1: Though
I speak tongues[1]
both of humans and angels and have
not love I become as sounding brass (blasting horns) or clanging cymbals 2:
And though I have the gift of prophecy[2]
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 profits me nothing 4: Love is long-suffering
and kind Love envies not Love boasts not of itself is not haughty [puffed up with pride] 5: does not
behave itself unseemly seeks not its own is not easily provoked thinks no evil 6:
Rejoices not in iniquity but rejoices in the truth 7: Bears all things
believes all things hopes all things endures all things 8: Love never
fails 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
complete is come then that which is in part shall be done away[3] 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 an adult 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 abides faith hope love
these three but the greatest of these is love
[1] Paul used the word glossa (G1100 tongues t) not dialektos
(G1258 language). The word tongues is the accurate translation in this
verse—not language. Generally speaking, in the New Testament, earthly
languages/dialects are referred to as dialektos,
while heavenly languages are referred to as glossa/glossos.
Paul uses the word glossa to
reference both earthly and angelic languages in this verse.
[2] The gift of prophecy is still a
blessing for the Church, today. We serve a supernatural God, so is it any
wonder that he would bestow supernatural gifts on his people? The apostle wrote
to the Romans, Corinthians, and Ephesians that the ministry gifts (which
include prophet) are for the equipping of the saints and for the work of the
ministry until Jesus comes. However, some covet the operation of this gift so
much, that the psychic gift of divination (soothe-saying) often successfully
masquerades—in the Church—as
prophecy. The answer to falling for this counterfeit gift, is not to forbid the
use of spiritual gifts altogether, but rather, call for God’s people to return
to the simplicity found in Christ, to be content to walk in faith (the
substance of things hoped for. The
evidence of things not seen).
Humility, faith (without faith, it is impossible to please God. The just shall
live by their faith), and the gift of discerning of spirits is very much needed
in the Body of Christ.
[3] From a human perspective, we see only
partial glimpses of what, one day, we will understand fully. Just as when
putting a puzzle together (for illustration sake, let’s says we do not have the
original puzzle box with the completed picture to look at while connecting the
pieces), until we find and connect all
the missing pieces, we cannot get the full picture of what the puzzle looks
like. We see only in part (partially). If even one piece is missing, we can
only guess at what the puzzle will look like when completed. But when that final piece is laid in place—when
it is completed (made perfect)—everything partial disappears (is done away with).
So it is with spiritual gifts, they provide the Body of Christ with pieces of
the puzzle—but never the complete picture. The gift of tongues contributes partially
to our knowledge of God, and to our communication with him Isaiah 28:11, Romans
8:26, 1 Corinthians 14:2, The gift of prophecy contributes only partially
to our knowledge of God. It is the same with all the gifts. The apostle is
not diminishing the importance of spiritual gifts, and the benefit to the Body
of Christ that God intended them to provide. He is simply saying that love is
far and above, more excellent than any gift. And even if we are so privileged
to possess a Gift of the Holy Spirit, if we do not walk in love and grow in
love, the gift is negated by our own sinful motives and behavior.
Additional commentary pending for this
chapter… Questions and comments are welcome
Do you have the
assurance of knowing that if you died today, you have Eternal Life? http://hungryheart100.tripod.com/id27.html
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