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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadHeinrich Meyer Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13
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καυθήσωμαι ] A B à , 17, Codd[2035] in Jerome, Copt. Aeth. Ephr. Hier. have καυχήσωμαι . But ἵνα καυχήσωμαι (given up again even by Lachm.) is a manifest addition, which was written on the margin to call attention to the loveless motive, and supplanted the similar and difficult ἽΝΑ ΚΑΥΘΉΣΩΜΑΙ (C K, min[2036] vss[2037] Chrys. Theodoret, and Latin writers).
Instead of the subjunctive, Tisch. has the future indicative καυθήσομαι (D E F G I, min[2038] Mac. Max.), which of course could be easily changed by ignorant copyists into the subjunctive, anomalous though it was.—1Co_13:8. ἐκπίπτει ] Lachm. reads ΠΊΠΤΕΙ , following A B C* à *, min[2039] and several Fathers. Rightly; the simple form was defined more precisely by way of gloss. Comp Rom_9:6.
ΓΝῶΣΙς , ΚΑΤΑΡΓΗΘΉΣΕΤΑΙ ] A D** F G à , 17, 47, Boern. Ambrosiast. have ΓΝΏΣΕΙς , ΚΑΤΑΡΓΗΘΉΣΟΝΤΑΙ . So Rückert (Lachm. on the margin). The plural crept in after the preceding.—1Co_13:10. ΤΌ ] Elz. Scholz read ΤΌΤΕ ΤΌ , against decisive testimony.
[2035] odd. codices or manuscripts. The uncial manuscripts are denoted by the usual letters, the Sinaitic by à .
[2036] in. codices minusculi, manuscripts in cursive writing. Where these are individually quoted, they are marked by the usual Arabic numerals, as 33, 89.
[2037] ss. vss. = versions.
[2038] in. codices minusculi, manuscripts in cursive writing. Where these are individually quoted, they are marked by the usual Arabic numerals, as 33, 89.
[2039] in. codices minusculi, manuscripts in cursive writing. Where these are individually quoted, they are marked by the usual Arabic numerals, as 33, 89.
CONTENTS.
The want of love makes even the greatest charismatic endowments to be worthless (1Co_13:1-3); excellencies of love (1Co_13:4-7); eternity of love in contrast to the transient nature of the charismata (1Co_13:8-13).
This praise of love—almost a psalm of love it might be called—is as rich in its contents drawn from deep experience as in rhetorical truth, fulness and power, grace and simplicity. “Sunt figurae oratoriae, quae hoc caput illuminant, omnes sua sponte natae in animo heroico, flagrante amore Christi et huic amori divino omnia postponente,” Valckenaer, p. 299. In no other passage (comp especially, Rom_13:8-10) has Paul spoken so minutely and in such a manner regarding love. It is interesting to compare the eulogy of Ἔρως —so different in conception and substance—in Plato, Symp. p. 197 C D E. A Christian eulogy on love, but one far inferior, indeed, to the apostle’s, may be seen in Clement, Cor. I. 49.