Only he is worthy of happiness and freedom. “Only he is worthy of life and freedom who goes to battle for them every day” German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Faust”, 19th century Unified State Exam social studies
The Apostle Paul is considered a recognized authority in the field of Christian understanding of Love. It is interesting that the former persecutor of Christians, unlike the other apostles, did not meet Jesus personally. What is even more surprising is that his opinion often does not seem to coincide very much with the words of the other apostles. But it was Paul, since the era early Middle Ages, when his positions were reconciled with the positions of other companions of Christ (such as, for example, the stern Apostle Peter) outstanding masters Logic and rhetoric Saint Irenaeus of Lyons and Blessed Augustine are considered to be the most outstanding and consistent messengers of the teachings of Christ.
Apostle Paul on divine and worldly love
In the two epistles to the Corinthians and in the third and seventh chapters of the epistle to the Romans, the teacher of the new Christian morality and ethics creates not only a real “hymn of love of the Apostle Paul” (as his passionate lines in the 13th chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians are usually called), but also explains the ethical laws of Christian marriage.
Apostle Paul against pagan tolerance of unnatural things sexual relations
From the first chapters of the apostle's letter to the Romans, Paul sharply opposes the common fashion for homosexual relations that is attractive to pagans.
─ “They who replaced the truth of God with a lie, serve the creature instead of the Creator... God gave their hearts over to impurity and shameful passions... so that they would defile their bodies: their women replaced natural use with unnatural; Likewise, men, abandoning the natural use of the female sex, were inflamed with lust for one another, men committing shame on men and receiving... due retribution” (Romans, chapter 1).
Really, custom of having "concubines" and concubines of either sex in the West or “bachi” (persons of the same sex for sexual services, usually from among subordinates) in the East was so rooted before the beginning of the sermons of the disciples of Christ that even nobles, who were supposed to be married by rank, often took “second and third” wives, concubines Or they even preferred relationships on the side (with hetaeras or courtesans) to legal connections at home.
Of course, these “advanced” people, more often than not, who were also at the heights of power, even though almost two thousand years ago, it was wild to listen to the ravings of some “homophobe” from the Mediterranean Jewish diaspora ─ from the distant outskirts of the civilized world.
In addition, Paul encroached in his sermon letters on another, no less important foundation of pagan society. The fact is that Divorce among most peoples was considered something quite common. Only the Romans experienced some difficulties, marrying according to the even more ancient laws of the “Good Mother” - as one of the goddesses of the pagan pantheon was called, ─ and for reasons of the need to divide property during a divorce.
And it was on this Wednesday that the messages of the Apostle Paul on marriage came with the theses “to those who are married, I command not I, but the Lord: if you are united to your wife, do not seek divorce!” Or: “a married man worries about how to please his wife, and an unmarried man worries about how to please God.” That is, the apostle considered the very sacrament of marriage to distract the Christian from spiritual path. Although he admitted: “if you get married, you will not sin, and the girl will not sin by getting married” and “it is better to get married than to burn in the flesh.”
It is clear that very few in the world of the apostle today could understand or accept these statements of his. Especially among the “powerful” readers, among the “wise” and rich.
And then, probably, The Apostle Paul burst out famously:"if I say different languages“If I give away all my fortune, if I know many secrets and have wisdom... but do not have love, then I am nothing and there is no benefit in me.” With similar words begins the wisest and most poetic commandment of the apostle about love in 1 Epistle to the inhabitants of Greek Corinth.
Thus, according to Paul, marriage was not prerequisite for a righteous Christian. But only on the condition that he can renounce carnal, worldly “lust-inciting” passions. But the apostle understood that it was unrealistic and unwise to demand this from all people; physical abstinence is desirable for those following the path spiritual person, but not required.
The apostle directly advised those who cannot reconcile their own thoughts about bodily, worldly love to get married, since there is no sin in marriage itself.
There is sin in leaving a living wife or a living husband for the sake of a new marriage; the apostle is categorical on this issue.
Fun fact: Catholic Church until recently and since the early Middle Ages very often - contrary to the writings of the apostle! — divorced living spouses. At the same time, Western churchmen used (and use) ... precedents, or rather “tricks” from the so-called “Roman (pagan!) law.”
One of the judicial tricks, ─ hasn’t it been since then that the theme of “court drama” has been so popular in Western literature and then cinema, ─ for example, Catholics recognized a marriage already concluded in the church (although they themselves declared that “marriage is made in heaven”) “prisoners not for Christian reasons.” This trick is used successfully to this day. WITH great success in the Middle Ages, when necessary, they also looked for “previously unknown” family ties between spouses.
Anthem of love
In the thirteenth chapter of the same message to the Greeks and other inhabitants of Corinth, the apostle switches to a prophetic, poetic tone:
“Love is long-suffering, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not act rudely, does not seek its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth: it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ceases... There is faith, hope, love, but love is the greatest of them".
From this brilliant statement, clearly bursting out from the apostle at the moment of the highest inspiration (as the writers would say) or at the moment of Divine enlightenment (as believers think), theologians for almost two thousand years have identified sixteen properties of Christian love, providing each with countless interpretations concerning worldly love and divine love. It is clear that it is not possible to present all these interpretations, even the “official” ones, in a short article, since they began with the first translators of the Gospel in the second century, but it is possible and necessary to indicate literature that would be useful for Christians to read on this topic.
But in short, then The main signs of Christian love according to the Apostle Paul are as follows:
─ the interpretation of these signs is still best read in the literature mentioned above, from recognized theologians. Because trying to explain them “in a nutshell” threatens to profane the wise precepts of the apostle.
Live with love! Read the Apostolic Epistles and their interpretations!
1 Cor. 13:1. Some have believed that "this hymn of love" (chapter 13) Paul composed on some occasion in the past (under the influence of the Holy Spirit, of course), and inserted it here into this epistle (at the direction of the Holy Spirit) because of its obvious appropriateness in this context. Perhaps this was so - judging by the fact that in the harmony of the form and content of these verses, Paul’s epistolary art is reflected in highest degree(However, compare with his example of excellent parallelism in 1:25-29). It should be noted, however, that these verses touch so directly on many of the themes raised in this epistle that, if they were written by the apostle before, then the conclusion suggests itself: the Corinthians with their problems, to one degree or another, always occupied Paul.
In the first century, people especially valued eloquence, and the Corinthians were no exception to this, while Paul was not distinguished by great eloquence (2:1,4; 2 Cor. 10:10). Perhaps this partly explained their fascination with other languages. The fact that Paul speaks about this gift in relation to himself, constructing phrases in the conditional mood (1 Cor. 13: 2-3), could not fail to impress, in view of its exclusivity personal experience especially in speaking in the tongues of men (14:18) and of angels (compare 2 Cor. 12:4).
But, probably, this statement of the apostle should rather be understood figuratively - as implying all kinds of ways of “speaking”, i.e. oral speech. Here we are dealing with a hyperbole, suggesting the most sublime eloquence, which, however, not being inspired by love, can only excite for a moment, like the sound of a brass gong or cymbal, and then just as quickly disappear from memory. Only love leaves a lasting impression (compare verse 13).
1 Cor. 13:2. Even the gift of prophecy (12:10), which Paul desired as a great gift to the members of the Corinthian church (14:1), or the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and faith (12:8-9) are nothing compared to love. Paul does not downplay the importance of these gifts; he only especially values love, insisting on its incomparability.
1 Cor. 13:3. Even self-sacrifice can be dictated by considerations of self-centeredness (compare Matt. 6:2), and, being the latest victim which man is able to bring (compare Daniel 3:17-18) will be useless if done without love.
1 Cor. 13:4. From the first person, Paul moves to the third, and no longer speaks about himself, but about the feeling of love, which gives the traits of the human personality. Some believe that verses 4-6 speak of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23); others see in them Paul's description of Christ Himself. Both ideas are valid, and on the basis of both, many of the problems of the Corinthians could be resolved. Love, characterized by 14 properties (half of them expressed in a negative and half in a positive form), determines the way of life. Love, according to the apostle, is patient... is kind... does not envy... does not boast and is not proud.
Longsuffering is the ability not to repay evil to those who offend us. There were many wronged people in the Corinthian church (for example, about litigation in 1 Cor. 6:7-8 and about the poor at the Love Supper (11:21-22). To respond with love to offenders would be to show kindness and generosity. Envy and pride (" exaltation"), apparently, constituted two poles of the same problem (about divisions in 1:10; 3:3,21; and on the other hand about gifts in 12:14-25). For special pride among the Corinthians there was no reason, but it seems they were proud, and very proud. The very verb “to be proud” (physio) and its synonyms are found in the New Testament 7 times, 6 of them in this epistle (4:6, 18-19; 5: 2; 8:1).
1 Cor. 13:5. Here Paul writes about four characteristics, not inherent in love: she does not act outrageously, does not seek her own, is not irritated, does not think evil. The disorder in the Corinthian church was evident in the way women dressed and behaved during worship services (11:12-16), in the disorder during the Lord's Supper (11:17-22), and in general character Worship (14:26-33). “Searching for one’s own,” i.e., the tendency to indulge one’s whims, was manifested, in particular, in the consumption of food sacrificed to idols (8:9; 10:23-24). People who are not angry will not argue their case in court (6:1-11). Love will not plot evil (in revenge) on its neighbor, although there were plenty of reasons for this in the Corinthian church (note 6:8; 7:5; 8:11).
1 Cor. 13:6. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness (in the sense of “unrighteousness” - such as, for example, incest - 5:1-2,8), but rejoices in the truth (5:8).
1 Cor. 13:7. Love covers all things (meaning “protects from harm”; 8:13), believes all things (compare 15:11), hopes all things (compare 9:10.23), endures all things (i.e., remains steadfast even in unfavorable times). circumstances - 9:19-22).
1 Cor. 13:8. Elaborating on the excellence of love (verses 1-3) and its perfect qualities (verses 4-7), Paul concludes by declaring that love endures forever (verses 8-13). Love never ceases means that there is no and never will be an end. Love is eternal. The same cannot be said about spiritual gifts. The fact is that some of them were given for the purpose of establishing the Church (for example, the gifts of prophecy and all (spiritual) knowledge; compare Eph. 2:20), and others - for the sake of its establishment (for example, tongues; compare 2 Cor. 12:12; Hebrews 2:4).
Despite the fact that each gift is in one way or another aimed at building the Church and bringing it to a perfect spiritual age, some of them (prophecy, knowledge, languages) have become widespread throughout the world. early stage church history, while others will not dry up until the church becomes perfect. When perfection is achieved, the action of the gifts will lose meaning and they will be abolished. With love, however, this will not happen.
1 Cor. 13:9-10. As Paul has already explained, the gift of knowledge (verse 8), while important, does not presuppose the possession of perfect knowledge. And the ability to prophecy, how decisive role no matter how it plays in the life of the Church, it is limited within certain limits. Spiritual gifts are temporary blessings given before the perfect age. The day will come when those who facilitate its onset will give way to the perfect one.
What Paul meant by “when is the perfect thing come” is a subject of much debate. Some believe that he meant the time when the writing of the New Testament would be completed. But in light of verse 12, this view seems unlikely. There is another - that “perfect” will not come until the new heavens and the new earth are created.
Still others understand by “perfect” the state of the Church at the time of the second coming of Christ, when God’s program for it will be completed. In many ways, this view seems to be correct, especially in light of the echoes that it finds in the following verses, where Paul examines issues related to spiritual growth and formation.
1 Cor. 13:11. Paul also resorts to the image of human growth and development in another place, where he also talks about the purpose of spiritual gifts. In Eph. 4:11-16 he states plainly that the purpose of the gifts is to bring the church from infancy to maturity. The same Greek word telion ("perfection") is used in 1 Cor. 13:10 and in Eph. 4:13, where in Russian this passage is rendered as “to a perfect man”). In Ephesians the concept of "perfection" is defined as the achievement of " full age Christ." Such a state obviously cannot occur until the second coming of Christ.
It can be assumed that the same thing is meant in this passage of 1 Corinthians. Paul again applies his reasoning to himself (compare verses 1-3). The three-fold technique he used: “he spoke... he thought, he reasoned,” probably should have echoed that in verse 8: the need for the gifts mentioned in it disappears with the onset of adulthood.
The word steel must, of course, be understood in the context of the example given. It does not mean that Paul personally or the entire church has already achieved perfection (compare Phil. 3:12). They, on the other hand, do not eliminate the prospect of the gradual abolition of certain spiritual gifts - as the Church achieves perfection.
1 Cor. 13:12. The city of Corinth was famous for its bronze mirrors, which is what Paul means in his last clear example(in the English Bible there is no word “glass”, but only speaks of imperfect reflection). The "perfect" mentioned in verse 10 and the "imperfect" implied therein are aptly likened by the apostle to the contrast between the way we see someone's face reflected in a bronze mirror (a dim reflection) and the impression we get of him when we see him. right in front of you.
This is the contrast he says between the imperfect time in which he lived and wrote, and the perfect one that awaits him and the Church ahead, when the current partial (“fortune-telling”) vision will be replaced by a perfect vision. Then Paul will see (know) God (compare 13:28; 1 John 3:2) as God sees (knows) Paul now. Then incomplete knowledge (compare 1 Cor. 8:1-3) will be replaced by perfect knowledge of God.
1 Cor. 13:13. The Apostle Paul concludes his description of love with a triad in which he includes it: faith, hope, love. There is much debate as to whether he meant to say that faith and hope are as eternal as love. The explanation may be found in verse 7. Faith, like hope (compare Gal. 5:5-6), is eternal, being manifestations of love. And everyone who “attains” love (1 Cor. 14:1) finds “the most excellent way” (12:31b), because he who has love is marked with its sign for eternity. So, spiritual gifts will one day be abolished, but love will exist forever.
