1 Corinthians 13:1-13
The love chapter in First Corinthians.
This chapter contains some of probably the most often quoted words in Scripture. It’s very important to remember, though, that this chapter does not stand alone. We often hear it isolated from its context. But it does not stand in isolation from the rest of Paul’s letter to the Christians in Corinth.
In the 13th chapter of First Corinthians, Paul is not preaching a wedding sermon. He is still writing to the fractious Corinthians. This chapter follows immediately after the readings we’ve had for the last few weeks. Paul is still addressing the congregation of Christians in Corinth who are divided by competitiveness and envy.
Interpretation of this chapter is also complicated by the fact, as many of you may know, that there are several different words in Greek that are all often translated into English as “love.” The Greek word that Paul uses in this chapter does not mean romantic love. Sometimes it is translated into English as “charity,” although that also has connotations in English that don’t quite fit.
Maybe charitableness is a bit better. Or a Godly generosity of spirit. A way of relating to one another that is self-giving and shows a Godly generosity of spirit.
At the end of last week’s reading, Paul summarizes important spiritual gifts but then adds a phrase that is really an introduction to today’s reading: “And I will show you a still more excellent way.” Spiritual gifts are important for the common good, but now I will show you an even more excellent way. A way of living in community that is beyond measure. “Love is the shape of life that has been set free from the competition that is disrupting the Corinthian church” (Brian Peterson; HERE).
This passage is not a description of love. Not a poetic ode to love. It is instruction on how to live in community. It is a description of the relationships that characterize Christian community.
In verses 4-8a, “love” is the subject of 16 verbs in a row; it happens in every phrase. That may not come through clearly in English translations, where love is described by some rather static adjectives (“love is patient, love is kind”). Instead, Paul’s claims are that love “shows patience” and “acts with kindness.” Here, love is a busy, active thing that never ceases to work. It is always finding ways to express itself for the good of others. The point is not a flowery description of what love “is” in some abstract and theoretical sense, but of what love does, and especially what love does to one’s brother or sister in the church (Peterson).
It costs something to practice this sort of love. A person acting with Godly generosity of spirit does not seek to win or excel at the expense of others. There shall be no envy, boasting, arrogance or rudeness, Paul says. Those are all aspects of relationships that include competition or belittling of others. Give that up, Paul says. Give all that up.
Writing about this passage, John Wesley says: "The love of God, and of our neighbour for God's sake, is patient toward, all men. It, suffers all the weakness, ignorance, errors, and infirmities of the children of God; all the malice and wickedness of the children of the world: and all this, not only for a time, but to the end.”
The presence of this sort of love, is measured not by “how it feels.” In the context of 1 Corinthians, it would be better to say that the measure of love is its capacity for tension and disagreement without division (Peterson, quoting Krister Stendahl).
Thinking about this sort of love, this Godly generosity of spirit, as the quality of relationships within the Christian community, got me to thinking…
Could we think of the opportunity to practice this sort of love as a motivation to participate in Christian community? Is the opportunity to be active in this sort of relationship a reason to be a part of a church? The Christian community provides a place to practice Godly generosity of spirit. To show kindness and act with patience. To put aside envy and boasting. Even when it’s not easy.
Might we choose to come to church just so we can practice being kind and patient and charitable? God knows we all do need the practice.
It’s sort of like going to the gym or eating your vegetables or whatever example works for you. You do it. Maybe not always eagerly. Maybe not as frequently as you should. But you do it because it gets you to a place you want to be. It is the path towards a worthwhile goal.
And God knows the world needs a lot more Godly generosity of spirit. The larger communities in which we live and interact need more people acting with more Godly generosity of spirit towards one another. The church can be both a model and a place to practice. To work on our skill at maintaining relationships characterized by Godly generosity of spirit.
The opportunity to practice Christian relationships is not the only reason to come to church, of course. We come to worship, to join our voices in praise of God. We come to be supported and sustained by the kindness and care of others. And we come to be renewed by the immeasurably generous love that God has for each of us.
Remember, as we seek to embody this Godly generosity of spirit, we are able to do so, however imperfectly, because we have been given the immeasurably generous love and care of God. Despite our frailties, despite our sin, despite our lack of faith, God’s infinitely generous love for each of us never fails.
