Theme for the week: The Love Chapter – 1 Corinthians 13
February 9, 2022 (Wednesday)
The Love Chapter ends with this statement: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” There can be no debate about the truth of this statement; it’s in the Bible. It is undeniably true.
In the first paragraph of the Love Chapter, Paul says this: “if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” Wow, that’s a faith that’s probably greater than any we’ve ever seen–a faith that produces miracles.
The question of spiritual gifts to the church is the subject of several chapters of 1 Corinthians, and chapter 13 is one of them. Doubtless, in light of the controversy over spiritual gifts in that church, some people were saying “faith is the greatest gift,” while others were saying their gift was the greatest. Paul responds by describing a faith so great that it could move mountains, yet without love the person with such faith is nothing. Rather than “no one,” Paul chooses the word, “nothing,” an absolute zero. This is amazing, since Jesus taught his disciples to have “mountain-moving” faith (Matthew 21:21). Faith itself is not being denigrated; it is faith without love that makes him nothing.
Paul’s choice of words emphasizes the importance of love. Nothing is greater. We may safely say, without fear of contradiction, Love is indeed the greatest thing in the world.
Love Is The Theme
Author: Albert C. Fisher 1886-1946Chorus:
Love is the theme, love is supreme;
Sweeter it grows, glory bestows;
Bright as the sun ever it glows!
Love is the theme, eternal theme!
Verses:
Of the themes that men have known,
One supremely stands alone;
Through the ages it has shown,
‘Tis His wonderful, wonderful love.
Chorus
Let the bells of heaven ring,
Let the saints their tribute bring,
Let the world true praises sing
For His wonderful wonderful love.
Chorus
Since the Lord my soul unbound,
I am telling all around,
Pardon, peace and joy are found
In His wonderful, wonderful love.
Chorus
As of old when blind and lame
To the blessed Master came,
Sinners, call ye on His name,
Trust His wonderful, wonderful love.
Chorus
The blogs this week are based on 1 Corinthians 13: Love is greater than:
Spiritual Gifts, Expectations, Faith, Hope, Anything.
New International Version
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Footnotes
1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames