What Were They Missing?

Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 13

What Were They Missing?
1 Corinthians 13

We must keep in mind two very important things as we look at this chapter.

First, remember that this passage was not written in a vacuum.

We find this great chapter on love included in a serious letter by Paul to the church in Corinth, a church with very serious problems.

In this letter, Paul painted for the Corinthians a picture of themselves…in their factions, their jealousies, their pride, their immaturity, their selfishness, their misuse of Christian liberty, and their bragging about their spiritual gifts.

Second, we must remember that, unlike our language, the Greeks had several words for love.

– Philia or Storge –
brotherly love; deep friendship.

– Eros –
mostly of sexual passion or lust.

– Ludus –
playful love.

– Pragma –
a model of love as two people may demonstrate during a lengthy marriage.

– Philautia –
love for one’s self.

– Agape –
the love of God for man; selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional

They had the first five types of love, but they were missing Agape love.

Paul says that Agape love is superior to spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Definition of Agape love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Agape love is eternal, spiritual gifts are temporal.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13