Глава 13

1 Corinthians 13:1. If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but do not have love, then I am a ringing brass or a sounding cymbal. “Even though the tongues of men and angels speak, but love is not imam, like ringing brass or a clanging cymbal.” The apostle, making a comparison of gifts, put the gift of tongues first of all, because, according to the Corinthians, it was more important than the others. It was considered the most important, because before all others it was given to the apostles on the day of Pentecost, at the Descent of the All-Holy Spirit. Therefore, he says: if I recognize all human languages, and moreover, the languages ​​of invisible Powers, but do not have love for my neighbor, then I will be no different from inanimate instruments. By angelic languages ​​he means not sensual, but certain mental ones, in which the Angels of all Gods sing songs and talk with each other. For Isaiah heard them singing, and Ezekiel, and also Daniel, Zechariah and Micah heard them talking. The divine Apostle expressed this exaggeratedly, with the intention of showing the advantage of love. 1 Corinthians 13:2. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries, and have all knowledge and all faith, so that I could move mountains, but do not have love, then I am nothing. “And even if an imam prophecy, and I know all the secrets and all the mind, and if an imam has all the faith, as if he had given up mountains, but I am not an imam for love, I am nothing.” The Apostle again, comparing the greatest of gifts, prophecy and faith, with love in the true sense, showed the superiority of love. He expressed this not simply, but with intensification of speech, for he said about prophecy: “if we have all the mysteries and all the understanding,” and about faith: “as if he had removed the mountains.” But in this regard, he showed that the acquisition of love is superior. 1 Corinthians 13:3. And if I give away all my property and give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good. “And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give up my body, it will be burned, but love is not imam, there is no benefit for me.” Here, comparing love with the highest types of virtue - contempt of property, and spontaneous poverty, and exploits for piety, the Apostle shows that love surpasses both. But he expressed this again with intensified speech. For he said about his property: “if I distribute all my property,” that is, with my own hands I will distribute my property and serve the needy - and speaking of martyrdom, he not only imagined death, but the burning of the body, for this suffering is considered more painful than other executions. And perhaps someone else will ask whether it is possible for the one who did this not to have love. Therefore, you should know that the righteous Judge looks not only at the righteous deed, but also at the goal of this deed. Many do very much for the sake of human glory; and it is natural for one who renounces property to do this in order to catch glory from people, and also because of God’s law and according to the desire of the Heavenly Kingdom, and not out of concern for the needy and the desire to serve them. You should also know that the divine Apostle expresses many things in an exaggerated way, giving all the more strength to the teaching he proposes. So in the Epistle to the Galatians he said: “And if I, or an Angel from heaven, preaches good news to you more... let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9). And although he knew that it was impossible for any Angel to teach what is contrary to God’s preaching, he nevertheless used this expression, teaching not to believe anyone who offers any other teaching, even if he was very worthy of faith. 1 Corinthians 13:4. Love is patient and kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, it is not proud. “Love is long-suffering”, generously endures the shortcomings of his neighbor. “He is merciful”, guided by meekness and complacency. “He does not envy love”, does not allow the passion of envy. “Love is not exalted,” does not enter into inquisitive research, which it should not, for this is the meaning of the word: “to be exalted” - (περπερεύεσθαι to act frivolously), does not gropingly measure God’s essence, does not judge God’s economy, as some are wont to do. A lover does not agree to act rashly in anything, for the word “love” is used here instead of “having love.” “He is not proud”; he does not exalt himself before his brethren. 1 Corinthians 13:5. He does not act outrageously, does not seek his own, is not irritated, does not think evil. “He does not act outrageously”, does not refuse to do something unimportant and humiliating for the benefit of his brothers, considering such an action indecent. “Not looking for his si.” The divine Apostle has already said this more than once: “not seeking your own benefit, but that of many, that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33). "Doesn't get irritated." Even if he encounters something unfortunate from someone, he endures it generously because of the fervor of love that he has within himself. “Thinks no evil,” excuses sinful actions, assuming that this was not done with a bad intention. 1 Corinthians 13:6. He does not rejoice in untruth, but rejoices in the truth. “He does not rejoice over untruth, but rejoices over the truth.” He hates what is illegal, and rejoices in what is good. 1 Corinthians 13:7. He covers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything. “Covers everything.” Out of love, he endures even the sorrowful. “He accepts faith in everything,” considers his beloved to be undeceitful. “Everyone trusts.” If he sees him inclined to evil, expects a change for the better in him. “He endures everything.” Whatever happens to the lover, cannot tear him away from love. The Divine Paul, depicting this in particular terms and noting that his language is insufficient to to praise love, he briefly adds: 1 Corinthians 13:8. Love never fails, although prophecy will cease, and tongues will be silent, and knowledge will be abolished. “Love never falls away,” that is, it does not deviate, but always remains constant, unshakable, motionless, abiding forever. For this the Apostle makes clear in the added words: “If prophecy will be abolished, if the heathen will be silent, if reason will be destroyed.” The future life has no need for this: prophecy is unnecessary when the things themselves are present; and knowledge of languages ​​is useless after their differences are destroyed; The lesser knowledge will also cease when the greater is taught. For this is what the Apostle added: 1 Corinthians 13:9. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 1 Corinthians 13:10. When that which is perfect comes, then that which is in part will cease. “We understand in part and prophesy in part: when that which is perfect comes, then what is in part will be done away with.” For for adults, adolescent knowledge is unnecessary. This similarity was also used by the divine Apostle. 1 Corinthians 13:11. When I was a baby, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, reasoned like a child; and when he became a husband, he left behind his children. “When there was a child, like a child, you said, like a child, you thought wisely, like a child, you thought: when there was a husband, he rejected the child.” For upon reaching adulthood, those who adorn themselves with intelligence and prudence have no need for adolescent knowledge. And so the Apostle in this life likened the knowledge given to us to the knowledge of children, and the knowledge expected in the future life to the knowledge of perfect men, again teaching us to think lowly about our knowledge of those who dissect the body of the Church. 1 Corinthians 13:12. Now we see as if through a dark glass, fortune-telling, but then face to face; Now I know in part, but then I will know, even as I am known. “We see now like a mirror in fortune-telling, but then face to face.” The present, says the Apostle, is a shadow of the future, for in all-holy baptism we see the image of the resurrection, and then we will see the resurrection itself. Here we see a substitute for the Master’s body, and there we will see the Master Himself. This is what the words mean: “face to face.” Let us see not His invisible nature, invisible to everyone, but what He received from us. “Now I understand in part, but then I will know, just as I was known.” The Apostle does not say that I will know Him as I myself am known by Him, but that I will see Him more definitely as one who has become His own. For the Apostle used the word “known” instead of the word “appropriated.” So the Lord said to Moses: “I know you better than all” (Ex. 33:17), and the Apostle says: “The Lord knows His own beings” (2 Tim. 2:19), that is, he honors them with greater providence. 1 Corinthians 13:13. And now these three remain: faith, hope, love; but love is the greatest of them all. “Now remain faith, hope, love, these three: greater than these are loves.” The apostle showed that gifts cease, but love alone endures, and also showed that love takes precedence over moral achievements. For faith is unnecessary in the future life, when the things themselves will become manifest. And if “faith is the message of those who hope” (Heb. 11:1), then, after the appearance of the things themselves, there is no longer a need for faith. Hope is also superfluous there. For “the hope that is seen is not hope: for who sees that he also hopes?” (Rom. 8:24) But love has more power there when passions are at rest, bodies become incorruptible, and souls will not choose one thing today and another tomorrow. You might be interested in: