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"But have not love..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1

THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY

Paul devoted much time to present the “more excellent way” in 1 Corinthians 13. His reasoning is deep and wonderful.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love,
I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
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,
but have not love, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned,
but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

1. Conditional Sentences

a) Paul employed a series of “conditional sentences” in this text.

b) The word “though” does not effectively convey the idea of a conditional sentence.

c) The better word is “If”.

2. A hypothetical series of thoughts

a) If Paul had all the above qualities.

b) The conditional sentences here do not pre-suppose that Paul had all these qualities.

c) These were just hypothetical statements!

d) The word “though” may suggest that these were not hypothetical statements.

3. “Tongues of… angels”

a) Paul was not saying that angels had a definite language of their own.

b) Remember that Paul was hypothesising.

c) Supposing angels had a language of their own and Paul knew that language.

4. A short list of high-profile gifts

a) Prophecy

b) Profound knowledge

c) All faith (tremendous amount of faith)

d) A great philanthropic spirit

e) A glorious spirit of martyrdom

But if there is an absence of love, these gifts count for nothing at all! This was a startling statement! This conclusion of Paul must have caught everyone in the Corinthian Church by surprise!