From the recording Paul the Letter of I Corinthians An Intimate Review
Lyrics
Letter of Apostle Paul – I Corinthians
An Intimate Review
Pt 8
By Lawrence DeMetrius
The More Excellent Way
In [I Cor 12:31] Apostle Paul notes that Jesus Christ loved not His Own life unto death for His brethren. He chose to endure mortal experience and death to secure their names in The Book of Life. [Rm 8:28-30; Heb 2:18-; 10:5-10, 14; Rev 13:9-18] Christ knew they would faithfully bear His Name and Word, so He made specific requests to Yahweh regarding them. [Jn 17:2, 9] Although He became the Propitiation for the sins of all, Christ foreknew that only a few out of each generation were predestinated to become sons of Yahweh. [I Jn 2:1, 2; St Jn 1:11-13; 6:37-40, 44, 45, 65; Mt 20:16] As they are embodiment of healing substance as was, He they are to resolve in heart that CHARITY is the ultimate of all GIFTS. In fact, per [I Cor 13:1] Apostle Paul reiterates the devaluation of all other GIFTS when they are not fueled by divine LOVE. He writes,
Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, and have not CHARITY, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
[I Cor 13:1]
*charity Gk #26 agape (ag-ah-pay) it is…
1. affection, which is…
• fond attachment, devotion or love
• emotion, feeling and sentiment
• over and above one’s reason and affections
• the emotional realm of love
2. benevolence, which is…
• good will and desire to do good to others
• charitableness, a charitable gift and an act of kindness
CHARITY indicates genuine and strong desire to do something that will truly benefit another person’s life. Brass and cymbals can entertain by giving off pleasant sounds. But they lack power to save, heal and deliver. Those who lack CHARITY are likened to salt that is void of savor or teachers who do not practice what they preach. [Eccl 10:1; Mt 5:13, 19; Jam 1:21-26] True messengers of Christ have TONGUES that invoke spiritual gratuities beginning with salvation, deliverance and healing. [Isa 50:4; Mt 28:19, 20; Mk 16:15-18; Lk 4:18-20] Apostle Paul writes,
And though I have the GIFT of PROPHECY, and UNDERSTAND all MYSTERIES, and all KNOWLEDGE; and though I have all FAITH, so that I could remove MOUNTAINS, and have not CHARITY, I am nothing.
[I Cor 13:2]
*understand Gk #1492 eido (i-do) it means to see and know
*mysteries Gk #3466 musterion (moos-tay-ree-on) it is a secret
*mountains Gk #3735 oros (or-os) it is a mountain as lifting itself above the plain
In terms of GIVING without CHARITY Apostle Paul writes,
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to burned, and have not CHARITY, it profiteth me nothing.
[I Cor 13:3]
In [I Cor 13:4-8a] Apostle Paul gives reason as to why CHARITY is necessary when exercising divine GIFTS and GIVING.
1. It SUFFERETH LONG. [I Cor 13:4]
*suffereth Gk #3114 makrothumeo (mak-roth-oo-meh-o) it means to be long-spirited which is forbearing and patient.
• forbearing means to…
o be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation
o withhold, keep back, desist, refrain or abstain from
• patient it is to…
o calmly bear revocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship and pain with fortitude and without complaint or anger
o quietly, steadily and diligently persevere
o undergo the action of another
Although none is as LONGSUFFERING as Yahweh, HE expects HIS children to excel therein. [Jer 9:23, 24; Lam 3:22, 23]
2. It is KIND. [I Cor 13:4]
*kind Gk #5541 chresteuomai (khraste-yoo-om-ahee) it means to show oneself useful and benevolent
• useful is…
• being of use or service and serving some purpose
• advantageous, helpful or of good effect
• of practical use, as for doing work and producing results
• supplying common needs
• benevolent is…
• characterized by or expressing goodwill or kindly feelings
• being charitable and desiring to help others
• being intended for benefits rather than profit
3. It ENVIETH not. [I Cor 13:4]
*envieth Gk #2206 zeloo (dzay-lo-o) it is to have warmth of feeling for or against
4. It VAUNTETH not itself. [I Cor 13:4]
*vaunteth Gk #4068 perpereuomai (per-per-yoo-om-ahee) it means to boast, which is to speak with vanity, exaggeration and excessive pride, especially about oneself
5. It is not PUFFED UP. [I Cor 13:4]
*puffed up Gk #5448 phusioo (foo-see-o-o) it means to inflate, make proud and haughty
6. It does not BEHAVE itself unseemly. [I Cor 13:5]
*behave Gk #807aschemoneo (as-kay-mon-eh-o) it means to be or act unbecoming, which to detract from one’s appearance, character or reputation and become unattractive and unseemly
7. It SEEKETH not her OWN. [I Cor 13:5]
*seeketh Gk #2212 zeteo (dzay-the-o) it means to seek, worship Yahweh and in a bad sense plot against the life of another
*own Gk #1438 heautou (heh-ow-too) it means one’s own self [Rm 8:5-7]
8. It is not easily PROVOKED. [I Cor 13:5]
* provoked Gk #3947 paroxuno (par-ox-oo-no) it means to sharpen alongside, exasperate, which is to irritate or provoke to a high degree, extremely annoy or increase the intensity of disease, pain or feelings
9. It THINKETH no EVIL. [I Cor 13:5]
*thinketh Gk #3049 logizomai (log-id-zom-ahee) it means to take an inventory and estimate
*evil Gk #2556 kakos (ka-kos) it is intrinsic worthlessness
10. It does not REJOICE in INIQUITY but REJOICETH in TRUTH. [I Cor 13:6]
*rejoiceth (1) Gk #5463 chairo (khah-ee-ro) it means to be calmly happy and well-off and to be and be full of cheer, which is…
• a shout of encouragement, approval and congratulations
• something that gives joy, gladness and encouragement
• comfort or a state of feeling, animation and gladness
*iniquity Gk #93 adika (ad-ee-keh) it is the quality and act of legal injustice or moral wrongfulness of character, life or action
*rejoiceth (2) Gk #4796 sugchairo (soong-khah-ee-ro) it is to…
• congratulate and sympathize in gladness
• rejoice in and with
• be glad and take delight in
• rejoice in another's happiness
• make joyful and glad
*truth Gk #225 aletheia (al-ay-thi-a) it is…
• the true or actual state of a matter
• conformity with fact or reality
• a verified or indisputable fact, proposition or principle
• actuality, actual existence and an obvious or accepted fact
• honesty, integrity and truthfulness
11. It BEARETH all things. [I Cor 13:7]
*beareth Gk #4722 stego (steg-o) it is to…
• provide and cover with a roof
• cover with silence and endure patiently
12. It BELIEVETH all things. [I Cor 13:7]
*believeth Gk #4100 pisteuo (pist-yoo-o) it means to have faith in, upon or with respect to, a person or thing, credit and entrust especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ Jesus
13. It HOPETH all things. [I Cor 13:7]
*hopeth Gk #1679 elpizo (el-pid-zo) [Heb 11:1,6] it means to…
• expect, which is to…
o look forward to
o regard as likely to happen
o anticipate the occurrence or the coming of
• look for with reason and justification
• confide, which is to…
o impart secrets trustfully and discuss private matters
o entrust and have faith in
o tell in assurance of secrecy
o commit to the charge or knowledge of another
14. It ENDURETH all things. [I Cor 13:7; Jer 9:23, 24]
*endureth Gk #5278 hupomeno (hoop-om-eh-o) it means to…
• remain or stay under and behind
• suffer, undergo, bear trials and preserver
• have fortitude, abide, endure and take patiently
When one possesses genuine CHARITY for others it gives them might to ENDURE what they would not if they had no CHARITY for that individual. No one LOVES as strongly as Yahweh. [Jer 9:23, 24; St Jn 3:19; Exo 32:30-33; Rev 13:8; 17:8; 20:15]
15. It never FAILETH. [I Cor 13:8]
*faileth Gk #1601 ekpipto (ek-pip-to) it means to drop away, be driven out of one’s course, lose and become inefficient
CHARITY is STEADFAST in its purpose toward all. However, each one must choose to allow CHARITY to fulfill its purpose in their lives. [Jer 29:11; Jn 6:37-40, 44, 45; Rm 8:28-30; St Jn 3:19, 36; 8:12; Mt 11:28-30; Rm 4:7-10; Isa 1:18-22; Eze 18:4, 19, 20-23, 31, 32; II Pet 3:9] In [I Cor 13:8a] Apostle Paul reiterates that none of the GIFTS imparted by the Holy Ghost are of more value than CHARITY. He writes that PROPHECIES will FAIL.
*prophecies Gk #4394 propheteia (prof-ay-ti-ah) it is prediction scriptural or otherwise and foretelling or forthtelling of divine words
*fail/vanish away Gk #2673 katargeo (kat-arg-eh-o) it means to be or render entirely idle or useless
In [I Cor 13:8b] Apostle Paul writes that TONGUES will CEASE.
*tongues Gk #1100 glossa (gloce-sah) it is the tongue itself or a language, specifically one that is naturally unacquired
*cease Gk #3973 pauo (pow-o) it means to stop, restrain, quit, desist and come to an end
In [I Cor 13:8c] Apostle Paul writes that KNOWLEDGE will VANISH AWAY.
*knowledge Gk #1108 gnosis (gno-sis) it is knowing and knowledge
In [I Cor 13:9-12] Apostle Paul explains that the ability to PROPHESY and KNOW will come to an end as one can only do so in PART.
*part Gk #3313 meros (mer-os) it is a division or a share
In [I Cor 13:12a] Apostle Paul writes,
For NOW we SEE through a GLASS, DARKLY; But THEN shall I know even as also I am known.
[I Cor 13:12]
*now (1) Gk #737 arti (ar-tee) it means just now denoting only the present time
*see Gk #991 blepo (blep-o) it means to look at
*glass Gk #2072 esoptron (es-op-tron) it is a mirror for looking into
*darkly (1) Gk #1722 en (en) it is a primary preposition denoting a fixed position in place, time or state and implies medial and constructive instrumentality
*darkly (2) Gk #135 ainigma (ah-ee-nig-ma) it means an obscure saying and obscureness
*then Gk #5119 tote (tot-eh) it refers to a ‘when’, denoting a past or future time and time currently in consecution, meaning in succession, sequence, logical sequence or chain of reasoning
*face (to face) Gk #4383 proskarteresis (pros-kar-ter-ay-sis) it means persistency
Yahweh has an expected end for HIS Elect, which HE perfected before the foundation of the world. [Rm 8:28-30] HE said through Prophet Jeremiah,
For I know the thoughts that I THINK toward YOU, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give YOU an EXPECTED END.
[Jer 29:11]
Apostle Paul writes,
NOW I KNOW in PART but THEN shall I KNOW even as also I AM KNOWN.
[I Cor 13:12c]
*know (1) Gk #1097 ginosko (ghin-oce-ko) it is to know absolutely
*know (2) Gk #1921 epiginosko (ep-ig-in-oce-ko) it is to acknowledge, recognize, become fully acquainted with and know upon some mark
Per this statement, there is a persona that is already KNOWN of the Elect by Yahweh, which they are coming to KNOW through their perfecting process.
Apostle Paul concludes on the subject of CHARITY writing,
And NOW ABIDETH FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY, these three; but the GREATEST of these is CHARITY.
[I Cor 13:12d]
*abideth Gk #3306 meno (men-o) it means to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy
*faith Gk #4102 pistis (pis-tis) it is…
• persuasion and credence
• moral conviction of a religious truth, the truthfulness of Yahweh and a religious teacher
• reliance upon Jesus Christ for salvation and constancy of such profession
• the system of religious truth itself based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ
*hope Gk #1680 elpis (el-pece) it is expectation and confidence
*greatest Gk #3187 meizon (mide-zone) it means the larger, specifically in age
In all generations, Yahweh expresses HIS word, work and LOVE through HIS Elect Ones by the strength of Jesus Christ. [II Cor 12:9]
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