Chapter 13 is a crescendo emphasizing the nature of love.
1 Corinthians 13 is likely the most familiar section of the book for most people. Seeing
this chapter in the context of the flow of thought in 1 Corinthians hopefully only helps it
be more meaningful for us.
On the one hand, it is not new or strange for love to be talked about as the pinnacle of
human behavior.
● Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - there is one God. Love Him.
● Leviticus 19:18 - love your neighbor.
Both of these commands are reaffirmed by Jesus as the most important commands.
On the other hand, for the Greeks in Corinth, this might be a different emphasis than
what they were taught growing up when thinking about virtue. The cardinal virtues in
classical Greek thought are:
● prudence/wisdom
● justice
● fortitude/courage
● temperance
Love is also eternal in its relevance. After faith and hope finish their usefulness, love is
still our aim for eternity.
Questions for Reflection/Discussion:
-Was love emphasized as the ultimate virtue (or most important command) when you
were growing up?
-What are some concepts of morality that may have been overemphasized to you in
your formative years instead of love?
-What are some ways you can love more?
