“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
“The tongues of men and of angels” most likely is a metaphor for “any language”. The expression “to speak in a tongue” is common in Hebrew and Aramaic, where it means to speak or read another language. Rabbis regarded Hebrew as the proper language for prayer and so it was the heavenly language. In the first century, Hebrew was still the language of temple liturgy in Jerusalem, but Aramaic or Greek was spoken by most people in Galilee and Judea. As Jewish Christians traveled, they naturally took their languages and synagogue practices with them.
The Corinthian congregation began from Paul’s preaching at a Jewish synagogue. Members of the Corinthian congregation knew various languages. Paul’s Letters to them are written in Greek, but include Hebrew or Aramaic liturgical terms and titles. Roman Jews were also present, and inscriptional evidence shows the importance of Latin at Corinth, since the Romans rebuilt Corinth as a colony. It is easy to see how language in worship could become an issue, especially when proud “Hebrews” came to teach at the church.
“Love” is a self-giving, sacrificial concern for another person. The word was especially adopted by Christians; it characterizes God and is the basis of His actions toward us in Christ. Those loved by God show love toward others. Paul uses this term more often than even the Apostle John.
“Resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” were standard instruments used in pagan worship. The exercise of the grace gifts apart from Christian love would differ little from the activities of various pagan and mystery religions.
“I am nothing” is a description that without love, works and service bring neither good nor honor. “Gift of prophecy … all mysteries and all knowledge … all faith” … all three are listed in chapter 12. Here Paul is saying that all these gifts, employed without love, amount to nothing.
“Give all I possess … I may boast” means that people who do works of charity without the proper motivation are worthless apart from love. They are “wood, hay, and stubble” at the judgment seat of Christ.
Paul uses “all or nothing” rhetoric throughout this section. “He does not say that we have access to God by our love without Christ as the Atoning Sacrifice, that we receive the promised forgiveness of sins by our love. Paul says nothing about this. He does not, therefore, think that love justifies, because we are justified only when we receive Christ as the Atoning Sacrifice and believe that for Christ’s sake God is reconciled to us”.
God’s blessings on your day…