Chapter 13
2021-2, This time through I noticed how the last verse of 12 ties the analogy in that chapter to the more excellent things of Chapter 13: 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. [1Co 12:31 ESV]. So the whole of 13 is about a way of doing things that supersedes the exercise of Spiritual gifts and the "different parts of the whole" analogy that he used to promote unity in that church and to dispel the bickering about who's gift was most valuable, and to lift up those whose gifts were less spectacular than other gifts. He said you can be unified because you understand the inter-connected nature of individual members of the church, or you can do a lot better than that. What is better than bodily unity? How did I never see this before? It makes the meaning of 13 so much more profound.
I also have to say that this seems now to be one of those passages, like 2 Chron 7:14 that is almost always used out of context. I Cor 13 is NOT about how to get along in a marriage. Marriage is nowhere in view anywhere in this chapter or the previous chapter that sets it up. What is in view is brotherly (sisterly?) love of the members of the body for each other. It is not written as a guide to peace in the home, but to peace in the church. Are you and your spouse both Christians? Then it surely applies in that case, and maybe in spades since you are part of the body AND married. But I don't think we have any business trying to run a marriage based on this chapter. Ephesians 5 is where you'll find advice for a better marriage, and as it is specifically, contextually written for that purpose, it should certainly be the primary source.
Love.
Vss 1-4 seem to be referencing back to chapter 12, and saying that the Corinthians are so "self-promoting" about having showy gifts that they are running roughshod and unconcerned over their brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul says this is missing the boat entirely. Is he indicting the ones who's gifts are counterfeit, brought in by those who are unsaved, and have no real gifts, but are being used by Satan to undermine the truth in this church? Or is he saying that even the saved, who have the showy gifts, are forgetting the purpose and use of those gifts to minister and love others in the church, and so making those gifts not edifying, but instead divisive? Hmm. Could be either. Could be both. Having all the gifts in spades, but without love, is useless.
Vss 5-7 list some characteristics of behavior that characterize love - or demonstrate the lack of love. Seems Paul is talking about how the Corinthians are treating each other - the visible showy gifted lording it over the behind the scenes quietly gifted. This is not what love looks like. Whatever they might have in there hearts, what they show is a lack of love - point being they ought to check their hearts, and honestly determine what is there.
vss 8-11, So much here. I've heard these verses used to "prove" that miracles and tongues - the sign gifts - have passed away with the completion of the Word of God. But does it not also say that knowledge will pass away? Maybe that refers to revelation instead of understanding. Could be that. There are no "new" scriptures, there is no more revelation. Hmm...so that makes pretty good sense to me, in each and every specific mentioned. Miracles, tongues, revelation. They aren't here anymore.
Then the "when I was a child I thought as a child" verses. Never realized they were here, so intimately connected with the Spiritual gifts. And the "as in a mirror dimly" is right here too, right together. Maybe this means that with the completion of the scriptures, we understand oh so much more about the plan of God in history, about the suffering servant and the conquering king, and things like this. A more mature, complete, adult understanding of what is going on. But even so, we don't understand the mind of God, the plan of God in its entirety. We have grown up, but we are still limited. We are not children, but we are not yet fully comprehending. And we will not be, until we are "face to face".