Paul is talking about a love that seeks the other person's highest good — not erotic love or Hollywood's idea of love.
Les Feldick defines Paul's love this way and places it at the foundation of the Christian faith. It is the love that prompted Christ to the cross and, once imparted to believers, becomes the attitude they show toward everyone, even enemies. Paul wrote about this love between two chapters on spiritual gifts to show that it is greater than any gift or sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — This is the central passage where Paul defines the love he has in view by its character and behavior, directly answering what kind of love it is.
1 Corinthians 13:13 — Paul identifies this love (charity) as the greatest of the abiding things, showing why it matters above all else.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul uses the word 'charity' to describe the love he is talking about. He defines its character in verses 4-7: 'Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity 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.' Paul also says in verse 2 that even prophecy, understanding all mysteries, and all faith amount to nothing without charity. And in verse 13 he concludes, 'And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.'
Les Feldick is explicit that when Paul speaks of love in 1 Corinthians 13, he is 'not talking about erotic love' and 'not talking about Hollywood's idea of love.' Instead, Les gives his definition: 'a love that seeks the other person's highest good.' He says love is 'the very foundation of our whole Christian faith' — it is what prompted Christ to go to the cross and what prompts Him to save us by believing. On the believer's side, love is 'the predominating factor' in life, whether in marriage, with children, or with neighbors (Clips 1, 2). Les also emphasizes that Paul placed 1 Corinthians 13 between two chapters dealing with spiritual gifts. Because the Corinthian church was 'so carnal and fleshly minded,' Paul could not simply condemn them; he 'backs into' the situation with love so he does not flare up their anger and lose the ability to deal with them. In verse 2 Paul says even the gift of prophecy and understanding all mysteries are nothing without charity — a gift needed at that time before the Word came into print. Love is the basis for handling controversy and for correcting people 'in the spirit of love' without compromising the truth (Clips 0, 3, 4, 5, 6). Finally, Les points to the cross as the epitome of this love. It was love that put Christ on the cross, and when that love has been imparted to believers, 'that same kind of love then is our attitude toward the people around us, and yes even our enemies' (Clip 7).
Les Feldick is clear that Paul is not talking about erotic love or Hollywood's idea of love. Instead, he defines it as 'a love that seeks the other person's highest good.' This is the key to understanding the whole love chapter.
Les says the chapter 'sits right between the two chapters where Paul is dealing with the gifts of the Spirit.' The Corinthians were the most carnal of Paul's churches, so Paul had to back into correction with love rather than flaring up their anger. Love is the basis for handling the controversies in chapters 12 and 14, and believers are to 'follow after love' while desiring spiritual things.
It is the love that prompted Christ to the cross and is imparted to believers. Les teaches that 'that same kind of love then is our attitude toward the people around us, and yes even our enemies.' It is the predominating factor in marriage, with kids, with neighbors, and it fulfills the law by not avenging others.
Love as the Spirit for Approaching Others
Les teaches that Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13 describe the 'spirit of love' believers must use when approaching people — even those heading to hell — patiently and with understanding, without compromising truth.
Love as the Foundation of the Christian Faith
Les teaches that this love is not just an emotion — it is what prompted Christ to the cross and what saves us by believing, and it should be the predominating factor in marriage, family, and neighbor relationships.
The Definition of Paul's Love
Les defines the love Paul is talking about as 'a love that seeks the other person's highest good' and explicitly says it is not erotic love or Hollywood's idea of love.
Paul's Love Approach to the Carnal Corinthians
Les explains that Paul 'backs into' confronting the Corinthians' problems with love rather than condemning them outright, because they were the most carnal and fleshly-minded of all Paul's churches.
Love as the Key to Handling Controversy
Les says the love chapter sits between two controversial chapters and that the only way to handle those controversies is on the basis of the love of 1 Corinthians 13.
Prophecy and the Context of the Love Chapter
Les notes that 1 Corinthians 13 sits between two chapters on spiritual gifts, and that in verse 2 Paul says even prophecy and understanding all mysteries are nothing without love.
Love Is the Greatest Thing
Les teaches that love is 'the greatest of all the things so far as God's dealing with man is concerned' and that believers should follow after love while desiring spiritual things.
The Cross as the Epitome of Love
Les teaches that the love that put Christ on the cross is imparted to believers, so that 'that same kind of love' becomes their attitude toward people around them, even enemies.
1 Corinthians 13:2: 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.
Paul says even the greatest gifts and understanding are nothing without charity, showing the supreme importance of this love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity 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.
This is the passage that defines the love Paul is talking about by its character and actions.
1 Corinthians 13:13: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Paul concludes that charity is the greatest of the abiding things, naming the love he has been describing.
No. Les Feldick says Paul is not talking about erotic love or Hollywood's idea of love. He defines it as a love that seeks the other person's highest good, a God-centered love rather than a romantic feeling.
Les teaches that love is the foundation of the Christian faith and the greatest of all things in God's dealing with man. Paul says even prophecy and understanding all mysteries are nothing without charity, so love is more important than any gift.
Les says believers should approach others, even those with whom they disagree, 'in the spirit of love, patience, and understanding' without compromising the truth. This is how Paul handled the controversial issues in the Corinthian church.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Love vs Spiritual Gifts