In this final episode, we’ll explore two common misconceptions that might affect how we understand and apply Paul’s teaching. The first is that the Greek word agape means “Christian love”; the second is the idea that love is an action and not a feeling. And to correct both these ideas, we need the idea of transformation, both in how Paul transforms language, and how love is meant to transform us.

As I suggested earlier, to say that love is “patient” and “kind” is not only a correction to our own unloving behavior, but a reminder of the character of God. Something similar could be said about Paul’s statement that love “never fails.” In one sense, that statement points back to what he’s said about endurance and perseverance. But it also points forward to what he says immediately after about a future in which only a godly love remains.

As I suggested earlier, when Paul says in verse 7 that love “trusts” and “hopes,” I take this as a reference to the virtues of faith and hope he mentions at the end of the chapter. But what does he mean when in the same verse he says that love always “protects” and “perseveres”? In this episode, I’ll argue that with both words, Paul is pointing to a love that endures despite the many challenges it faces.

At the end of the chapter, Paul mentions faith, hope, and love together. In church history, these three have been known as the “theological virtues.” But Paul declares that love is greater than the other two. Why? Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to have a forward-looking perspective, anticipating the day in which faith and hope will no longer be needed, while the love of God remains.

In verse 6 of chapter 13, Paul teaches that “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” Again, he’s making a distinction between what love doesn’t do and what it does instead—but what should we make of his contrast between “evil” and “truth”? And is it true that we “delight in evil”?

Peter once asked Jesus how many times he was obligated to forgive someone who offended him. But Jesus didn’t give him a number; he didn’t want Peter to resentfully keep a mental record of offenses. Similarly, Paul teaches the Corinthians that love “keeps no record of wrongs.” In this episode, we’ll explore how being “self-seeking,” being “easily angered,” and keeping track of offenses all feed and reinforce each other.

When Paul first visited the city of Athens, he was cut to the quick by the rampant idolatry he saw there. The word Luke uses to describe Paul’s reaction is the same one Paul uses himself to say that love isn’t “easily angered” in verse 5 of First Corinthians 13. What Paul seems to be describing is how the Corinthians’ quick temper with each other isn’t tempered by love.

In a highly individualistic culture like the United States, we're used to looking out for number one. And to some extent, it's human nature to protect ourselves and our interests. But Paul teaches that it's more loving and godlier to look out for number two. As we’ll see, he teaches this not only in First Corinthians, but in his letter to the Philippians.