Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet Outreach

1 Corinthians 13:13

In the 13th chapter of the first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul speaks to the compassionate pity and tender mercy that is found in the heart of the true co-laborers with Yahushua Messiah. Verse 13 is the crux of this message.

THE VERSE
And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.

THE STUDY
Now [Greek term: nyni]. NYNI is an adverb meaning “just now” or “at this very moment” (an emphasized version of the Greek term NUN, indicating “now” or “immediate”).

Abideth [Greek term: menō]. This verb means “to remain, continue.” The form of MENO indicates the action actually happened and was completed; the abiding is an actual fact, not an unrealized possibility or “wishful thinking.”

Faith [Greek term: pistis]. PISTIS denotes “persuasion, credence.” The very core/root definitions of PISTIS is the verb PEITHO, “to convince [by argument]” The crux meaning of PISTIS: to be convicted [of truth].

Hope [Greek term: elpis]. This Greek term stresses “expectation, confidence.” The noun derives from the root word ELPO, “to anticipate” (usually with pleasure); an expected and awaited good.

Charity [Greek term: agapē]. AGAPE means “love, affection, benevolence.” The very core/root definition of AGAPE is AGAPAO. This root emphasizes a deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety. Father YHWH loves Humanity — whom He made in His image — with a deliberate, intentional love. There’s no “sentimentalism.” YHWH’s love is the same as He is — eternal, strong: For I am YHWH, I change not [Malachi 3:6]; God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent [Numbers 23:19]; Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the father of lights with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning [James 1:17]. This love is commonly referred to as “John 3:16” love, and is different from lust, filial affection or familial affection.

Greatest [Greek term: meizōn]. MEIZON is “great.” The form of this word is an “irregular comparative” — that is, the adjective [great, in this case] shows that the object [love, in this case] has a certain quality in a degree greater than the other objects. In English, this is referred to as a “superlative.” Love is herein noted as being highly esteemed for its excellence.

TAKEAWAY THOUGHT
To be a Christian is to be like the Savior — without self-interest. As a manner of Life, love is more effective, more victorious, more satisfying, than the possession and exercise of the various gifts of the spirit. Self-denying love, producing unity among believers, will convince the world that YHWH sent His Son into the world to save Mankind. Thus, love is demonstrated to be the greatest way of preaching the gospel and advancing the kingdom of YHWH.
Other verses that consider “faith, hope and charity”: 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Colossians 1:4; Hebrews 10:22-24.