1 Corinthians 13

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1 Corinthians: 13 is the thirteenth chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. It is on the subject of love, principally the love that Christians should have for one another. In the original Greek the word αγαπη (agape - worshipful love) is used throughout. This was translated as charity in the King James version; but the word love is preferred by most other translations, both earlier and more recent. Authorship is generally attributed to Paul of Tarsus.^[1]

1 Historical and literary context
2 Description of agape
3 Common readings
4 "Through a Glass, Darkly"
5 Other notable passages
6 Cultural references involving the entire chapter
7 Links
8 References

[edit] Historical and literary context

1 Corinthians gives us an understanding of the early church seeking to define itself, not only in terms of doctrine, but also allegiance to spiritual leaders such as Peter, Paul, Apollos and Jesus.^[2] Who is a "real Christian" and who is not is a major theme. A significant portion of the preceding chapter focuses on the issue of spiritual gifts, (1 Corinthians 12:1-10) and there appears to have been inter-personal conflicts based upon the possession of such gifts, including speaking in tongues or prophecy.^[3] Paul tells his audience that they may have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but unless they first have love, these gifts mean nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

[edit] Description of agape

A description of agape, the concept of selfless love, forms a major passage in this Epistle's thirteenth chapter, running from verse 4 to the end.

According to the author, agape is:

(verse 4)

longsuffering
kind
free of envy and pride

(verse 5)

without unseemly behavior
unselfish
tolerant
free of suspicious thoughts

(verse 6)

associated with honesty

(verse 7)

enduring
trusting

(verse 8)

triumphant

(verse 13)

greater in value than either faith or hope

[edit] Common readings

The passage is one of the most common readings used in weddings. It is also sometimes used in funerals, for example Princess Diana's in 1997, where the passage was read by Tony Blair. ^[4]

[edit] "Through a Glass, Darkly"

1 Corinthians 13:12 contains the phrase

βλεπομεν γαρ αρτι δι εσοπτρου εν αινιγματι

rendered in KJV,

"For now we see through a glass, darkly."

which refers to mirrors,^[5] not lenses, and which has inspired the titles of many works. It was adopted as the title of Ingmar Bergman’s 1961 film Through a Glass Darkly, adapted as the title of Philip K. Dick’s 1977 novel A Scanner Darkly,^[6] and Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 short story collection In a Glass Darkly. The phrase was also the inspiration for the title of the Isaac Asimov anthology Through a Glass, Clearly, the Star Trek: Enterprise two part episode In a Mirror, Darkly, and the Rolling Stones' compilation album Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2). Likewise, Through A Glass, Darkly, or I et speil, i en gåte, a 1993 novel by Norwegian author and philosopher Jostein Gaarder.

The passage is also found in the anime Ghost in the Shell in reference to the main character Major Motoko Kusanagi's relations with the mysterious character, "The Puppet Master".

In the film The Passion of Darkly Noon, we learn that the protagonist is named after this passage in the Bible.

The American General George S. Patton Jr. wrote a poem called "Through a Glass, Darkly" which is spoken by an eternal soldier. The line from Corinthians is used in the third last stanza:

So as through a glass, and darkly

the age long strife I see

Where I fought in many guises,

Many names, but always me.

The American TV series Daria included an episode entitled "Through a Lens Darkly," in which Daria exchanges her glasses for contact lenses.

[edit] Other notable passages

There are two other passages from 1 Corinthians: 13 which have been notably influential.

Firstly, verse 11: "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (KJV).

Secondly, verse 13, in praise of the Theological virtues:

νυνι δε μενει πιστις ελπις αγαπη τα τρια ταυτα μειζων δε τουτων η αγαπη

"And now abide faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity."

[edit] Cultural references involving the entire chapter

George Orwell's 1936 novel Keep The Aspidistra Flying quotes the King James version of the text with one alteration: the word charity has been replaced by "money" throughout.^[7]

The motto of Trent University located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada is "Nunc cognosco ex parte" which is Latin for "Now I know in part."

An abridged version of 1 Corinthians: 13, sung in Greek, forms the text of the Song for the Unification of Europe in the film Three Colors: Blue.