Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Context

Reading Someone Else’s Mail

Paul first visited the city of Corinth in south-central Greece during his 2^nd missionary journey (Acts 18:1-18). Paul in 1 Corinthians is responding to a letter he had received from leaders of the church there (1 Cor. 7:1). So it makes sense that Paul addresses a variety of issues and ideas in the text of the letter itself. Because we don’t have the letter(s) Paul received from Corinth, we are missing the specific questions he’s answering.

In a way, when we read this letter, we are reading someone else’s mail! (Although, there is certainly much we can learn and apply to our own lives!)

Not Really about Wedded Bliss!

1 Corinthians 13…

1. 1 Cor. 13 is sandwiched between 2 discussions of spiritual gifts. In that light, how should we understand love and what is love’s connection to our giftings?

2. According to 1 Cor. 13:1-4, it is quite possible to use gifts given by God (speak in tongues, prophecy, have powerful faith) without love. What might this look like in a church? What does it look like when they are used with love?

3. What do these verses tell us about how we…