TRUE LOVE – I Corinthians 13 – 1-4-2026

This beloved chapter in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is often appropriated without much regard to the context. While standing alone the chapter reads like a poetic excursus on the beauty of human affection suitable for wedding vows, the first application pertains to relationships between church members.  Paul insists that love is the necessary precondition for the exercise of Spiritual gifts.  This emphasis was not novel. Paul is expounding applications of Jesus’ words in John 13:35: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  According to Paul and Jesus, gospel-grounded mutual love is basic to the identity and calling of the Christian church. The central message of the so called “love chapter” is a call to order our affections according to the hierarchy of Christian priorities as the Body of Christ. Given the occasion of the first Lord’s Day of 2026, our text provides opportunity to inspire meaningful New Year’s resolutions.