Anna lives with her aging grandmother. Her friends often invite her out, but she chooses to stay home, cooking, cleaning, and reading to her grandmother, who sometimes forgets her name because of dementia.
One evening, Anna’s grandmother becomes frustrated and snaps at her, forgetting all the kindness Anna has shown. Instead of getting angry or walking away, Anna gently takes her hand and says, “It’s OK, Grandma. I love you.” She continues to care for her, even when there’s no gratitude in return.
Anna doesn’t serve for recognition or reward. She doesn’t seek praise. She simply loves—patiently, kindly, without envy, pride, or resentment. Her love endures, even when it’s difficult.
Paul describes this kind of love in 1 Corinthians 13—a love that isn’t just words or emotions but a daily choice to be selfless, forgiving, and steadfast. It’s the kind of love that reflects God’s love for us, the kind that never fails.
Lesson Themes
First Corinthians 13, often called the “Love Chapter,” is one of the most profound passages in the Bible. Paul places love at the center of Christian life, showing that it is superior to spiritual gifts, knowledge, and even faith. This week, we will look at the following three main themes of the Love Chapter:
The Supremacy of Love (1 Cor. 13:1–3).
The Characteristics of Love (1 Cor. 13:4–8).
The Endurance of Love (1 Cor. 13:8–13).
Part II: Commentary
1. Background: Love in Greek Writings and Philosophy of the First Century A.D.: In the world of the first century A.D., love was a widely discussed concept in Greco-Roman philosophy and literature and an important part of Jewish thought. However, the way love was understood varied significantly. Roman poets, such as Ovid in Ars Amatoria (“The Art of Love”), focused more on the idea of love as a skillful pursuit, often intertwined with manipulation and seduction. Love was frequently associated with beauty, desire, and conquest rather than selflessness.
The ancient Greeks and Romans had multiple words for love, each reflecting different aspects of human relationships. Eros (ἔρως) was mostly used to denote passionate, romantic, or sexual love. Eros was often seen as an intense desire or even a dangerous force that could lead to irrationality. Plato, in his work Symposium, however, discussed eros as something that could lead a person from physical attraction to a pursuit of higher, divine beauty. Philia (φιλία) was used to describe friendship or brotherly love and often characterized relationships between equals. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle described philia as essential for a virtuous and fulfilling life, particularly in friendships based on mutual goodness. Storgē (στοργή) described familial love, such as the natural bond between parents and children. This form of love was seen as instinctive and protective. Finally, agapē (ἀγάπη) often had the connotation of selfless, unconditional love. While this term existed before Christianity, it was not commonly emphasized in Greek philosophical texts. Paul’s writings—in particular his use of the word in 1 Corinthians 13—highlighted this love.
In Jewish thought, love was closely tied to covenant relationships, both between God and Israel and among individuals. The Hebrew Scriptures emphasized (1) God’s steadfast love (ḥesed) that described His covenantal love. This love is loyal, merciful, and enduring (for example, the refrain found in Psalm 136:2, “His steadfast love endures forever” [ESV]); (2) love of neighbor, as found in the command of Leviticus 19:18 (“Love your neighbor as yourself” [ESV]), a principle that Jesus later reaffirmed (Mark 12:31); and (3) love in both family and marriage, as depicted in Proverbs and the Song of Songs.
By the first century, Jewish teachers, such as the Pharisees, emphasized obedience to the law as an expression of love for God (Deut. 6:5). Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 was revolutionary for his time. Unlike the competitive, status-driven love of the Greco-Roman world or the legalism of some Jewish teachers, Paul presented agapē as the highest virtue—greater than knowledge, power, or even spiritual gifts. Unlike eros, which sought personal fulfillment, the love Paul described in 1 Corinthians 13 was sacrificial. The opposite of self-seeking, this love went beyond mere emotion and was enduring and action-driven. It represented a way of life, requiring patience, kindness, and humility.
Paul’s vision of love aligned more with God’s covenantal ḥesed than with Greek philosophical ideals; yet, his vision also transcended traditional Jewish views by insisting that love—not torah—was the foundation of Christian ethics.
2. The Supremacy of Love (1 Cor. 13:1–3):First Corinthians 13 is part of Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12–14), in which he emphasizes that love is greater than any gift or ability. Love is greater than knowledge, power, or even faith itself. Paul describes love, not as an emotion, but as an attitude—patient, kind, selfless, and enduring. This kind of love (agapē) is central to the Christian life. It is not just an ideal but a call to action, challenging believers to reflect God’s love in every relationship and situation.
In 1904, Ellen G. White wrote the following statement: “The Lord desires me to call the attention of His people to the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. Read this chapter every day, and from it obtain comfort and strength. Learn from it the value that God places on sanctified, heaven-born love, and let the lesson that it teaches come home to your hearts. Learn that Christlike love is of heavenly birth, and that without it all other qualifications are worthless.”—The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, July 21, 1904.
Paul begins by emphasizing that without love, even the most impressive spiritual gifts and religious acts are meaningless. He lists three examples: (1) According to Paul, speaking “in the tongues of men and of angels” without love is just like “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1, ESV). (2) A person with prophetic power, knowledge, and even faith is “nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2, ESV) without love. (3) Acts of extreme generosity and sacrifice will “gain nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3, ESV) for the giver if not motivated by love. Because God is love (1 John 4:8), “He can be fully known only through love. . . . Without love we cannot know God, and without God we are nothing.”—“1 Corinthians,” in Andrews Bible Commentary, ed. Ángel Manuel Rodríguez et al. (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2022), p. 1643. This section highlights the fact that spiritual gifts and religious devotion must be rooted in love to have true significance.
3. The Characteristics of Love (1 Cor. 13:4–8): In the following verses, Paul explains the nature of love. Love is not simply an emotion but an active way of living. Intriguingly, Paul uses verbs not adjectives to define the nature of love. In total, he uses 16 verbs, nine of which describe a negative value and seven with a positive or constructive value. The following table offers a visual overview (and is based on a table found in the Andrews Bible Commentary, p. 1644):
Positive Qualities
Negative Qualities
Love is patient (vs. 4)
Love does not envy (vs. 4)
Love is kind (vs. 4)
Love does not boast (vs. 4)
Love rejoices in the truth (vs. 6)
Love is not arrogant (vs. 4)
Love endures/protects all things (vs. 7)
Love is not rude/disrespectful (vs. 5)
Love believes all things, and always trusts (vs. 7)
Love is not self-seeking (vs. 5)
Love hopes all things (vs. 7)
Love is not easily angered (vs. 5)
Love endures all things, and always perseveres (vs. 8)
Love does not keep a record of wrongs and thinks no evil (vs. 5) Love does not delight in evil (vs. 6) Love never fails (vs. 8)
This list contrasts with the Corinthians’ behavior. The Corinthians were struggling with pride, division, and competition over spiritual gifts. Paul calls them to a higher standard of love, a notion also affirmed in the writings of Ellen G. White: “The attribute that Christ appreciates most in man is charity (love) out of a pure heart. This is the fruit borne upon the Christian tree.”—Manuscript 16, 1892.
The Endurance of Love (1 Cor. 13:8-13): Paul concludes by showing that love is eternal, whereas spiritual gifts are temporary. “Love never ends” (ESV), writes Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:8, but gifts (prophecies, tongues, knowledge) will pass away. These gifts are needed only in our imperfect, earthly state, but they will no longer be necessary when we reach full knowledge in God’s presence. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul reminds his audience that human sight, at its best, sees only “dimly.” He contrasts this dim awareness with the assurance that we will see “face to face” in the kingdom. Paul compares our current understanding to looking at a blurred reflection in a mirror. In eternity, we will fully know God and be fully known by Him. Of the three virtues of faith, hope, and love, only love will remain, for love “is the greatest” of the virtues. While faith and hope are vital in our current lives, love is the only one that will continue forever in eternity.
Part III: Life Application
Paul’s discourse on love in 1 Corinthians 13 emphasizes that love is the foundation of Christian faith and relationships. Love (or agapē) is not about emotions, attraction, or personal benefit. Rather, it is a self-giving, enduring, and transformative principle that mirrors God’s love for us. Paul challenges believers to embody this love in their daily lives, making it the highest virtue in both their faith and actions.
Paul says that even great spiritual gifts and acts of sacrifice are meaningless without love. Why do you think love is more important than knowledge, faith, or generosity?
Can you think of examples in which people do “good things” but without love? How does that affect the impact of their actions?
How does 1 Corinthians 13 challenge the way we define success?
Which of the descriptions of love (for example, patience, kindness, not self-seeking) stands out to you the most? Why?
Which of the aforementioned characteristics is the hardest for you to practice in your daily life? How can you grow in that area?
How can you practice agapē love in situations in which you don’t feel like loving (for example, difficult relationships, disagreements, daily frustrations)?
Think about a person in your life who truly exemplifies the kind of love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13. What can you learn from this person?
How does understanding God’s love help us to love others better?
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Key Text: 1 Corinthians 13:13
Study Focus: 1 Cor. 13:1–13.
Introduction
Anna lives with her aging grandmother. Her friends often invite her out, but she chooses to stay home, cooking, cleaning, and reading to her grandmother, who sometimes forgets her name because of dementia.
One evening, Anna’s grandmother becomes frustrated and snaps at her, forgetting all the kindness Anna has shown. Instead of getting angry or walking away, Anna gently takes her hand and says, “It’s OK, Grandma. I love you.” She continues to care for her, even when there’s no gratitude in return.
Anna doesn’t serve for recognition or reward. She doesn’t seek praise. She simply loves—patiently, kindly, without envy, pride, or resentment. Her love endures, even when it’s difficult.
Paul describes this kind of love in 1 Corinthians 13—a love that isn’t just words or emotions but a daily choice to be selfless, forgiving, and steadfast. It’s the kind of love that reflects God’s love for us, the kind that never fails.
Lesson Themes
First Corinthians 13, often called the “Love Chapter,” is one of the most profound passages in the Bible. Paul places love at the center of Christian life, showing that it is superior to spiritual gifts, knowledge, and even faith. This week, we will look at the following three main themes of the Love Chapter:
The Supremacy of Love (1 Cor. 13:1–3).
The Characteristics of Love (1 Cor. 13:4–8).
The Endurance of Love (1 Cor. 13:8–13).
Part II: Commentary
1. Background: Love in Greek Writings and Philosophy of the First Century A.D.: In the world of the first century A.D., love was a widely discussed concept in Greco-Roman philosophy and literature and an important part of Jewish thought. However, the way love was understood varied significantly. Roman poets, such as Ovid in Ars Amatoria (“The Art of Love”), focused more on the idea of love as a skillful pursuit, often intertwined with manipulation and seduction. Love was frequently associated with beauty, desire, and conquest rather than selflessness.
The ancient Greeks and Romans had multiple words for love, each reflecting different aspects of human relationships. Eros (ἔρως) was mostly used to denote passionate, romantic, or sexual love. Eros was often seen as an intense desire or even a dangerous force that could lead to irrationality. Plato, in his work Symposium, however, discussed eros as something that could lead a person from physical attraction to a pursuit of higher, divine beauty. Philia (φιλία) was used to describe friendship or brotherly love and often characterized relationships between equals. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle described philia as essential for a virtuous and fulfilling life, particularly in friendships based on mutual goodness. Storgē (στοργή) described familial love, such as the natural bond between parents and children. This form of love was seen as instinctive and protective. Finally, agapē (ἀγάπη) often had the connotation of selfless, unconditional love. While this term existed before Christianity, it was not commonly emphasized in Greek philosophical texts. Paul’s writings—in particular his use of the word in 1 Corinthians 13—highlighted this love.
In Jewish thought, love was closely tied to covenant relationships, both between God and Israel and among individuals. The Hebrew Scriptures emphasized (1) God’s steadfast love (ḥesed) that described His covenantal love. This love is loyal, merciful, and enduring (for example, the refrain found in Psalm 136:2, “His steadfast love endures forever” [ESV]); (2) love of neighbor, as found in the command of Leviticus 19:18 (“Love your neighbor as yourself” [ESV]), a principle that Jesus later reaffirmed (Mark 12:31); and (3) love in both family and marriage, as depicted in Proverbs and the Song of Songs.
By the first century, Jewish teachers, such as the Pharisees, emphasized obedience to the law as an expression of love for God (Deut. 6:5). Paul’s description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 was revolutionary for his time. Unlike the competitive, status-driven love of the Greco-Roman world or the legalism of some Jewish teachers, Paul presented agapē as the highest virtue—greater than knowledge, power, or even spiritual gifts. Unlike eros, which sought personal fulfillment, the love Paul described in 1 Corinthians 13 was sacrificial. The opposite of self-seeking, this love went beyond mere emotion and was enduring and action-driven. It represented a way of life, requiring patience, kindness, and humility.
Paul’s vision of love aligned more with God’s covenantal ḥesed than with Greek philosophical ideals; yet, his vision also transcended traditional Jewish views by insisting that love—not torah—was the foundation of Christian ethics.
2. The Supremacy of Love (1 Cor. 13:1–3): First Corinthians 13 is part of Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12–14), in which he emphasizes that love is greater than any gift or ability. Love is greater than knowledge, power, or even faith itself. Paul describes love, not as an emotion, but as an attitude—patient, kind, selfless, and enduring. This kind of love (agapē) is central to the Christian life. It is not just an ideal but a call to action, challenging believers to reflect God’s love in every relationship and situation.
In 1904, Ellen G. White wrote the following statement: “The Lord desires me to call the attention of His people to the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. Read this chapter every day, and from it obtain comfort and strength. Learn from it the value that God places on sanctified, heaven-born love, and let the lesson that it teaches come home to your hearts. Learn that Christlike love is of heavenly birth, and that without it all other qualifications are worthless.”—The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, July 21, 1904.
Paul begins by emphasizing that without love, even the most impressive spiritual gifts and religious acts are meaningless. He lists three examples: (1) According to Paul, speaking “in the tongues of men and of angels” without love is just like “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1, ESV). (2) A person with prophetic power, knowledge, and even faith is “nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2, ESV) without love. (3) Acts of extreme generosity and sacrifice will “gain nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3, ESV) for the giver if not motivated by love. Because God is love (1 John 4:8), “He can be fully known only through love. . . . Without love we cannot know God, and without God we are nothing.”—“1 Corinthians,” in Andrews Bible Commentary, ed. Ángel Manuel Rodríguez et al. (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2022), p. 1643. This section highlights the fact that spiritual gifts and religious devotion must be rooted in love to have true significance.
3. The Characteristics of Love (1 Cor. 13:4–8): In the following verses, Paul explains the nature of love. Love is not simply an emotion but an active way of living. Intriguingly, Paul uses verbs not adjectives to define the nature of love. In total, he uses 16 verbs, nine of which describe a negative value and seven with a positive or constructive value. The following table offers a visual overview (and is based on a table found in the Andrews Bible Commentary, p. 1644):
Positive Qualities
Negative Qualities
Love is patient (vs. 4)
Love does not envy (vs. 4)
Love is kind (vs. 4)
Love does not boast (vs. 4)
Love rejoices in the truth (vs. 6)
Love is not arrogant (vs. 4)
Love endures/protects all things (vs. 7)
Love is not rude/disrespectful (vs. 5)
Love believes all things, and always trusts (vs. 7)
Love is not self-seeking (vs. 5)
Love hopes all things (vs. 7)
Love is not easily angered (vs. 5)
Love endures all things, and always perseveres (vs. 8)
Love does not keep a record of wrongs and thinks no evil (vs. 5)
Love does not delight in evil (vs. 6)
Love never fails (vs. 8)
This list contrasts with the Corinthians’ behavior. The Corinthians were struggling with pride, division, and competition over spiritual gifts. Paul calls them to a higher standard of love, a notion also affirmed in the writings of Ellen G. White: “The attribute that Christ appreciates most in man is charity (love) out of a pure heart. This is the fruit borne upon the Christian tree.”—Manuscript 16, 1892.
Part III: Life Application
Paul’s discourse on love in 1 Corinthians 13 emphasizes that love is the foundation of Christian faith and relationships. Love (or agapē) is not about emotions, attraction, or personal benefit. Rather, it is a self-giving, enduring, and transformative principle that mirrors God’s love for us. Paul challenges believers to embody this love in their daily lives, making it the highest virtue in both their faith and actions.
Paul says that even great spiritual gifts and acts of sacrifice are meaningless without love. Why do you think love is more important than knowledge, faith, or generosity?
Can you think of examples in which people do “good things” but without love? How does that affect the impact of their actions?
How does 1 Corinthians 13 challenge the way we define success?
Which of the descriptions of love (for example, patience, kindness, not self-seeking) stands out to you the most? Why?
Which of the aforementioned characteristics is the hardest for you to practice in your daily life? How can you grow in that area?
How can you practice agapē love in situations in which you don’t feel like loving (for example, difficult relationships, disagreements, daily frustrations)?
Think about a person in your life who truly exemplifies the kind of love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13. What can you learn from this person?
How does understanding God’s love help us to love others better?