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RSS Feed <http://www.craigkeener.com/feed/rss/> <http://www.craigkeener.com/feed/rss/> Tag: 1 Corinthians 13 22 Aug 2011, /by/ admin <http://www.craigkeener.com/author/admin/> Loveless Christians in 1 Corinthians 13 <http://www.craigkeener.com/loveless-christians-in-1-corinthians-13/> We often quote 1 Corinthians 13 as if it is an all-purpose description of love, for weddings, marriage counseling, friendships, and so forth. The principles in this chapter are in fact universal enough to apply to those situations, but Paul originally wrote them to address a specific situation which many of us today miss. Paul was addressing the appropriate use of spiritual gifts. The Corinthian church was divided over a variety of issues. One such issue, addressed in chapters 12-14, was the use of some spiritual gifts. Paul reminds the Christians in Corinth that the purpose of all publicly used gifts is to build up the body of Christ. In chapter 14, he emphasizes that prophecy is more important in public worship than tongues, because it builds up the church better (unless the tongues is interpreted). Between these two chapters is chapter 13, revealing love as the key virtue that moves us to use all our gifts to build up Christ's church. Paul emphasizes that even if we have the greatest gifts, we are nothing without love (13:1-3). He points out that the gifts are temporary, due to pass away at Christ's return when we see him face to face (13:8-10); love, however, is eternal (13:11-13). Between these two points he describes the characteristics of lovecharacteristics which, in the context of the entire book, directly address what the Corinthian Christians lack (13:4-8). Love is not jealous or arrogant or boastful (13:4), but the Corinthian Christians certainly were jealous (3:3) and arrogant (4:6, 18-19; 5:2; 8:1) and boastful (cf. 1:29; 3:21; 4:7; 5:6). In short, everything Paul says love is, he has already told the Corinthians they are not! Paul's praise of love is simultaneously a gentle rebuke! But just as love is our first priority, love tells us which gifts to seek most for the building up of Christ's body. The verses immediately surrounding 1 Corinthians 13 remind us that we should seek from God for public worship especially the greater gifts, those like prophecy which build up others (12:31; 14:1).

Continue reading <http://www.craigkeener.com/loveless-christians-in-1-corinthians-13/> No comments yet <http://www.craigkeener.com/loveless-christians-in-1-corinthians-13/#comments> In: 1 Corinthians <http://www.craigkeener.com/category/new-testament/1st-corinthians/> | Tags: 1 Corinthians 13 <http://www.craigkeener.com/tag/1-corinthians-13/>, love in the Bible <http://www.craigkeener.com/tag/love-in-the-bible/>, loveless Christians <http://www.craigkeener.com/tag/loveless-christians/>, the love chapter <http://www.craigkeener.com/tag/the-love-chapter/> * Subscribe to this blog Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts. Thank you. * Posts by book of the Bible * THE 20 MOST POPULAR POSTS: 1. How can we hear the Holy Spirit accurately? <http://www.craigkeener.com/how-can-we-hear-the-holy-spirit-accurately/> 2. The thief who comes to steal and destroy John 10:10 <http://www.craigkeener.com/the-thief-who-comes-to-steal-and-destroy-%e2 %80%94-john-1010/> 3. Rivers of living water in John 7:37-38 <http://www.craigkeener.com/rivers-of-living-water-in-john-737-38/> 4. "If I be lifted up" Jesus meaning in John 12:32 <http://www.craigkeener.com/if-i-be-lifted-up-%e2%80%94-jesus-meaning-in -john-1232/> 5. The importance of context in Bible study <http://www.craigkeener.com/the-importance-of-context-in-bible-study/> 6. Philip preaches to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-27 <http://www.craigkeener.com/philip-preaches-to-the-ethiopian-eunuch-in-a cts-826-27/> 7. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills Psalm 50:10 <http://www.craigkeener.com/god-owns-the-cattle-on-a-thousand-hills-%e2% 80%94-psalm-5010/> 8. Jesus as son of David, son of Abraham <http://www.craigkeener.com/jesus-as-son-of-david-son-of-abraham/> 9. Why it is important to study the Bible in context <http://www.craigkeener.com/why-it-is-important-to-study-the-bible-in-co ntext/> 10. Who is the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley? Song of Solomon 2:1-2 <http://www.craigkeener.com/who-is-the-rose-of-sharon-the-lily-of-the-va lley-%e2%80%94-song-of-solomon-21-2/> 11. The purpose of spiritual gifts - 1 Corinthians 12-14

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