1 Corinthians 13
Chapter 13 of the First Epistle to the Corinthians is on the subject of love, principally the love that Christians should have for everyone. In the original Greek, the word αγαπη (agape - sacrificial love) is used throughout. This is translated into English as charity in the King James version; but the word love is preferred by most other translations, both earlier and more recent. Authorship is generally attributed to Paul of Tarsus.[1]
Historical and literary context
1 Corinthians illuminates the early church's efforts to define itself, not only in terms of doctrine, but also allegiance to spiritual leaders such as Peter, Paul, Apollos and Jesus.[2] Who is a "real Christian," and who is not, is a major theme. A significant portion of the preceding chapter (1 Corinthians 12:1-10) focuses on the issue of spiritual gifts, and there appears to have been interpersonal conflicts based upon the possession of such gifts, including speaking in tongues or prophecy.[3] Paul tells his audience that they may have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but unless they first have love, these gifts mean nothing:
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 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 love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. (King James version with "charity" rendered as "love")
Description of agape
A description of agape, the concept of selfless love, forms a major passage in 1 Corinthians 13, running from verse 4 to the end.
4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Love 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. 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. 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. 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. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (King James version with "charity" rendered as "love")
According to the author, agape:
- (verse 4)
- is long suffering (i.e. tolerant, patient)
- is kind
- is free of jealousy, envy and pride
- (verse 5)
- does not display unseemly behavior
- is unselfish
- is not touchy, fretful or resentful
- takes no account of the evil done to it [outwardly ignores a suffered wrong]
- (verse 6)
- hates evil
- is associated with honesty
- (verse 7)
- protects
- trusts [implying faith in God and trusting in righteousness]
- hopes
- perseveres
- (verse 8)
- triumphs
- (verse 13)
- is greater than either faith or hope
"Through a Glass, Darkly"
1 Corinthians 13:12 contains the phrase βλεπομεν γαρ αρτι δι εσοπτρου εν αινιγματι', which is rendered in the KJV as "For now we see through a glass, darkly." This passage has inspired the titles of many works.
The word εσοπτρου (esoptron) here translated glass is ambiguous, possibly referring to a mirror or a lens. Influenced by Strong's Concordance, many modern translations conclude that this word refers specifically to a mirror.[4] Example English language translations include:
- Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror (New International Version)
- What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror (Good News Bible)
Paul's usage is in keeping with rabbinic use of the term אספקלריה (aspaklaria), a borrowing from the Latin specularia. This has the same ambiguous meaning, although Adam Clarke concluded that it was a reference to specularibus lapidibus, clear polished stones used as lenses or windows.[5] One way to preserve this ambiguity is to use the English cognate, speculum.[6] Rabbi Judah ben Ilai (2nd century) was quoted as saying "All the prophets had a vision of God as He appeared through nine specula" while "Moses saw God through one speculum."[7] The Babylonian Talmud states similarly "All the prophets gazed through a speculum that does not shine, while Moses our teacher gazed through a speculum that shines."[8]
Other notable passages
There are two other passages from 1 Corinthians 13 which have been notably influential.
Firstly, verse 11: "When I was a child, I spoke 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).
U.S. President Barack Obama referenced verse 11 in his inaugural address to the nation on January 20, 2009.[9]
Secondly, verse 13, in praise of the Theological virtues:
- νυνι δε μενει πιστις ελπις αγαπη τα τρια ταυτα μειζων δε τουτων η αγαπη
- "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." (NRSV)
Other uses
- Verse 11 is partially recited by an Irish Republican Army Volunteer in the 1992 film The Crying Game.
- The verse is sung in Greek by a soprano in Krzysztof Kieślowski's 1993 film Three Colors: Blue.[clarification needed]
- It is, along with Camões' Sonnet 11, the basis for Legião Urbana's song "Monte Castelo".
- The passage has appeared in Christian wedding liturgies, including the Book of Common Prayer.[10] It is also a commonly chosen reading in denominations which do not have a prescribed liturgy for marriage and even for non-religious weddings,[11] so much to the point where it was on a list of wedding clichés to avoid in the television show How I Met Your Mother.
- Sometimes it is read in funeral services as well, as when Prime Minister Tony Blair read the passage at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997.[12]
References
- ^ New Testament Study Helps: Paul's Letters to the Corinthians at theologywebsite.com
- ^ Latourette, Kenneth Scott, A History of Christianity, Volume 1: Beginnings to 1500, p. 114, © 1975 Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., ISBN 0-06-064952-6
- ^ Henry, Matthew, Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation): First Corinthians Chap. XII, Public domain, Library of Congress call no: BS490.H4, at Christian Classics Ethereal Library
- ^ Entry: εσοπτρον (espotron - Strong's 2072), retrieved from blueletterbible.org
- ^ Adam Clarke, Commentary on the New Testament, Vol. II, J. Butterworth & Son, London, 1817; commentary on 1 Corinthians 12.
- ^ Gordon Tucker, translator's footnote to Abraham Joshua Heschel, 'Heavenly Torah as Refracted Through the Generations,' Continum, New York, 2008; page 308.
- ^ Leviticus Rabbah 1:14.
- ^ B.T. Yevamot 49B
- ^ "Barack Obama's Inaugural Address". The New York Times. 20 January 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.
- ^ "Marriage Ceremony (Episcopal Book of Common Prayer)". Retrieved 23 December 2009.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (Love is patient and kind)
- ^ "Wedding Ceremony Readings". Retrieved 23 December 2009.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
- ^ "The Funeral Service of Diana, Princess Wales". BBC. 6 September 1997. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
External links
