Reflection: 1 Corinthians 13

This chapter is one of the most famous passages in the Bible, but let’s look at it in context.

Pretty much the whole of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is a telling-off.

It seems they were getting all kinds of things wrong, but particularly, there were various factions, and they were not being loving toward one another.

They were getting a bit carried away with the miraculous gifts, but neglecting the needs of others in the church.

Paul is careful to point out that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit are to be encouraged, but he is making the point that love, faith and hope are all much more important.

He is saying that love, faith and hope will always be necessary, but that prophesy, knowledge, and speaking in tongues will no longer be necessary when we are face to face with our Lord in heaven, because then, we will understand perfectly.
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Kevin Haigh