1 Coríntios 14

1 Coríntios 14

Vincent says that dioko is "Stronger than "follow". A favorite word with Paul to denote the pursuits of moral and spiritual ends. See Rom. 9:30, 31; 12:13; 1 Cor. 14:1; Philip. 3:12." (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament. 4:307) Figuratively used of one who like a runner in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal and thus to pursue a specific objective. To hasten, press forward, press on (Php 3:12, Php 3:14). The other meaning is to persecute (used with this sense in 31/45 uses) and in Paul's 3 other uses in Corinthians describes persecution (1 Cor 4:12, 1 Cor 15:9, 2 Cor 4:9) Love (charity)(26)(agape) is that quality of love which is unconditional, sacrificial. Agape is what God is like (1Jn 4:8,16+), what God shows to those undeserving (Jn 3:16+, 1Jn 4:9+) and what God enables by His Spirit in the heart of His surrendered saints (Ro 5:5-+ Gal 5:22+). Agape does not depend on the world’s criteria for love, such as attractiveness, emotions, or sentimentality. Agape is self-sacrificial and seeks the benefit of the one loved (without expecting anything in return), a love which means death to self since the essence of self is selfishness, self-will and self-gratification. Agape is a love activated by personal choice of our will (enabled by God working within us - see Php 2:13NLT+) and is not based on our feelings toward the one loved. Agape may involve emotion, but it must always involve specific actions as Paul goes on to describe in 1Co 13:4-8 (which in itself is an excellent definition of love as "love in action"). THOUGHT - Do not "try" to "manufacture" this love, but instead learn daily (even moment by moment) to "die" ("to self", cp Mk 8:34+, Lk 9:23+, Ro 6:11+, Ro 6:12-13+, Ro 6:14+ Ro 7:5-6+, Col 3:5+, Php 2:12+, Php 2:13+, Ezekiel 36:27+) that you might manifest this supernatural Christ-like love (cp Ep 5:1,2+) to a lost, dying world (Eph 2:1-2+, Ep 2:3+) in which even natural love is growing cold (cp "unloving" in 2Ti 3:3+, Ro 1:31+, cp Jesus' admonition regarding love in the last of the last days = Mt 24:12). Agape in 1-2 Corinthians - 1 Co. 8:1; 1 Co. 13:1; 1 Co. 13:2; 1 Co. 13:3; 1 Co. 13:4; 1 Co. 13:8; 1 Co. 13:13; 1 Co. 14:1; 1 Co. 16:14; 1 Co. 16:24; 2 Co. 2:4; 2 Co. 2:8; 2 Co. 5:14; 2 Co. 6:6; 2 Co. 8:7; 2 Co. 8:8; 2 Co. 8:24; 2 Co. 13:11; 2 Co. 13:14 Earnestly desire (eagerly seek) (2206) zeloo from zelos = zeal in turn from zeo = boil; be fervent; English "zeal") properly, to bubble over from getting so hot (boiling) and figuratively to burn with zeal (or intensity), to be fervent, to "boil" with envy, to be jealous. It can be used commendably to refer to a striving for something or showing zeal. Zeloo is an onomatopoeic word imitating the sound of boiling water! The idea is to be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire – 'to be earnest, to set one's heart on, to be completely intent upon'. Thiselton adds that zeloo "applies the notion of burning or boiling metaphorically to burning or boiling emotions, stance, or will for earnest striving, for passionate zeal, or for burning envy. Whether it is constructive zeal or destructive envy depends on the context' Zeloo takes the notion of burning or boiling and applies it metaphorically to burning or boiling emotions, stance, or will for earnest striving, for passionate zeal, or for burning envy. Zeloo used 10x in NT - Acts 7:9; Acts 17:5; 1 Co. 12:31; 1 Co. 13:4; 1 Co. 14:1; 1 Co. 14:39; 2 Co. 11:2; Gal. 4:17; Gal. 4:18; Jas. 4:2 But especially that you may prophesy - . Prophesy (propheteuo) is a keyword in chapter 14 occurring 7 times (1 Co. 14:1, 3, 4, 5, 24, 31, 39) You is plural so he is speaking to the entire church. Remember that in the context of this letter prophesy speaks not of fore-telling but of forth-telling, of speaking forth God's Word. For more details on the gift of prophecy see discussion in chapter 12. Speak (laleo) occurs 22x in 18 verses with 8 uses in vv2-6, so clearly is another keyword in this chapter. The other keyword is glossa used 15x in 14 verses. In sum, clearly this chapter is about speaking prophecy or speaking in tongues. Notice Paul does not mention tongues here. Earlier he had listed them last when he declared that "God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues." (1 Cor 12:28) There is clearly some intent of "stratification" of importance and he specifically "elevates" the gift of prophecy to a higher, more useful level in chapter 14, primarily because it was so useful for the building up of the Body spiritually, not making them smarter sinners, but more like the Savior (always the goal of edification - cf 2 Peter 3:18+). Bob