Love is a vital phenomenon that influences every aspect of our lives. Humans cannot thrive without loving relationships, even if all basic needs are met (Carter & Porges, 2013).
Over the past few weeks, we have studied Paul’s words to the church at Corinth, as recorded in I Corinthians 13:1-13. As we approach the end of the chapter, Paul emphasizes that when he was a child, he thought and reasoned like a child.
Still, when he became an adult, he put away childhood (v. 11). Paul wrote that when “the perfect” comes (v. 10), He will reveal all things. Our understanding of God is imperfect, but one day, when we are with God after this life is over, we will know Him fully.
John records that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2). As we have considered in past articles, one of the reasons God gives spiritual gifts is to point others to Christ. A second reason is to build each other up in the faith.
Today, a third reason is to “mature” the church.
Paul told the church at Ephesus that God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers to equip the saints for building the church (Ephesians 4:11–12). In verse 11 of Corinthians 13, Paul uses an analogy of childhood to explain a believer’s spiritual growth.
He says that when he was a child, he acted immaturely, but when he became an adult, he matured. Similarly, when Christ returns, our partial understanding of God will be replaced by a mature understanding (Ephesians 4:13–16).
In verse twelve, Paul stresses that we see dimly in a mirror, but one day, face to face. Paul has described our knowledge of God and His ways as incomplete or partial. Spiritual gifts give humanity only a glimpse of what can be known concerning God (Romans 11:33–34). Paul uses the analogy of seeing a reflection in a dim mirror to describe our limited understanding of God.
Some scholars believe Paul was referring to Corinth’s bronze mirrors, known for their imperfect reflections and high-quality craftsmanship. Once the church fully matures in Christ, we will finally see God face to face and know Him in person without any partial revelation.
Another consideration of Paul’s mirror metaphor is that the reflection is always backward. There’s a flip to the greater reality of the image being viewed. Paul adds that at the end of the church age, we will know God and His ways as clearly as God knows us at present (Revelation 21:1–5).
Paul concludes by saying faith, hope and love abide, but the greatest of these three is love (v. 13). Paul discusses three essential Christian virtues in this passage: faith, hope and love. He argues that these three virtues will continue even after the need for spiritual gifts has passed.
Faith is necessary to have a relationship with God, and hope is the belief that God will keep His promises about the future.
So, why is love the greatest? Because love will remain even after faith has become sight and hope is fully realized. Yes, the greatest of these is love — agape love — God’s kind of love.
(Last in a series.)
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