2nd February 2025

1 Corinthians 13 is a very famous passage that has been called the ‘Love Chapter’ and is one that is often read at weddings. On hearing it the usual response is one of: ‘Isn’t that lovely’, or ‘Ah, isn’t that sweet’. The problem is that this is not the sentiment behind what Paul wrote. When the Corinthian church first read this, they would not have thought it to be a lovely passage for Paul to write, and they would not have dreamt of using it at a wedding service.  On the contrary, Paul was dropping some bombshells that are quite astonishing to think about.

Corinth was a place of commerce. Nobody lived there, or went there, except to be successful. As a result, it attracted resourceful, talented, and ambitious people, and the church at Corinth would in many ways, have reflected the population and the culture. They were talented and gifted and thought they had arrived as Christians. So, it’s not surprising to see Paul in 1  Corinthians 13:1-3 talking about what they already have. In effect, he says, ‘Look, you might have this, that, and the other, but so what?’ The opening of the chapter describes what they are like. They speak in tongues, are prophetic, have faith that moves mountains, their leadership skills abound, and they can fathom all mysteries. They are brilliant. There are teachers. There are scholars. They are very gifted. They are talented, so what if they don’t have love? This is the reason why the Corinthians, when they first heard this, were not inspired.

Interestingly, practically every Greek word in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 has already been used earlier in the letter where Paul was criticising them for their disputing, their fighting, their factions, their party spirit and all the problems they’re having in this church. In other words, verses 4–7 are a list of all the things the Corinthians are not.

Paul wasn’t thinking, ‘What should I say about love? I know – love is patient, it is kind, etc. etc.’ Rather he is saying, ‘You are the most talented group of people, and your ‘doing’ is great, but who you actually are doesn’t match up. Your giftedness is good, but your character isn’t.’ Paul speaks right into the kind of culture that puts all the emphasis on talent and achievement and says, ‘I don’t care how rich you are. I don’t care how successful you are. I don’t care how talented you are. If you are irritable and impatient and selfish and self-centred and self-absorbed and self-pitying and vain and driven and anxious, you have nothing and are nothing.’ (vv. 2-4).

This is strong language from Paul. He hits them right between the eyes and says love is everything. It’s not ability, not talent, not achievement that matters, but love. That was true for the members of the church at Corinth, and it is true for us today. Paul is not talking about love as an emotion but as an action. It is seen, experienced, and demonstrated. This is contrary to our culture which honours personal feelings above almost everything. We do what we want, when we want, because we ‘feel’ like it. And if we don’t ‘feel’ like it, we don’t do it. But in this chapter, there is a complete absence of any stress on personal feelings. Paul is showing that we are to love others whether we feel like it or not, and that is the most excellent way to live and to be.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church