Understanding The Biblical Equation of Love

This a quick lesson today, but it involves something very important to all Christians. It is about getting to the Truth and Meaning of the Bible. How many non-Christians have you heard say,"But whose translation is correct?" "Isn't it just a matter of interpreting it different?" and such they will dismiss the whole Bible. I am not going to go into the validity of the Bible but I just have to say that it is the Holy Spirit that leads us into the correct translation, because once a person is a Christian the Holy Spirit is there to guide and comfort us.

Now this lesson has to deal with semantics. It is very important when talking with other Christians to fully understand the following verse, and also to fully understand how it has nothing to do with being an Adult Baby.

1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

Just by reading one sentence people assume that they understand the message. It sometimes works when that sentence is the summary sentence in a paragraph, but in this situation that passage is NOT a summary sentence. Matter of fact it is actually an allegory and parallels what Paul is trying to say about SPIRITUAL GIFTS and not about being childish. Here is the full context:

1 Corinthians 13:8-13
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

OK, read that over and over and over again. Lay out the parallels to each sentence. It seems disjointed in English, but as it become known this is what you will discover. Paul is talking about Spiritual Gifts in this whole passage. Now I know that some Churches believe in speaking in Tongues and Prophecy, but if you read this over and over you will realize that Paul takes away these gifts and leaves only 3 gifts left: faith, hope and love.

Here is the equation(notice how Love is the beginning and ending):

A = Love never fails;

B = When I was a Child (In Christ):
if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away = reason like a child
if there are tongues, they will cease = I used to speak like a child
if there is knowledge, it will be done away = think like a child, now I know in part
now we see in a mirror dimly

C = When I became a Man (In Christ):
I did away with childish things(the gifts).
then we see face to face
then I will know fully

D = But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

A = C - B = D

So you see. This whole passage is about how Love is the greatest and never fails. It has nothing to do a lesson in putting away childish things. Paul just says as a fact that he put away childish things when he became a man. He never tells us that we need to do the same. It might just be assumed, but the problem happens when people use that as an excuse to not be like a child. I leave you with a paragraph of why Jesus says we should be like a child:

Mark 10:13-16
13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all." 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.