Love’S Permanence
LOVE’S PERMANENCE
1 CORINTHIANS 13:8-13
Our present experience is partial and points to a more complete state in the age to come.
The third part of this New Testament “song of songs” stresses love’s permanence. The scene is set in the future: “When that which is perfect comes” (13:10) and the present order gives place to the life of the age to come. At present in “this age”—references to this phrase are worth reading (Galatians 1:4; 2 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4)—nothing can strictly be called perfect by reason of sin, sorrow and human finiteness. Therefore our experience, in all its facets, is “in part” (13:12) and is a pointer to a more complete state in the consummation (see Matthew 28:20).
Two points are made by the apostle as he bids us reflect on love’s continuance beyond this life into the new age.
First, love is in contrast with transient qualities (13:8). The gifts of prophecy, tongues, knowledge are all related to, because relevant to, this age. They have a value, and need to be cultivated. That is why we have the warnings of 14:1,20 (answering 13:11); but their value is conditioned by their need. In the coming era, prophecy (= preaching, 14:3) and knowledge will also be displaced, giving way to an encounter with God in Christ and a perfect face-to-face communion (13:12a) which will render the mediation of preaching and knowledge superfluous (13:12b). But love, because it is so much part of God’s own nature (1 John 4:7-12) will remain.
Secondly, love is the climax of the permanent qualities. Other Christian virtues will remain in conjunction with love. What are they (13:13)? Yet love takes the first place. In what sense is love the greatest? Reviewing the chapter, we may answer: (1) because it is the very soul of the other gifts (13:1-3); (2) because it is supreme by its own excellence and shines in its own light; and (3) because it is of the very essence of God (1 John 4:16).
The three virtues of 13:13 are mentioned together elsewhere (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 5:8; Colossians 1:4-5; Ephesians 4:2-5; Romans 5:1-5; Galatians 5:5-6) and evidently formed a well-known threesome.