First, I wish to remind you that Paul is answering a question, in this context, relative to “spiritual gifts” (12:1). In fact, the context of this whole discussion (that runs from chapter 12-14), is knowing when / how someone is speaking by the Spirit of God (12:1-3). Paul’s point is that the Spirit manifests Himself through miraculous abilities (12:4-7).
Yet, as we have seen, the Christians at Corinth were divided, motivated out of pride. So, chapter 13 strikes at the heart of the matter: they are not loving as Christ would have them love. Paul has chastised them for a lack of love already in 8:1. “Love” will appear now in this chapter 9 times.
First, is the necessity of love (13:1-3). Paul might speak in angelic language – this is hypothetical. All the times angels have spoken in the Bible, it has been in human language. There is no biblical evidence that angels have their own language. In fact, they might communicate with God telepathically!
In the most famous passage in 1 Corinthians, 13:4-6, Paul gives us the character of love. We know what love means; we just have a hard time doing love. Jesus had told His disciples back in John 13:34-35 that love was the essence of being His follower. So, love is patient. This is its only occurrence in 1 Corinthians (out of 10). Love is not jealous (11x; in 1 Corinthians, it is found at 12:31; 13:4; 14:1, 39). Love does not brag (its only use). Love is not arrogant. Out of its 7 uses, 6 are in 1 Corinthians: 4:6, 18-19; 5:2; 8:1;13:4.
Love does not act unbecomingly (found only in 1 Cor.: 7:36; 13:5). Love does not seek its own. Love is not provoked (only twice: here and Acts 17:16). Love does not take into account a wrong suffered and love does not rejoice in unrighteousness.
In contrast, love rejoices in the truth. Love bears (9:12; 13:7 and twice more) all things. Love believes (241 times; 9x in 1 Corinthians) all things. Love hopes all things (31x; three times in 1 Cor.: 13:7; 15:19; 16:7). Love endues all things (17x; only here in 1 Cor.). LOVE NEVER FAILS! When we stop loving, we stop being Christ-like.
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By way of contrast to love, spiritual gifts are temporary. Paul specifically uses prophecy, tongues, and knowledge (which he had used in 12:8-10 and 13:1-3) because the context of this discussion is how to tell when the Spirit is speaking (12:1-3). Prophecy will be done away. Tongues will cease. Knowledge (miraculous) will be done away. These are all partial but when the “perfect” comes, the partial will be fulfilled.
What is the perfect? Without detailing all the answers it is not (the second coming, Jesus Christ, etc.), the only answer that fits the context is the completed revelation of God’s will: completed prophecy, completed tongues, complete knowledge. When the New Testament was completed, coupled with the OT, then God’s final and perfect and complete will to man was prepared and ready (James 1:25; Eph. 4:11-13; Jude 3). It was now ready to be preached and lived throughout the world.
The purpose of the “child / man” analogy is to contrast the miraculous age of the church (childhood period of the church) with the mature age of the church (when the revelation was complete and written).
To live “cross-culturally” now, we learn in this chapter that it is more important to exercise love than it is to exercise a spiritual gift, miraculous or otherwise.
Paul Holland
