“The Way to use Spiritual Gifts” (I Cor. 13)
This is in the middle of a discussion about spiritual gifts. 
1. The necessity of love (vs. 1-3). He maximizes the use of outwardly impressive gifts.
 a) Abilities: “if/speak/tongues”- the gift of speaking in human or angelic languages which one otherwise 
     did not know was prized & flashed in the Corinthian services. “but do not have God’s kind of love”- 
     Ch. 14 use it to edify/build up others (14:4,5). “I have become (pf.) noisy brass gong (Corinth was 
     famous for its brass) or a clanging cymbal”- such noises does not help anyone but gets on your nerves.
 b) Attainments: “If/gift/prophecy” to the extent that I know all mysteries & have complete knowledge 
     (God-like knowledge). “If all faith/mountains (huge obstacles, Matt. 21:21). Without God’s kind of 
     love, I am nothing, of no account.
 c) Sacrifices: If I give all my possessions to feed the poor or surrender my body (to martyrdom) to boast 
     (mss. favor, when rewards are given out). Without love, there is no profit or benefit from such extreme 
     sacrifices.
2. The qualities of love (vs. 4-7)
 a) 2 + qualities: “patient & kind” Fee- love’s necessary passive and active response towards others. This 
     is how God treats us (Romans 2:4).
 b) 8 – qualities: jealous- bad kind of zeal for yourself & your group; does not outwardly brag/boast; have 
     inward puffed-up arrogance; does not act unbecomingly/disgracefully/dishonorably; not self-seeking 
     after your own rights, pleasures, gains, goals; not provoked/irritable/easily angered; does not take into 
     account a wrong suffered (ESV resentful/ NIV keeps no record of wrongs); does not rejoice in 
     unrighteousness/injustice/wrong doing (even with an enemy); but rejoices with the truth.
 c) 4 + qualities with “always” (vs. 7, 1st & 4th – present, 2nd & 3rd – future looking): bears- covers OR 
     bears OR cover by bearing with them; believes & hopes- likely in what God can do in them & with the 
     situation; endures/perseveres in the straining situation
3. The superiority of love (vs. 8-13)
 a) “Love never fails/falls”- comes to an end. Ties together what goes before & after.
 b) Gifts of prophecy & knowledge will be done away with & tongues will cease. Verse 10,12 imply this 
     will happen with the perfection/full maturity which will come with the 2nd Coming of Christ. The 
     impact of these gifts, although beneficial, are only partial compared with the full knowledge that will 
     come when we see Him. Our questions will be answered.
 c) The contrast between now & then is developed with two metaphors. The immaturity of childhood is 
     contrasted with the full maturity of an adult. Our present speaking, thinking & reasoning has 
     substance, but is not even close to our speaking, thinking & reasoning when Christ returns & perfects 
     His people.
 d) The second metaphor contrasts seeing in a mirror with seeing face to face. Corinth made polished 
     metal mirrors. They gave an accurate but limited reflection compared to seeing something directly 
     with your eyes. These gifts reveal God, but are dim by comparison with our knowledge and experience 
     of Him when He returns.
 e) The temporary triad of “prophecy, tongues, knowledge” are not as significant as the permanent triad of 
     “faith, hope & love.” These three remain and of the three love is the greatest. Faith will become sight, 
     our hope will be fulfilled, but God’s love will continue as we express it back to Him and to others.