<h2>The Love Chapter: Paul describes the highest spiritual gift of all</h2><p><a name="m_1351116754852116569_www_biblegateway_com_passage__" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=26&ms=NTMyNzI0NzMS1&r=MjY3OTQ2OTczOTUS1&b=0&j=MTA4NDc1MzI3OAS2&mt=1&rt=0" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13</a></p><p><a name="m_1351116754852116569_www_biblegateway_com_pass_1" class="m_1351116754852116569bibleref" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=20&ms=NTMyNzI0NzMS1&r=MjY3OTQ2OTczOTUS1&b=0&j=MTA4NDc1MzI3OAS2&mt=1&rt=0" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 13:2</a> If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.</p><p><br></p><p>During
one of the most stressful times of his career, Paul makes his first
visit to the Greek city of Corinth (see Acts 17—18 for the details).
Lynch mobs chased him out of Thessalonica and Berea. The next stop,
Athens, brought on a different kind of confrontation, with intellectual
scoffers. Paul arrives at Corinth in a fragile emotional state.</p><p><br></p><p>Soon
opposition springs up in Corinth too. Jewish leaders become abusive and
haul Paul into court. It seems the harassed apostle will have no rest
from his enemies. But in the midst of this crisis, God visits Paul with a
special message of comfort: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not
be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm
you, because I have many people in this city” (<a name="m_1351116754852116569_www_biblegateway_com_pass_2" class="m_1351116754852116569bibleref" href="http://links.biblegateway.mkt4731.com/ctt?kn=22&ms=NTMyNzI0NzMS1&r=MjY3OTQ2OTczOTUS1&b=0&j=MTA4NDc1MzI3OAS2&mt=1&rt=0" target="_blank">Acts 18:9–10</a>).</p><p><br></p><p>Different Kind of Love</p><p>These
last words must have startled Paul, for Corinth is known mainly for its
lewdness and drunken brawling. The Corinthians revere the goddess of
love, and their “worship” practices resemble orgies. Corinth seems the
last place on Earth to expect a church to take root.</p><p><br></p><p>Yet,
exactly that happens. A Jewish couple opens their home to Paul, and for
the next 18 months he stays there to nurture an eager band of converts.</p><p><br></p><p>In
his letters to the church in Corinth, Paul must deal with the many
controversies that arise in such a diverse congregation. His intimate
concern for them produces some of his most memorable writing. This
chapter, “the love chapter,” endures as one of his most famous. Often
quoted at weddings and funerals, it was memorably read by the British
prime minister at Princess Diana’s funeral. The vision of love Paul
describes contrasts sharply with that familiar to most Corinthians.</p><p><br></p><p>Life Questions</p><p>First Corinthians 13 describes ideal love. Which of love’s characteristics do you need to work on?</p>
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