Lutheran Lens Commentary: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Lutheran Lens Reading of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Tradition-Specific Interpretation

We read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 through the lens of Law and Gospel, understanding that while the description of love exposes our inability to love perfectly as the Law, it simultaneously points us to Christ, who fulfills this love perfectly on our behalf. This passage reveals our sinfulness — our failure to embody love that is patient, kind, and selfless — but it also delivers the Gospel by directing us to the perfect love of Christ, who covers all our deficiencies. In Christ, we find the embodiment of love, which is given to us as a gift, freeing us from the condemnation of the Law and empowering us to love in our vocations through the Holy Spirit.

Key Language Decisions

The Greek word 'agape' (ἀγάπη) is pivotal here, denoting a selfless, sacrificial love that we, in our sinful nature, cannot achieve. This reinforces our tradition's emphasis on the theology of the cross, where Christ's sacrificial love is the model and means by which we are saved. The verbs describing love's actions are all present tense, underscoring their continual nature, which is impossible for us to maintain apart from grace; this highlights the need for Christ's righteousness to be imputed to us.

Where Traditions Diverge

Where we diverge from Reformed traditions is in our understanding of love as a gift rather than a condition for salvation. Unlike the Wesleyan tradition, which may emphasize perfecting love as a goal of sanctification, we hold that love's perfection is found only in Christ and imputed to us. This distinction matters because it keeps the focus on Christ's work rather than our own efforts in sanctification.

Pastoral Application

In preaching this passage, we must confess both the harsh reality of our sinful inability to love perfectly (Law) and the comfort of Christ's perfect love for us (Gospel). We encourage our congregation to find their baptismal identity in Christ's love, which covers all our failures. This love, received through Word and Sacrament, empowers us to live out our vocations faithfully, not as a means to earn favor but as a response to the grace already given. A Lutheran Lens congregation would expect to hear that while we remain simul justus et peccator, it is Christ's love that defines us, not our shortcomings.

Cross-References: Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; Galatians 5:22; Romans 7:18-19

Doctrinal Connections: simul justus et peccator; justification by faith alone; theology of the cross; vocation; the means of grace