." It _authenticates_ both faith and hope. [_MacKn... [ Continue Reading ]