The next few articles are based on 1 Corinthians 13, and I encourage you to read through that chapter in your own Bible so that it’s fresh in your mind (along with anything that the Holy Spirit shares with you while you read it).
We may know 1 Corinthians 13 as the “love chapter”. Paul didn’t label it that way (nor even break it out as a chapter with verses), but we learn a lot about love from it. This is similar to how Hebrews 11 is known as the “faith chapter”. However, while I agree that 1 Corinthians 13 has a lot of value when read by itself (often at weddings), we also need to remember that letters like this weren’t written with chapters and verses.
This is where the previous chapter (1 Corinthians 12, discussed in part through several earlier articles) comes in. Paul didn’t just finish one thought and then decide to write a wedding text to teach married couples how to love each other. In fact, while the principles of God-honoring love still apply in marriage (as one of God’s great symbols in human culture), that doesn’t seem to be the context of this chapter at all!
Here’s a summary of some key notes from previous articles on 1 Corinthians 12 (as well as from my lesson notes upon which those articles were constructed):
- The Corinthian Christians had previously followed idols, who couldn’t speak to them.
- Now, these same Corinthian Christians were able to discern the truth of God from the falsehoods of Greco-Roman polytheism.
- The Holy Spirit provided different gifts – manifestations of Himself – to those in the church.
- These gifts were meant to be used for mutual good within the body, instead of promoting division among individuals.
- Individuals in the church are expected to cooperate, recognizing that both they and others have important roles in the body, resulting in members both contributing and allowing others to contribute.
- Both the rejoicing from being honored and the pain of suffering are shared throughout the body.
It’s great – amazing…awesome, really – to have the Holy Spirit working in and through each member of the church. We should seek His direction and His power, and follow His guidance to use whatever gift He has given us for the good of others. That’s true whether we have one of the specific spiritual gifts described in the book of 1 Corinthians, or merely abilities, opportunities, and wisdom from God in our “regular” lives. With His help, regular lives are extraordinary.
Let’s read the last verse in chapter 12, focusing on the second half of it
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12:31 NIV
https://1corinthians.bible/1-corinthians-12-31
As great as it would be to have a church where all parts of the body work together and respect each other, there’s actually something even better. Really? A church functioning as a healthy body, with each part respecting the others and each member serving in their role with the power of the Holy Spirit – that seems pretty good. However, not only isn’t this the best that it can be, but there’s something else that is “most excellent” (NIV) or “far better” (NASB). That’s got to be something pretty amazing.
While I would like to reiterate my earlier suggestion for you to read 1 Corinthians 13 yourself today, let’s continue on to that chapter in the next article, and see what is even “better” than a church whose members make use of their spiritual gifts in love.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for April 21, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, April 14, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 Corinthians, by Richard E. Oster, Jr. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 