And now I will show you the most excellent way
Corinth
Corinth was an important city for both the Greek and Roman Empires. It had a reputation as one of the most culturally diverse cities of its time. It’s location made it important as a trade route, offering an easier land route across Greece rather than the more treacherous sea route around the coast. The Corinthian games were second only to the Olympic Games of Athens.
Cultural and religious diversity produced a society measured by the the philosophy you followed, the teacher with whom you associated yourself or the religion you adopted. The problems and challenges that the church in Corinth faced are a reflection of the issues that probably existed within Corinthian culture.
The Letter
1 Corinthians is essentially a letter to a church made up of people who are struggling to get along and set aside their social/ cultural background. Chapter 13 sets out the value of a single virtue, love. With their Roman and Greek philosophical culture, the corinthians would be well used to this kind of narrative. What would have taken them by surprise is the earthy practical nature of Paul’s argument when compared to the ethereal propositions of philosophical debate and discussion.
Putting Chapter 13 in it’s context
In chapter 12 Paul has made his case for a theological framework for correctly understanding the nature and purpose of a diversity of spiritual gifts. In chapter 14, Paul will taken up this line of discussion again. Chapter 13 is a digression with a purpose. If, as is generally agreed, the Corinthian Christians had become fixated on tongues as the only true sign of spirituality, and ranking themselves according to their gifts, Paul is correcting their misunderstanding by pointing out that all gifts are equal in that they all come from God, given in accordance with his plan and for use in the whole body. No one gift is greater than another, no one person therefore is greater than another. But if the gifts are equal, what is their purpose? Paul’s answer is that they are intended to build up the whole body. If that’s the case, then how do you use them to do that?
Chapters 12 & 14 set out the 'how' for correctly using the gifts. Chapter 13 is Paul’s answer to the question: What’s my motivation? How ever you use the gifts it must be in the context of love, of seeking to build each other up rather than promote oneself. “The more excellent way” is not an alternative to gifts, but the true context for them. Love becomes the proper framework in which to explore, exercise and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. Love defines and directs the Christian life.
1Cor.13 and the NT
Where the Sermon on the Mount is an exposition of the Ten Commandments, the Law from God, 1Cor.13 is “a description of that law fulfilled”
Just Love p11
RT Kendal Just Love identifies three key attributes of 1Cor.13
- Demonstration of love
- Description of love
- Direction love gives to life
For John Wesley, 1Cor. 13 was about the necessity of love, the nature of love and the duration of love.
What Paul doesn’t offer is a sentimentalised view of love. This isn’t in praise of an unattainable virtue, but a realistic expression of a better way to live. The best way to live.
The best way to live
The Corinthian church had some big questions. Among those questions was the issue of spirituality. What is true spirituality? Is it in hidden in special knowledge, is it rooted in which apostle baptised you? Is it in spiritual gifts or patterns of worship, styles of dress? Does it have any bearing on lifestyle or is this physical life irrelevant?
Love is the way to live, to learn, to lead, to laugh and to let things be.
Have you ever wondered how to describe the fullness of life Jesus promised? It’s the way of love Paul describes.
Corinth was a city dedicated to Venus (Aphrodite), the goddess of love. But Paul’s way of love was very different to the normal expressions of love in this city. Love was not naturally linked to self-denial and self-sacrifice, it was purely physical, a matter of pleasure, of self-fulfilment for many Corinthians.
I suspect that many of the things Paul has to say about love are exact opposites of how life was being done in the city and reflected in the church at Corinth. Think about it for a moment, there were law suits but love, Paul says, keeps no record of wrongs; relationship problems, but love perseveres; issues with pride, but love is not proud, doesn’t envy or boast and isn’t self-seeking.
Paul’s picture must have been quite a challenge.
Love is no optional extra that you add on to faith, doctrine and practice.
What’s the contrast?
What’s the contrast to the way of love? If love is the most excellent way, or the more excellent way, then what are the alternatives?
The selfish way. Me first others second
The self promotional way
The suspicious way
Form, image, reputation before heart
The secret knowledge way
The right doctrine way
The best gift way
The self promotional way
The suspicious way
Form, image, reputation before heart
The secret knowledge way
The right doctrine way
The best gift way
The duration of this way
How long does this way of life go on? Put simply, it will go on way past all the alternatives. One day tongues will be irrelevant, prophecy not required, knowledge unnecessary. But love will last forever. Not sentimentally as we’ve already said, but as an eternal context for life lived to the full.
Conclusion
This then is the lifestyle to which we aspire. A lifestyle not determined nor defined by what gifts we have, what connections we have or what things we have learnt. Defined rather by how we have lived towards others.
Have we loved them as Jesus has loved us?
