Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

Paul didn’t pen 1 Corinthians 13 for weddings and Valentine’s Day celebrations

OpinionNora Lozano  |  February 13, 2019

Do you love someone? If so, Valentine’s Day marketers suggest you show it with diamonds, expensive wine, or chocolates.

Christians are quick to criticize this excessive commercialization of love during the month of February because it promotes a misconception of love. Even so, most of us happily join the celebration.

What kind of love are we celebrating? Too often our concept of love falls short, reduced to a cultural definition that adversely affects the quality of our relationships, especially at church.

A primary example of this reductionist view of love in Christian circles is a common interpretation and application of I Corinthians 13. In this passage, the Apostle Paul poetically describes agape “love”:

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends (verses 4-7).

In Christian cultures, this passage is a favorite for wedding ceremonies. Sometimes it seems that we have reserved these words for the bride and groom whose life together is to be based on this kind of love.

“I Corinthians 13 is a passage about love within the church.”

That challenge to bride and groom is appropriate, of course. But a deeper reading of this passage suggests that Paul had other intentions in mind as he wrote this section of his letter.

One helpful strategy to get closer to the real meaning of a passage it is to look at its historical context. In this case, Paul was addressing the brothers and sisters in the church in Corinth. This church was dealing with troublesome issues, including arrogance, as one segment attempted to put down another by claiming higher levels of spirituality and knowledge.

This approach to biblical interpretation also considers the immediate context of a passage by looking at the surrounding chapters, in this case 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.

In chapter 12, Paul presents one of the most beautiful and challenging images of the church: the body of Christ. According to this image, all of the members of the church are a part of the body of Christ. Since we all have bodies, we can easily relate to this image. For a body to be healthy, it needs to live in harmony. On the contrary, a body that attacks itself will eventually perish.

Paul connects this description of a body with a church where all of its members have received different gifts to perform particular functions. These gifts are given by God and the Holy Spirit, and they represent the diversity of the body of Christ. While some gifts may be more noticeable than others, all of them are necessary for the body to function as intended. Furthermore, all of them must cooperate for the body to thrive and to fulfill its mission.

Thus, in this healthy body, or church, members should never turn against each other. Avoiding arrogance, self-interest and competition, they must live in harmony and work together for the building up of the body.

Paul then challenges members of the body to follow “the most excellent way” of love. He begins his eloquent discourse on love by noting that if a person speaks in tongues, whether human or angelic, or has profound knowledge of all mysteries, or gives all their possessions to the poor, or even surrenders their body to hardships, but lacks love, all these actions mean nothing.

The point is that it does not matter which one of the gifts is ours; if it is not used in love, it means nothing. Once Paul sets this background of true love in the body of Christ, then he is ready to address in chapter 14 the proper order in the worship service.

“This kind of love is hard. But we are not left alone with this challenge.”

Thus, I Corinthians 13 is a passage about love within the church. If so, why are we so fond of using it for wedding ceremonies? One reason is that it lets us off the hook. Let the newlyweds live according to this high standard for love; as for me, I prefer to be excused from this challenge.

However, Paul repeatedly tells us that in the body of Christ, all members must live this love that is patient, kind, truthful, hopeful, enduring and strong, and that rejects envy, arrogance, rudeness, irritability, wrongdoing and resentment.

This means I am to apply this kind of love to the deacon, staff person or committee chair I really do not like, or to the sister or brother who is giving me a hard time, or to the one who has hurt me.

Furthermore, as we go about the work of the church, we need to ask: What does this kind of love look like in our worship services? What does it look like at our social gatherings? What does it look like during business sessions? What does it look like in our ministries in the community?

This kind of love is hard. But remember that we are not left alone with this challenge. As in every area of the Christian life, we are given a helper: the Holy Spirit.

When the Church of Jesus Christ embodies this kind of love, congregations will become robust, powerful witnesses to the love of Jesus. That love will exceed and transform our society’s understanding and commodification of “love.”


OPINION: Views expressed in Baptist News Global columns and commentaries are solely those of the authors.
Tags:Love1 Corinthians 13Valentine’s Day
More by
Nora Lozano
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • Welcome to Gilead

      Opinion

    • Supreme Court once again hands conservative evangelicals a win for free expression over state establishment of religion

      News

    • For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal critics at McLean Bible Church

      News

    • ‘Our Father’: A quiverfull of racism and anti-reproductive rights

      Opinion


    Curated

    • Can AIPAC Still Claim the Middle Ground?

      Can AIPAC Still Claim the Middle Ground?

      July 1, 2022
    • Afghan Taliban hold 1st major clerical meetup since takeover

      Afghan Taliban hold 1st major clerical meetup since takeover

      July 1, 2022
    • His Election Polarized the Philippines. Now Evangelicals Are Repairing Burned Bridges.

      His Election Polarized the Philippines. Now Evangelicals Are Repairing Burned Bridges.

      July 1, 2022
    • Preacher at CBF Assembly Blasts ‘Slave Bible Hermeneutic’ that Opposes Social Justice

      Preacher at CBF Assembly Blasts ‘Slave Bible Hermeneutic’ that Opposes Social Justice

      July 1, 2022
    Read Next:

    Jesus calls women to ministry by name and asks them to rise up, Stewart says in fiery BWIM sermon

    NewsJeff Brumley

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • Butler and Barr connect the dots between race and gender and patriarchy

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Public schools need churches as supporters and advocates, CBF panelists stress

      NewsMarv Knox

    • Women in ministry face daily slights that add up, BWIM leaders explain

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Churches’ eco-stewardship can protect ‘the tree of life,’ San Antonio congregation shows

      NewsMarv Knox

    • CBF pauses giving to Ukraine relief fund to await long-term rebuilding opportunities

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • God calls all kinds of people to behold the Lamb of God, West tells CBF

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Together for Hope inspires communities to see what they’ve got more than what they’re lacking

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • CBF is ‘crossing over’ to a new era, Baxley tells General Assembly

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • With refugee numbers rising worldwide, racism remains a factor in where they’re accepted and how quickly

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • Summer state and regional meetings give a preview of how the split is going in the United Methodist Church

      NewsCynthia Astle

    • Churches must learn to adapt to ‘permanent transition,’ Leonard stresses

      NewsMarv Knox

    • While the SBC shuns women as preachers, CBF celebrates a new generation of women as preachers

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Transitions for the week of 7-1-22

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • ‘Our Father’: A quiverfull of racism and anti-reproductive rights

      OpinionErica Whitaker

    • For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal critics at McLean Bible Church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • The consent of mothers

      OpinionJulia Goldie Day

    • Jesus calls women to ministry by name and asks them to rise up, Stewart says in fiery BWIM sermon

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Welcome to Gilead

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • Dear closeted queer one, Pride is for you

      OpinionAmber Cantorna

    • Daniel Vestal writes of the changing chapters of life and faith

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Christianity: Where the end justifies the means

      OpinionPhillip Thomas

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Supreme Court once again hands conservative evangelicals a win for free expression over state establishment of religion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Catholic bishops drop opposition to lesbian becoming a foster parent

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Why men should be concerned about the abortion ruling

      OpinionDarrell Hamilton II

    • Butler and Barr connect the dots between race and gender and patriarchy

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Public schools need churches as supporters and advocates, CBF panelists stress

      NewsMarv Knox

    • Women in ministry face daily slights that add up, BWIM leaders explain

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Churches’ eco-stewardship can protect ‘the tree of life,’ San Antonio congregation shows

      NewsMarv Knox

    • CBF pauses giving to Ukraine relief fund to await long-term rebuilding opportunities

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • God calls all kinds of people to behold the Lamb of God, West tells CBF

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Together for Hope inspires communities to see what they’ve got more than what they’re lacking

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • CBF is ‘crossing over’ to a new era, Baxley tells General Assembly

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • With refugee numbers rising worldwide, racism remains a factor in where they’re accepted and how quickly

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • Summer state and regional meetings give a preview of how the split is going in the United Methodist Church

      NewsCynthia Astle

    • Churches must learn to adapt to ‘permanent transition,’ Leonard stresses

      NewsMarv Knox

    • While the SBC shuns women as preachers, CBF celebrates a new generation of women as preachers

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Transitions for the week of 7-1-22

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal critics at McLean Bible Church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Jesus calls women to ministry by name and asks them to rise up, Stewart says in fiery BWIM sermon

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Daniel Vestal writes of the changing chapters of life and faith

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Supreme Court once again hands conservative evangelicals a win for free expression over state establishment of religion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Catholic bishops drop opposition to lesbian becoming a foster parent

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Christian nationalism links gun rights and ‘Christian nation’ ideals in dangerous mix, Tyler and Hollman say

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Was that a blatantly racist tweet from a Texas senator or not?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Here’s what pastors said this Sunday in churches not celebrating the Supreme Court’s abortion decision

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Women of childbearing age are least likely to see strict abortion laws as best deterrent against abortion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • U.S. State Department calls out Russia, China, Afghanistan, Myanmar for extreme religious freedom abuses

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Pranoto, Shaw, Smith and Younger join BNG board of directors

      NewsBNG staff

    • ‘Our Father’: A quiverfull of racism and anti-reproductive rights

      OpinionErica Whitaker

    • The consent of mothers

      OpinionJulia Goldie Day

    • Welcome to Gilead

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • Dear closeted queer one, Pride is for you

      OpinionAmber Cantorna

    • Christianity: Where the end justifies the means

      OpinionPhillip Thomas

    • Why men should be concerned about the abortion ruling

      OpinionDarrell Hamilton II

    • Why I’m a pro-choice pastor: I’ve listened to the stories of too many women

      OpinionBob Browning

    • Who’ll bring the sackcloth and ashes to CBF General Assembly this week?

      OpinionMolly Brummett Wudel

    • Finding inspiration from Fannie Lou Hamer when freedom is under assault

      OpinionMary Alice Birdwhistell

    • The French Dreyfus Affair and Trump’s Big Lie

      OpinionDavid Gushee, Senior Columnist

    • Independence Day: Not to celebrate but to reflect

      OpinionKathy Manis Findley

    • Progress on sexual abuse in the SBC? Not so fast

      OpinionDavid Clohessy and Christa Brown

    • Reflections on my mother’s funeral: The heart has reasons

      OpinionDavid Ramsey

    • When ‘orthodoxy’ won’t hold: The SBC and the rest of us

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • Seven suggestions for preventing conflict before it happens

      OpinionBill Wilson

    • The gospel according to mammals

      OpinionTyler Tankersley

    • How God used Jay Bakker to teach me about race and loving all people

      OpinionMaina Mwaura

    • When a teenager gets kicked to the curb by Christian parents

      OpinionDan McGee and Linda Francis Cross

    • Unzipped: How (not) to commute

      OpinionEric Minton

    • When it comes to leading corporate prayer, are we really all in this together?

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • Is America racist at heart?

      OpinionEugene G. Akins III

    • Note to self: Get rid of resting jerkface

      OpinionErich Bridges

    • Don’t keep sweet: Why white Christians need to celebrate Juneteenth

      OpinionErica Whitaker

    • Letter to the Editor: The importance of establishing best practices for pastoral searches

      OpinionLetters to the Editor

    • Hymn Stories: ‘Will You Come and Follow Me’

      OpinionBeverly A. Howard

    • Can AIPAC Still Claim the Middle Ground?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Afghan Taliban hold 1st major clerical meetup since takeover

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • His Election Polarized the Philippines. Now Evangelicals Are Repairing Burned Bridges.

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Preacher at CBF Assembly Blasts ‘Slave Bible Hermeneutic’ that Opposes Social Justice

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Russia’s antisemitism aimed at Ukraine’s Zelenskyy is just the Kremlin variant of a very old European virus

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • New Zealand designates Proud Boys a terrorist organization

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • D. James Kennedy Ministries Loses Legal Battle Against ‘Hate Group’ Label

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Colorado GOP rejects candidates who back Trump election lie

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Donating to help women get abortions is a First Amendment right – protected by Supreme Court precedents

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Court upholds sentence of imprisoned Cuban pastor

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • 8 Christian Conservatives Who Promoted False Claims Of Rigged, Stolen Election

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • ‘Biblical’ insect swarms spur Oregon push to fight pests

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Mine can be built on Apache sacred site, Oak Flat, federal appeals court rules

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Evangelist Nick Hall: Christians have become ‘loud about everything but Jesus’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Boston city council member walks back tweet about ‘letting the Zionists shake you down’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Religious schools may face another hurdle to state tuition

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Counting the Cost of Paying Ransoms for Missionaries

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • At LA’s DisclosureFest, a milieu of New Age mysticism, capitalism and conspiracy talk

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Worshippers at Baptist church in Nigeria abducted

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Biden administration proposes protections for transgender students and against sexual violence in schools

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Columbia Theological Seminary students object to firing of Black administrator

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pope orders online release of WWII-era Pius XII Jewish files

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Demolishing schools after a mass shooting reflects humans’ deep-rooted desire for purification rituals

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Has American conservatism abandoned the Christian right?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • In Colorado, a GOP rarity: An abortion rights candidate

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2022 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS