CHAPTER 13

(Brief Intro to this chapter.
This is called the LOVE CHAPTER of the Bible.
It speaks very specifically of how love ACTS!

I don't know why Wycliff and our KJV translates the Greek agape as charity.
The word is used many times in the New Testament as love, or a feast of love. In fact, it seems to be a contradiction to use this word charity in vs 3.
Paul says, "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."
The very acts of giving to the poor, and even giving self is indeed charity.
But, again, the Greek word is agape. With that in mind, let's proceed to look at the chapter with TWO translations.
I will first print the KJV (of which I'm very fond), and then the NASB.
Perhaps this will give us a better sense of the meaning in the chapter.
Because: Paul had been writing about the problems the church in Corinth had been experiencing.
They were aloof, selfish, and braggarts.
Yes, they had many gifts.
But this ONE gift is the "better way" of which Paul spoke in 1Cor. 12:31.)

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. KJV
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. NASB

Some of the people in the church at Corinth were able to speak in other languages (See 1Cor. 14:18-19).

But Paul says even if one were able to speak in ALL languages, and did not have love, it is just NOISE!
Angels certainly have a language that is superior to mankind.
And, Paul said in (See 2Cor. 12;2) that he had the privilege
of hearing words unspeakable in the third heaven.
But even if one were able to speak in that far superior language (on this earth) it would still only be NOISE!

The word agape or love, here repesents genuine care for others, and
giving without thought of return.
THIS is the language to speak!
It is from the HEART more than through the mouth!

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. KJV
2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. NASB

Many CALLED themselves prophets in those days, but few were genuinely prophetic.
To be a true prophet (in the Biblical sense) is to speak what God has said will come to pass.
And, if God HAS said it, it WILL come to pass.

The "mysteries" Paul refers to are probably the ability to understand the significance
of symbols in the Old Testament and explain them after Christ.
See for instance, (See Heb. 9:7-12).

The "knowledge" Paul refers to is the ability to KNOW ALL the facts.

Even if a person could foretell according to God's will, and had the understanding of ALL the
symbols of the Old Testament, and had ALL the facts of every science, and did not have LOVE,
that person is still NOTHING!

Love MAKES us SOMETHING!
Without love we are EMPTY!

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. KJV
3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. NASB

No matter how charitable a person is, if he does not have LOVE, it is of NO PROFIT!
Love FOR God causes us to have love FOR others!

Without love FOR God, charitability will gain NOTHING for the soul!

Paul has explained that without love for God, we are just noisy, proud and selfish.
Now, he will explain how love ACTS!

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, KJV
4 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, NASB

When one has love FOR God, then the love of God is IN that person.
And, that love will be exhibited by acts of patience and kindness.
It is NOT exhibited in jealousy, bragging and arrogance!

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; KJV
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, NASB

Love (the love of God IN a person)
does NOT act in an unbecoming manner,
does NOT seek only to please or exalt self,
is NOT easily provoked into hasty and ugly mannerisms,
and does NOT think EVIL toward others.

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; KJV
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; NASB

Love (the love of God IN a person)
does NOT find joy in evil-doing,
DOES find joy in TRUTH!

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. KJV
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. NASB

Love shares the burden with others in ALL things.

The word "beareth" is taken from the Greek stego which means to cover over silently.
This kind of love will cover over the faults of others with gentle kindness.
The love of God causes us to be kind and gentle when we speak of others.

The word "believeth" is from the Greek pisteuo and means trusting, giving trust to.
In other words, the one who has God's love, will try to believe a person when they have good intentions.
Not that they would believe a lie, but they would try to put faith in the person -- not necessarily the statement
or action.

The word "hopeth" is from the Greek epizo and means confidence.
This confidence is that which realizes God is in charge and works all things for good to those that
LOVE Him! (See Rom. 8:28)

The word "endureth" is from the Greek hupomeno and means bears up, perseveres.
The one who has God's love IN him/her, will ENDURE all difficulties and circumstances BECAUSE,
God's love SUSTAINS us!

Love CARES!
Love ENDURES!

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. KJV
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. NASB

Love (the love of God IN a person) NEVER falls, or ceases to exist!

9-10
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. KJV
9-10
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. NASB

Today (in our lifetime) we can only know God and what He has in store for us "in part."
We are "children" of God, not yet grown.

BUT -- when Jesus comes to receive us, THEN the child will be GROWN!
We'll speak the language of love, and live the life (eternally) of love as Jesus does -- with pure love!
BECAUSE:

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. KJV
11 When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. NASB

Paul is explaining more of verses 9-10.
When we were children, we acted as children.
But when we became adults, we "put away childish things." (at least SOME did!)

When Jesus comes to receive us, we will put away the childishness of our physical lives,
and live in full adulthood with Him!

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. KJV
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. NASB

The KJV and NASB differ in interpreting the Greek here.

One thought is seeing an object through a darkened glass. (KJV)
The other view is seeing an object (or self) through an imperfect mirror. (NASB)
(In Paul's day, there were few real mirrors. And people viewed themselves through polished metal, which
gave an imperfect view.)

I prefer the KJV here.
We have a somewhat obscure view of Christ now.
Because we have only the Scriptures to guide us.

But when He comes to receive us, we shall know HIM as He knows US!
PERFECTLY!!
FULLY!
COMPLETELY!

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. KJV
13 But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. NASB

In the truly converted and regenerate Christian, 3 things "abideth" (remain):
Faith, - clinging to Christ as Lord
Hope, - the realization that one day we will SEE Him face to face
Love, - love FOR God, love OF God, and love GIVEN to others.

THIS love will endure FOREVER!
Yes, we will have faith in heaven.
We will certainly cling to Christ.
Yes, we will have hope in heaven.
We will not be able to enjoy ALL of heaven at once.
We will have hope to see and enjoy ALL.

But LOVE (the love OF God, the love FOR God, and the love GIVEN to others) is
the more IMPORTANT thing to have NOW! (and of course eternally)
Love believes the best of others.
Love is kind and uselfish.
Love covers evil.
Love endures hardships and suffering.
Love for others has a greater influence upon the world we live in NOW.

Now, I'm going to include the first part of verse 1 in Chapter 14 here.

14:1 Follow after love .... KJV
14:1 Pursue love .... NASB

The word "Follow" in the KJV is from the Greek dioko.
It means to ensue, go toward diligently, pursue with passion.

Remember, "God is love"! (See 1John 4:8 and 1John 4:16)
He PURSUED you with love, when you were enslaved to sin with no prospect of being freed!
He EXEMPLIFIED His love for you by dying on the cross, KNOWING you were a sinner.
He didn't just do this for you, but for ALL mankind!!

Jesus didn't just HAVE love!
He GAVE love!
He acted it out in His life here on Earth.

So this Love Chapter ends with a tremendous exhortation.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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