So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Daily Verse 1 Corinthians 13:13 | Daily verse by logos.com | Faithlife
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So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
This short verse in English is a mystery to most, even to followers of "the Way." Our 21st century understanding of these words leave us puzzled.
While we have little trouble with the word "faith," we should. There are different kinds of faith.
Most people use faith to indicate only trust - as "we trust the mailman will come by today and give us our mail." That is an easy but shallow faith. It does not require any actions or pose any trouble for us. If the mailman doesn't show up - oh well, maybe I had no mail. Maybe tomorrow.
There is a faith that is even more shallow. Jesus' disciple Thomas illustrated that when he said he would not believe that Christ Jesus rose from the grave unless he sees Him. While he did believe that Jesus existed and even watched Him perfom miracles; his faith stopped there. He needed more evidence. I know that God has given many of us evidence in our lives - what I refer to as "personal miracles" and the wonder of things in God's creation that give evidence to us that God has to be real. But our faith in Christ Jesus has to be based on the things that God has told us. We need to study God's scriptures and have faith in someone who we cannot see.
Real faith, scripturally defined faith is the one that leads to our adoption as children of God.
1 Peter 1:13–22 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
Hope is another term that means different things to different people. We can hope it rains tomorrow. That is a hope that may be based on a weather report or simply a desire that we can skip watering the lawn. Its basis is also shallow.
Hope and faith are related to each other. Hope can be seen as simply faith "in the future." Similarly, hope and expectation are closely related. Note that the Apostle Paul had hope that he would not fail in his purpose.
Phil 1:20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
But we can have hope based solely on God's grace for a much better future.
Ro 8:19–25 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
To this point, faith and hope or turned toward God and His Son.
Lastly, and the most confusing to English speakers, in this world we currently live in, is "love." This is a word that is turned toward others. A similar word exists regarding brotherly love found in 1 Peter 1:22 shown above. It is philadelphian.
The King James Version bible calls agape "charity." However, it appears to go deeper than to give someone something, it is much more than that. I don't think we have a good word in English for that, but then; I am limited to what I am aware of, so someone else may know of a better word. However, the word "love" is mostly used which allows people to fail to understand if they have not seen the context of how it is used. I think it indicates someone who lives for others more than for himself.
1 Co 13:1–8 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away
Can you imagine how the scriptures would read if we were to replace love with altruism? I think that would be another can of worms.
While we have little trouble with the word "faith," we should. There are different kinds of faith.
Most people use faith to indicate only trust - as "we trust the mailman will come by today and give us our mail." That is an easy but shallow faith. It does not require any actions or pose any trouble for us. If the mailman doesn't show up - oh well, maybe I had no mail. Maybe tomorrow.
There is a faith that is even more shallow. Jesus' disciple Thomas illustrated that when he said he would not believe that Christ Jesus rose from the grave unless he sees Him. While he did believe that Jesus existed and even watched Him perfom miracles; his faith stopped there. He needed more evidence. I know that God has given many of us evidence in our lives - what I refer to as "personal miracles" and the wonder of things in God's creation that give evidence to us that God has to be real. But our faith in Christ Jesus has to be based on the things that God has told us. We need to study God's scriptures and have faith in someone who we cannot see.
Real faith, scripturally defined faith is the one that leads to our adoption as children of God.
1 Peter 1:13–22 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
Hope is another term that means different things to different people. We can hope it rains tomorrow. That is a hope that may be based on a weather report or simply a desire that we can skip watering the lawn. Its basis is also shallow.
Hope and faith are related to each other. Hope can be seen as simply faith "in the future." Similarly, hope and expectation are closely related. Note that the Apostle Paul had hope that he would not fail in his purpose.
Phil 1:20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
But we can have hope based solely on God's grace for a much better future.
Ro 8:19–25 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
To this point, faith and hope or turned toward God and His Son.
Lastly, and the most confusing to English speakers, in this world we currently live in, is "love." This is a word that is turned toward others. A similar word exists regarding brotherly love found in 1 Peter 1:22 shown above. It is philadelphian.
The King James Version bible calls agape "charity." However, it appears to go deeper than to give someone something, it is much more than that. I don't think we have a good word in English for that, but then; I am limited to what I am aware of, so someone else may know of a better word. However, the word "love" is mostly used which allows people to fail to understand if they have not seen the context of how it is used. I think it indicates someone who lives for others more than for himself.
1 Co 13:1–8 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away
Can you imagine how the scriptures would read if we were to replace love with altruism? I think that would be another can of worms.
True Outcast. Jesus demonstrated this love, “agape” , to us that while we were yet sinners he gave his life for us, greater love hath no man than this. John 15:13. The only word we may be able to use to describe love is Yahweh or God, 1 John 4:7-8 . This love is only available to those Yahweh has called and chosen. Romans 5:5 Yet this is in portion or by measure, not in totality like Jesus, but it is to grow in us and when in the kingdom reaches maturity.