1 Corinthians 13 Personal Study Guide
February 23, 2020

INTRODUCTION

This inductive Bible study is designed to walk you through a particular passage and help you study it thoroughly. It is divided into five parts or “steps” which will guide you from a larger,
broader perspective down to a more narrow, tightened understanding of the text. This guide also contains additional components, such as Pause and Pray and Going Deeper, to help you as you work through the text.

1. DISCOVERING THE PASSAGE
2. IDENTIFYING THE STRUCTURE
3. FOCUSING ON KEY WORDS
4. CONNECTING TO THE WHOLE
5. APPLYING THE TEXT

Beginning with the day after your growth group meets, we encourage you to get alone with God and follow the instructions provided in this guide. Each step has specific guidelines followed by questions. We trust if you faithfully use this study to meet with the LORD each day, not only will your personal walk with the LORD grow deeper, but your growth group experience will be enhanced as well.

First Corinthians 11-14 discusses matters of the Christian assembly and how the spiritual gifts function within the gathering. Within the larger section, chapters 12-14 discuss the diversity of gifts and the unity of the body. Central within this section is this familiar chapter on the supremacy of love. This chapter emphasizes that love governs the body of Christ, particularly in the functioning of the spiritual gifts in the body.

Studying this chapter requires approaching this passage within its proper context. Paul discusses the necessity of love (vv. 1-3), the presence of love (vv. 4-7), and the eternality of love (vv.8-12). Paul ultimately teaches that Christlike love is a distinguishing attribute both for the Body of Christ as well as individual Christians, more so than any spiritual gift.

1. DISCOVERING THE PASSAGE

Discovering the Passage seeks to get an overall idea of the meaning of the passage. Think big picture. Pray for God to open your eyes to the meaning of Scripture.

  1. Read 1 Corinthians 13 slowly and thoughtfully. What is the primary issue(s) Paul is addressing in this passage?

  2. At first glance, chapter 13 may seem out of place in 1 Corinthians. Take a look at chapters 12 and 14 and see how they help interpret chapter 13?

  3. Why must love govern not only the Christian life, but also the assembly of the Church?

  4. What does this passage reveal about God’s love?

2. IDENTIFYING THE STRUCTURE

Identifying the Structure seeks to gain insight into why the author wrote the way he did. Try to think like the author. Pray for God to give you insight into the writing of the Scriptures.

Questions

  1. The ESV divides chapter 13 into 4 sections. The first three are written as a set of three connected ideas. How does Paul build the argument concerning love in these three sections?

  2. Regarding the 4th section, verse 13, how does it function as the capstone for the passage? What is the significance of verse 13?

Pause & Pray

  1. Pause and consider how God’s love, that we see through the cross of Christ, fulfills the many attributes of love that Paul lists in 1 Corinthians 13.

  2. Pray that God would fill you with these attributes of love as you relate to your family, fellow believers, and the lost

3. Focusing on Key Words

Focusing on Key Words seeks to identify and contemplate the use and meaning of specific words or concepts within the text. Pray for God to open your eyes to words and concepts you’ve never seen before or have overlooked.

Questions

  1. How many times does the word “love” appear in this chapter? List the characteristics of love in this passage.

  2. The descriptions of love in verses 4-7 are verbs in the original language indicating action. How does this aid your understanding of true Christian love?

  3. How does this passage confront the idea that love is purely an emotion?

  4. In verses 8-12, you see the idea of the “already-not yet” of God’s kingdom. What is “already”? What is “not yet”? Finally, to what does verse 10 refer to when Paul wrote, “when the perfect comes…”?

  5. How does Paul use the illustration of children in verse 11 to confront the Corinthians’ “knowledge?”

Pause & Pray

  1. Consider the ways in which each aspect of love from this passage has been shown to you from God.

  2. Plead with the Lord that He would give you a heart like His. Pray that you would genuinely love His people and the nonbelievers.

4. CONNECTING TO THE WHOLE: A

Connecting to the Whole seeks to become aware of how key concepts and themes are seen elsewhere in Scripture. This is allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. Pray for God to help you see how this passage connects to the rest of the Bible.

Questions

Paragraph 1
1. Read Matthew 7:21-23. What does the future hold for those who “work for Christ” yet do not know Him and love Him? How is this passage similar to the first paragraph?

2.Read Matthew 22:34-40 and Romans 13:8-10. Why does Jesus say that love is the greatest commandment?

Paragraph 2
3. Love is a major theme throughout the entirety of Scripture. Look up these verses and record how love is defined and described. 1 John 3:16-18; 4:7-12; Luke 6:27-36; Romans 8:35-39

4.Considering John 13:1, 34-35; and Romans 5:6-8, who (and what) is the greatest example of love? Consider how this exemplifies verses 13:4-7.

5.Read Colossians 3:12-14. Why does Paul say, “Above all…” (v.14) in regards to love? According to thisverse, what does love do and why is that important?

Pause & Pray

  1. How do you view love? Is it merely a product of society? Is
    it “being a good person”? Is it happiness? Reflect on the truth that “love is from God” (1 John 4:7-8).

  2. Pray for God to correct any wrong thinking (and speaking)
    concerning the source and purpose of love in your life and
    understanding

Questions (continued)

4. CONNECTING TO THE WHOLE: B

Connecting to the Whole seeks to become aware of how key concepts and themes are seen elsewhere in Scripture. This is allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. Pray for God to help you see how this passage connects to the rest of the Bible.

Questions (continued)

Paragraph 3
6. Look up and read another list of spiritual gifts in Romans 12:6-8. Notice what follows in verses 9-21. How does this further Paul’s teaching in 1 Cor. 13 on love?


7. Read Ephesians 4:13. The word “mature” is the same word translated “perfection” in
verse 10. When will this state of full maturation or perfection exist?


8. Read this paragraph (1 Cor. 13:8-12) and 1 John 3:2. How do these verses this deepen
your understanding of the spiritual realities which await believers?

1 Corinthians 13:13
9. In verse 13, Paul elevates love above all. Consider Romans 8:24 and 2 Corinthians 5:7 to see why love surpasses faith and hope once the believer is united with Christ in heaven.

10.Read these other passages where faith, hope, and love are recorded: 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 5:8; Romans
5:1-5; Colossians 1:4-5; & Ephesians 4:4-5. Recordany observations or insights.

Pause & Pray

  1. Reflect on the fact that one day all things will be made known. One day, the things that we see dimly will be made clear.

  2. Pray that God would burden you with anticipation, that you would long for the coming of Christ, and that you would place your hope in his return.

5. APPLYING THE TEXT

Applying the Text seeks to see people changed as the Word of God is brought to bear in the lives of individuals and communities (growth groups). Pray for God to reveal to you where you need to change and have the courage to take action.

Questions

  1. Verse 3 highlights that a person can perform actions that appear loving on the outside but lack the inner-motive of true love. How do we ensure proper motives in our service to others in the church, family, workplace, etc.?

  2. True Christian love is not “resentful” (ESV) or “does not take into account a wrong suffered” (NASB translation). How are you tempted to resent those who have sinned against you? How can you best honor Christ in your actions?

  3. Verse 6 states that love “rejoices with the truth.” How does this conflict with our culture’s tendency of embracing sinfulness under the guise of love?

  4. Which of the attributes in verses 4-7 is (are) the most difficult for you?

  5. What would it look like practically for your growth group to love each other according to verses 4-7? Also, how do we display this kind of Christlike love towards 1) difficult individuals and 2) lost people?

Prayer

Use the following prayer prompts to guide you in your prayers as a Growth Group:

For Your Growth Group

Help us to be patient and kind with each other. Remind us to not boast, become arrogant or rude towards each other if we are wronged in any way.

For Parkwood

Help us as members not to insist on our own way when others in the church have different ideas or preferences. As a church, grant us the courage not to rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoice when truth is proclaimed.

For Your Neighbors

Help us, Lord, to look towards our neighbors like You do. Thank You for giving us a message of love to tell others. Help us Lord, to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things as we seek to be a living witness to our neighbors.

For The Nations

Lord, as we wait to see You “face-to-face,” we recognize that all mankind will be held accountable for their lives. We plead on behalf of the millions of Central Asians that are yet to believe in You. Open their eyes to the mystery of the gospel. Help them to see Your love.

Sources

  1. Arnd, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000, 612.
  2. Gardner, Paul. Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. 1 Corinthians. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018, 557-584.
  3. Mounce, William D. Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006, 378.
  4. Schreiner, Thomas R. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries; Vol 7. 1 Corinthians. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018, 272-283.