ON LOVE; PART DCLXV
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GoodWill IS Love in Action
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FIRST IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).
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WHAT THEN IS LOVE? In a general sense love is benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men.
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PLUS THE EVER IMPORTANT AND HIGH IDEAL TAUGHT TO US BY THE CHRIST: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
We ended the last essay with the Apostle Paul’s words on Love from his first Epistle to the Corinthians. We have noted before how that these words come after the apostles dissertation on what he calls the gifts of the Spirit, a section of his writing that seems very important to some parts of the church even though he himself downplays the importance of these in comparison to Love. The reality that should be grasped here IS that while these gifts may be of some use to the aspirants and the disciples at Corinth as they strive toward their own greater glory in the Kingdom of God, their use of the Truth of Love IS the better way to this goal. This IS NOT a universally understood idea that we present here as many DO NOT tie the former conversation regarding the gifts to the latter conversation regarding Love. We should remember here that the breaking of this letter into chapters and verses was NOT Paul’s doing but was done centuries later and according to the doctrinal mindset of those who worked on this project. With this in mind we should see the steady stream of ideas that the apostle intended us to see:
“Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 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” (1 Corinthians 12:29-31, 13:1-2).
What we see here IS that Paul IS teaching on the ideas of gifts and how that each man should accept whatsoever gift he has; that he should not envy what he may see as the preferred gifts that another may have. We should not be fooled here by the English word that IS used to render the Greek as the idea of gifts IS NOT necessarily the idea intended by the apostle. The Greek word charisma that IS rendered as gift is related to another Greek word charis which IS rendered as grace and here we have another of those nebulous words that are used in interpreting scripture. If we can understand our own ideas of revelation and realization, we can likely find a meaning that IS tied to this in this idea of grace. We can then have an understanding that this IS but the facilitation of one’s ability to Love as it IS made available for the use of the personality in the world. The whole of the idea of gift from the Greek word charisma is created by translations and by doctrinal interpretations and in the tone that is set here in the very first verse of the twelfth chapter which DOES NOT contain the word but IS rendered as though it DOES. We read in the King James and several other translations words that convey: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant” (1 Corinthians 12:1) but the reality IS that the word spiritual alone in included by Paul and this IS rendered from the Greek word pneumatikos; for this the Young’s Literal Translation gives us this verse as “And concerning the spiritual things, brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant” which better expresses the apostle’s intent.
The rest of the chapter contains the word charisma five times and in each the idea of grace or some function of this idea can be seen as appropriate when it is understood as that human facility that has its origin in the Soul, a spiritual ability if you will, that will somewhat enable one’s expression of Love which IS our understanding of idea of mercy as we have been discussing. For this particular verse from 1 Corinthians, Vincent tells us that: Spiritual gifts; The charismata or special endowments of supernatural energy, such as prophecy and speaking with tongues 4 and in this we should be able to see a part of the reality that IS lost in the idea of gifts as this is commonly understood. Love IS also a supernatural energy as the Love that the Master teaches us DOES come in that Wisdom from above and NOT from the carnal world where Love IS the emotional and mental attachments and attractions. Paul is telling us in this twelfth chapter that we should NOT envy the grace of others but should be content with our own and that we should “covet earnestly the best gifts” which IS to seek the greater and the better grace which comes ONLY from God and through the God Within.
Paul goes on to show us that there IS the better way, the way of Love that is apart from the individual faculties that can show only a part of that Love as prophecy or in teaching or in miracles or healing and even in the most obscure idea of tongues. In this idea we can see a greater understanding of the apostle’s later words that tell us of his own experience as he tells us “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10). While this DOES NOT grossly change our view of the meaning of this verse which we see as a comparison of the worldly gifts against the perfection of Love, in our current view of these words we should try to understand that the idea that grace IS spiritual in origin and carnal in its application as a tool for the expression of some degree of Love in the world. We use this idea of carnal because it IS processed by the man who IS NOT yet Transformed, the man who IS subject to the duality of Life. In the state of perfection there IS ONLY Love and there IS NO duality; there IS only the expression of that Love through the conduit of one’s Life in this world.
Perhaps we can see this idea as that when “that which is perfect is come” there IS NO longer a need for the grace, for the individual tools or gifts by which we can work in the world; perhaps we can understand here that men should seek after the best graces as the man in the world but that he should seek after Love and the resolution of the duality of his Life from a spiritual perspective. This for us IS the reality of the apostles saying “and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way“; that he IS telling us that if we can focus upon this Truly spiritual energy, the lower forces and grace ARE NOT needed…they are surpassed. In this idea we should be able to understand the Power of this Love and the reality of the apostles words on their importance in the Truth of discipleship; the graces may be stepping stones upon which one may stand as he moves toward the Path and that the Path IS constructed in Love. While we see the natural transition here from the conversation about these gifts or grace and the Truth and the Power of Love, much of doctrine DOES NOT and we can see this in these words from John Gill: if by the best gifts are designed the above graces of the Spirit, then by “the more excellent way”, Christ must be meant, the author and object of these graces….but if by the best gifts are meant the more useful ones of those before mentioned, as prophesying, or preaching, then the more excellent way designs grace, special and internal grace; and that either grace in general, regenerating, sanctifying grace, including all sorts of grace; which is the way of a soul’s passing from the death of sin to a life of faith and holiness; and is the way to eternal glory, and which gives a meetness for it, and is inseparably connected with it. This is a more excellent way than gifts; for gifts, be they ever so great, may be lost or taken away, through disuse or misimprovement; but grace always remains, can never be lost, nor will ever be taken away, but will issue in everlasting life 8.
Mr. Gills view is purely doctrinal and we should note that he seems to be dividing between gifts and grace; but this idea, in the context of the twelfth chapter, would be from the single Greek idea of charisma. Mr. Gill DOES NOT see the link between these ideas on grace or gifts and the deeper and more complete idea of Love as the “more excellent way” which for us seems to be the natural flow of Paul’s thoughts all the way through to the beginning of the next chapter were we read that we should “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts” (1 Corinthians 14:1). Here in this most confusing idea of follow, which IS rendered from the Greek word dioko that is otherwise rendered as persecute, we should get the idea that this IS the preference and that the “spiritual gifts” ARE of a secondary nature. The idea of the link in thoughts IS seen in a somewhat clearer way by the authors of the Commentary Critical and Explanatory of the Whole Bible where we read this beginning with the “more excellent way“: and yet–Greek, “and moreover.” Besides recommending your zealous desire for the greatest gifts, I am about to show you a something still more excellent (literally, “a way most way-like”) to desire, “the way of love” (compare 1 Corinthians 14:1 ). This love, or “charity,” includes both “faith” and “hope” ( 1 Corinthians 13:7 ), and bears the same fruits ( 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ) as the ordinary and permanent fruits of the Spirit ( Galatians 5:22-24 ). Thus “long-suffering,” compare 1 Corinthians 12:4 ; “faith,” 1 Corinthians 12:7 ; “joy,” 1 Corinthians 12:6 ; “meekness,” 1 Corinthians 12:5 ; “goodness,” 1 Corinthians 12:5 ; “gentleness,” 1 Corinthians 12:4 (the Greek is the same for “is kind”). It is the work of the Holy Spirit, and consists in love to God, on account of God’s love in Christ to us, and as a consequence, love to man, especially to the brethren in Christ ( Romans 5:5 , 15:30 ). This is more to be desired than gifts ( Luke 10:20 )8.
The difference in approach between these commentaries IS quite profound and in this we can see a part of the reason why much of Christian doctrine DOES NOT treat Love with the importance that we see in this most high ideal which IS the very nature of God. The greater point IS of course given to us in the text of the apostle’s words on Love which IS rendered as Charity in the King James Bible. Paul tells us pointedly that without this Love the gifts and the graces are of no moment, they are of no use to the man who IS striving toward the strait gate that enters into the Kingdom of God. Here we should try to see that although the ideas of these gifts or graces may be of benefit to a man, they are of NO benefit if they ARE NOT an expression of Love. This idea IS NOT stated in words but it IS apparent in the construction of the text which repeat in the combined form:
“Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 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. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned , and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing. Charity (love) suffereth long , and is kind ; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity (love) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” (1 Corinthians 12:29-31, 13:1-8).
In this stream of ideas we get a picture of the reality of this charisma which IS rendered here as gifts and which we see a grace. We should see that these ARE useful tools for the man who IS striving toward the Kingdom and that they are individual parts of the greater whole which IS the True disciple and his completeness. Paul tells us that these are useful and that whatsoever one may have of this grace, that he should not envy others and that he should ever desire greater; we should note here that this idea of desire which IS rendered as “covet earnestly” IS NOT to be a passive thing but an active one where one would work for what it IS that he wants; here we should take the idea from the lexicon that defines this desire as: to be zealous in the pursuit of good 2. At the same time we see the addition by Paul of the concept of Love, that this IS the “more excellent way“, the more excellent thing to pursue. The apostle goes on to compare some of the individual ideas, the individual graces that he previously lists, to the Truth of Love and it IS here that we should try to see the hidden point; that without Love none of these are of any use and, therefore, to have them in the absence of the Love that they are intended to express is of NO use.
In the reality and the Truth of the Master’s teaching on Love there IS really NO other way for us to understand Paul’s words and while the way that he frames this may not spell out our ideas on this, they are there in the very fabric of his words. ALL things that the aspirant and the disciple DO in this world of men MUST be done in Love; there IS NO other way and while the ideas of these gifts and graces are presented as spiritual gifts in doctrine, we should understand that they are carnal in nature without Love and they are carnal in application from the perspective of the man who IS NOT yet Transformed.
We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.
| Aspect |
Potency |
Aspect of Man |
In Relation to the Great Invocation |
In relation to the Christ |
|
GOD, The Father |
Will or Power |
Spirit or Life |
Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN |
Life |
|
Son, The Christ |
Love and Wisdom |
Soul or Christ Within |
Heart of God |
Truth |
|
Holy Spirit |
Light or Activity |
Life Within |
Mind of God |
Way |
Note on the Quote of the Day
This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.
This Quote of the Day is the antithesis of glamour and illusion. In this mantram are the thoughts about ourselves and our brothers in the world that can diffuse those forces that hold a man in the world of things and prevent his spiritual progress.
Mantram of Unification
The sons of men are one and I am one with them.
I seek to love, not hate;
I seek to serve and not exact due service;
I seek to heal, not hurt.
Let pain bring due reward of light and love.
Let the Soul control the outer form, and life and all events,
And bring to light the love that underlies the happenings of the time.
Let vision come and insight.
Let the future stand revealed.
Let inner union demonstrate and outer cleavages be gone.
Let love prevail.
Let all men love.
The Mantram of Unification is a meditation and a prayer that at first affirms the unity of all men and the Brotherhood of Man based on the Fatherhood of God. The first stanza sets forth several truly Christian ideals in Unity, Love, Service and Healing. The second stanza is a invocation to the Lord and to our own Souls asking that from the pain (if there can truly be any) incurred in focusing on the Spirit and not the world will come Light and Love into our lives and that we begin to function as Souls through our conscious personalities. We ask that the spiritual control of our lives will bring to light for us the Love that underlies world events; a Love that the world oriented man will not see working out behind the scenes and also that the Love that we bring forth, individually and as a world group, can be seen by all and ultimately in all. Finally, in the last stanza we ask for those things that are needed for Love to abound. Vision and insight so that we can direct our attention properly; revelation of the future in the sense that all can see the Power of Love in the world; inner union so that we do not fall back into the world’s ways, that we faint not; and that a sense of separation, the antithesis of brotherhood, ends as we know it today. Let Love Prevail, Let All Men Love.spiritual control of our lives will bring to light for us the Love that underlies world events; a Love that the world oriented man will not see working out behind the scenes.
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts!
- 2 New Testament Greek Lexicon on BibleStudyTools.com
- 4 Word Studies in the New Testament; Marvin R Vincent D.D. 2nd edition, 1888
- 8 Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com
