THE Corinthians had been competing with each other over spiritual gifts, feeling superior if they had a more spectacular gift. Paul has been seeking to correct this view in chapter 12, specially with regard to the gift of tongues. Now in this chapter he shows a more excellent way.

The way Paul speaks of is the way of love. The love he speaks of is peculiarly love which is divinely produced in a soul. There is nothing to compare with this love in the world. The unique word used in the Greek is 'agape'. This love is exemplified in Christ. This love has more to do with action an attitude than feeling, though feeling is not excluded.

This love can be exercised towards a person which we do not like.

VERSES 1-3.

In these opening verses Paul points out that agape love is the defining characteristic of true Christian behaviour. If a person does not show agape love, then whatever spiritual gifts may be possessed they can't be claimed as coming from God but from the devil. Just as the magicians in Egypt could replicate the miracles performed by Moses before Pharaoh, so the devil can counterfeit spiritual gifts. This is why Paul instructs us that we must test the spirits to see if they are from God.

VERSES 4-8a.

In these verses Paul explains and describes the nature of agape love. This is the love which Christ perfectly lived and showed. One of the most useful things we can do as Christians is to pray over these verses before the Lord, repenting of our failure to love like this, and cry to the Lord that he will mercifully grant us grace to live and show such love. If only the Lord's people showed agape love more, the impact on the world around would be enormous.

VERSES 8b-12.

In these verse Paul enhances the importance of love.

In the first place he shows that spiritual gifts will pass away in due time. They are only needed in the imperfections of this life. When the perfection of heaven is reached, then there will be no need of these spiritual gifts. The reason being that we shall have the fullness of life and holiness in heaven and so these spiritual gifts necessary for the church in this earthly life just will not be needed.

Then secondly Paul places spiritual gifts in the category of what we need because in this life we are still children. In heaven we shall be adult, and things needed for childhood will be redundant, and cease to be.

In this way Paul seeks to teach us that spiritual gifts are not the most important thing to seek. The gifts we are given are nothing to boast about or feel superior over. They are simply tools given to us to fulfil our roll in the growth and health of the church, the body of Christ.

Instead of pursuing spiritual gifts to enhance our importance we should pursue the greatest gifts of which agape love is the greatest.

VERSE 13.