1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3

In 1 Corinthians 12 we were given a marvelous picture of the body of Christ.  Like any body the body of Christ has many intricate parts (12:14).  The parts of the body cannot be what they want to be; they can only be what the Lord made them to be (12:15-16).  No single part is the whole body (12:17-20).  And no one part of the body can exist without the other parts of the body (12:21-26).  Paul tells the Corinthian believers they ARE the body of Christ and each an individual member of the body of Christ (12:27).  Their corporate connection to each other is bound up in the fact they were all baptized into one body.  Their specific role in the body is bound up in the gift they have each been given by the Holy Spirit.

All of this is backdrop for where Paul is heading.  12:31 provides a transition from Ch. 12 to Ch. 13.  Having noted in Ch. 12 the importance of each member to the body Paul says they should earnestly desire the best gifts.  But because their zeal is leading to boastful pride about gifts, Paul shows them a more excellent way.  And that more excellent way involves one of the most well-known chapters in all the Bible, the one commonly called “The Love Chapter.”

Being the special chapter it is it is often made to stand on its own.  It is read at weddings or other special occasions.  Often v1-7 are read because of the great description of love that is given.  But to consider this chapter in the context where it is found, as we are doing, is quite instructive.  It is at the center of what is still today a contentious issue.  In preaching it is often the case that there are great sermons on 1 Cor. 13 with little teaching on 1 Cor. 12 and 14.  That is strange, because Ch. 13 is much better understood by keeping it in its context.

This is illustrated by the opening verses.  Paul has been discussing gifts, ministries and God’s workings.  He is about to teach the value of prophesy over speaking in tongues.  And yet how does he begin as he speaks of this more excellent way?

·        If you speak in human languages or even something you consider to be the language of angels, and yet have no love for other members of the body, you are no different than the idolaters in the temples and their noisy worship (v1).

·        If you prophesy and have a deep knowledge of Biblical mysteries and have great faith, but have no love, then you are not important; you are nothing (v2).

·        If God’s work leads you to be incredibly generous to give away all your possessions and to cause you to make the ultimate sacrifice, but yet you have no love, all this will profit you nothing (v3).

What characterizes the people of Christ?  He made it clear: it is not the great gifts or heroic leaders but it is their love for each other (John 13:34-35).  This discussion of gifts needs to happen, and Paul will continue in the next chapter.  But the body will never function as a body unless every part is bound together by love, the bond of perfection (Col. 3:14).