The division of the Chapter being so absurd, I could not refrain from changing it, especially as I could not conveniently interpret it otherwise. For what purpose did it serve to connect with what goes before a detached sentence, which agrees so well with what comes after — nay more, is thereby rend... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And if I should have the gift of prophecy. _He brings down to nothing the dignity of even this endowment, (777) which, nevertheless, he had preferred to all others. _To know all mysteries, _might seem to be added to the term _prophecy, _by way of explanation, but as the term _knowledge _is immedi... [ Continue Reading ]
3._And if I should expend all my possessions. _(779) This, it is true, is worthy of the highest praise, if considered in itself; but as liberality in many cases proceeds from ambition — not from true generosity, or even the man that is liberal is destitute of the other departments of love, (for even... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Love is patient. _He now commends _love _from its effects or fruits, though at the same time these eulogiums are not intended merely for its commendation, but to make the Corinthians understand what are its offices, and what is its nature. The object, however, mainly in view, is to show how _nece... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Doth not behave itself unseemly _Erasmus renders it _“Is not disdainful;” _but as he quotes no author in support of this interpretation, I have preferred to retain its proper and usual signification. I explain it, however, in this way — that _love _does not exult in a foolish ostentation, or does... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Beareth all things, _etc. By all these statements he intimates, that love is neither impatient nor spiteful. For to _bear _and _endure all things _is the part of forbearance to _believe _and _hope all things _is the part of candor and kindness. As we are naturally too much devoted to self, this v... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Love never faileth _Here we have another excellence of _love _— _that _it endures for ever. There is good reason why we should eagerly desire an excellence that will never come to an end. Hence _love _must be preferred before temporary and perishable gifts. _Prophesyings have an end, tongues fail... [ Continue Reading ]
He now proves that _prophecy, _and other gifts of that nature, are done away, (798) because they are conferred upon us to help our infirmity. Now our imperfection will one day have an end. Hence the use, even of those gifts, will, at the same time, be discontinued, for it were absurd that they shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
10._When that which is perfect is come _“When the goal has been reached, then the helps in the race will be done away.” He retains, however, the form of expression that he had already made use of, when he contrasts _perfection _with what is _in part _“Perfection,” says he, “when it will arrive, will... [ Continue Reading ]
11._When I was a child _He illustrates what he had said, by a similitude. For there are many things that are suitable to children, which are afterwards done away on arriving at maturity. For example, education is necessary for childhood; it does not comport with mature age. (799) So long as we live... [ Continue Reading ]
12._We now see through a glass _Here we have the application of the similitude. “The measure of knowledge, that we now have, is suitable to imperfection and childhood, as it were; for we do not as yet see clearly the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom, and we do not as yet enjoy a distinct view of th... [ Continue Reading ]
13._But now remaineth faith, hope, love. _This is a conclusion from what goes before — that love is more excellent than other gifts; but in place of the enumeration of gifts that he had previously made, he now puts_faith _and _hope _along with _love, _as all those gifts are comprehended under this s... [ Continue Reading ]