1 Corinthians 13: 1-13 (on love) (Jesus, mission, prophecy, gnostic, confess)

onmybelief · #1 02-19-2006, 10:20 AM

1) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2) If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3) If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5) It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8) Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10) but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13) And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I believe this is the epitome of the Christian faith - that we are nothing with out love in our hearts. I also believe some Christians have strayed away from this scripture. Instead loving others as Jesus loved us, we make judgement calls on others. I admit that I am quick to make judgements on others - I know I must not.

This scripture isn't just for Christians to take heed to. All of humanity could learn from it, especially at this point in time. What do you think of this passage?

Buttons* · #2 02-19-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onmybelief

1) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2) If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3) If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

It's prolly just me, but passage two sounds EXTREMELY Gnostic. How interesting...

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMB

4) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5) It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Do you think maybe God = Love?

Quote:

Originally Posted by OMB

I believe this is the epitome of the Christian faith - that we are nothing with out love in our hearts. I also believe some Christians have strayed away from this scripture. Instead loving others as Jesus loved us, we make judgement calls on others. I admit that I am quick to make judgements on others - I know I must not.

This scripture isn't just for Christians to take heed to. All of humanity could learn from it, especially at this point in time. What do you think of this passage?

I think we can find passages like these in any religious text. Most religions teach peace, love, humility, submission, understanding, knowledge, and kindness at their core. I think we all need to get back to our center and find what's really important. We all have the potential to be greater than we are, so lets strive for it!

It's hardest to love your enemies. But we must. We must love everyone unconditionally and fully. Without this compassion, the world will surely end itself. We've lost our inner self, but we can find it again, learn to love again.

Aqualung · #3 02-19-2006, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttons*

It's prolly just me, but passage two sounds EXTREMELY Gnostic. How interesting...

It sounds extremely Mormony to me. Interesting...

Love is the greatest, yes, I agree. But it's not the only thing.

Buttons* · #4 02-19-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqualung

It sounds extremely Mormony to me. Interesting...

pick on me all you like.... meanie....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua

Love is the greatest, yes, I agree. But it's not the only thing.

It's not the only thing? What do you mean?

Aqualung · #5 02-19-2006, 01:07 PM

I wasn't being mean...

I was just saying that love is the greatest, and without it you're nothing, but there's still prophesy, and speaking in tongues, and stuff. If you have love, you're great. But you can still have a little bit more.

Buttons* · #6 02-19-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqualung

I wasn't being mean...

oh.... good! *smiles*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua

I was just saying that love is the greatest, and without it you're nothing, but there's still prophesy, and speaking in tongues, and stuff. If you have love, you're great. But you can still have a little bit more.

But doesn't love drive people to all of those things?

dawny0826 · #7 02-19-2006, 01:12 PM

Quote:

I believe this is the epitome of the Christian faith - that we are nothing with out love in our hearts. I also believe some Christians have strayed away from this scripture. Instead loving others as Jesus loved us, we make judgement calls on others. I admit that I am quick to make judgements on others - I know I must not.

You're certainly right.

I just hope that we all understand that there's a difference between judgement and standing firm on what you believe.

If I boldly confess the name of Christ and stand on what I know to be truth...I'm not in the wrong unless I fail to do so OUT of love. A Christian MUST LOVE.

But a Christian doesn't have to be a push over.

Aqualung · #8 02-19-2006, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttons*

oh.... good! *smiles*

But doesn't love drive people to all of those things?

I don't think so. After all, Paul said, if you have those things but don't have love, they're independent of each other. Necessity mostly drives people for these things. Why prophesy if there's a propeht, for example. Why speak in tongues if you don't need to.

Buttons* · #9 02-19-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqualung

Why speak in tongues if you don't need to.

exactly.

The love of God pulls you yo do those things. You feel compelled to do works, so say kind things, and live richly because of the love provided.

Why do anything to not get anything back? Love. Love is always the answer. (i sound like such a hippie)