1 Corinthians: 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. It is on the subject of love, principally the love that Christians should have for everyone. In the original Greek the word αγαπη (agape - worshipful love) is used throughout. This was translated as charity in the King James version; but the word love is preferred by most other translations, both earlier and more recent. Authorship is generally attributed to Paul of Tarsus.[1]
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Historical and literary context
1 Corinthians gives us an understanding of the early church seeking to define itself, not only in terms of doctrine, but also allegiance to spiritual leaders such as Peter, Paul, Apollos and Jesus.[2] Who is a "real Christian" and who is not is a major theme. A significant portion of the preceding chapter focuses on the issue of spiritual gifts, (1 Corinthians 12:1-10) and there appears to have been inter-personal conflicts based upon the possession of such gifts, including speaking in tongues or prophecy.[3] Paul tells his audience that they may have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but unless they first have love, these gifts mean nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
Description of agape
A description of agape, the concept of selfless love, forms a major passage in this Epistle's thirteenth chapter, running from verse 4 to the end. According to the author, agape is:
- (verse 4)
-
- longsuffering
- kind
- free of envy and pride
- (verse 5)
-
- without unseemly behavior
- unselfish
- tolerant
- free of suspicious thoughts
- (verse 6)
-
- associated with honesty
- (verse 7)
-
- enduring
- trusting
- (verse 8)
-
- triumphant
- (verse 13)
-
- greater in value than either faith or hope
"Through a Glass, Darkly"
1 Corinthians 13:12 contains the phrase
- βλεπομεν γαρ αρτι δι εσοπτρου εν αινιγματι
rendered in KJV,
- "For now we see through a glass, darkly."
which refers to mirrors,[4] not lenses, and which has inspired the titles of many works, including the novel/film A Scanner Darkly, whose name is derived from a slightly different translation of the passage.
- See also: Through A Glass Darkly
Other notable passages
There are two other passages from 1 Corinthians: 13 which have been notably influential. Firstly, verse 11: "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (KJV). Secondly, verse 13, in praise of the Theological virtues:
- νυνι δε μενει πιστις ελπις αγαπη τα τρια ταυτα μειζων δε τουτων η αγαπη
- "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." (NRSV)
Ritual use
The passage has appeared in Christian wedding liturgies, including the Book of Common Prayer. Sometimes it is read in funeral services as well, as when Prime Minister Tony Blair read the passage at the funeral of Princess Diana (1997). [5]
Cultural references
- George Orwell's 1936 novel Keep The Aspidistra Flying quotes the King James version of the text with the word charity replaced by the word money.[6]
- The Latin motto of Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada is Nunc cognosco ex parte ("Now I know in part").
- The passage is often quoted in Elmer Gantry (1960), a film by Richard Brooks based on the novel by Sinclair Lewis. The film, set in Prohibition-era America, tells the story of a roguish traveling salesman who becomes a revivalist preacher.
- Krzysztof Kieślowski's film Three Colors: Blue (1993) draws many images and themes from 1 Corinthians 13, including allusions to appearances ("seeing through a glass") and musical sounds. The Song for the Unification of Europe at the center of the story sets an abridged version of the original Greek text.
- Hackers (film) 1 Corinthians 13:11.
- Last comic of Mac Hall [1] 1 Corinthians 13:11.
- The movie Odd Man Out 1 Corinthians 13:11-13.
- Quoted by Fonzsworth Bentley on track 17 "Fonzsworth (Interlude)" – 0:58) of the Got Purp? Vol 2 mixtape. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
External links
References
- ^ New Testament Study Helps: Paul's Letters to the Corinthians at theologywebsite.com
- ^ Latourette, Kenneth Scott, A History of Christianity, Volume 1: Beginnings to 1500, p. 114, © 1975 Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., ISBN 0-06-064952-6
- ^ Henry, Matthew, Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation): First Corinthians Chap. XII, Public domain, Library of Congress call no: BS490.H4, at Christian Classics Ethereal Library
- ^ Entry: εσοπτρον (espotron - Strong's 2072), retrieved from blueletterbible.org
- ^ Diana's funeral (CNN) Retrieved 20-Jun-2006
- ^ Keep the Aspidistra Flying preface (project Gutenberg) Retrieved 12-Oct-2006
