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 {With the tongues} (	ais gl(9373)sais). Instrumental case.
Mentioned first because really least and because the Corinthians
put undue emphasis on this gift. Plato (_Symposium_, 197) and
many others have written on love, but Paul has here surpassed
them all in this marvellous prose-poem. It comes like a sweet
bell right between the jangling noise of the gifts in chapters 12
and 14. It is a pity to dissect this gem or to pull to pieces
this fragrant rose, petal by petal. Fortunately Paul's language
here calls for little comment, for it is the language of the
heart. "The greatest, strongest, deepest thing Paul ever wrote"
(Harnack). The condition (ean and present subjunctive, lal(930a)kai m(8820)ech(935c), though the form is identical with present
indicative) is of the third class, a supposable case. {But have
not love} (agap(886e) de m(8820)ech(935c)). This is the _crux_ of the
chapter. Love is the way _par excellence_ of  12:31 . It is not
yet clearly certain that agap(885c) (a back-formation from agapa(935c))
occurs before the LXX and the N.T. Plutarch used agap(8873)is.
Deissmann (_Bible Studies_, p. 198) once suspected it on an
inscription in Pisidia. It is still possible that it occurs in
the papyri (Prayer to Isis). See _Light from the Ancient East_,
p. 75 for details. The rarity of agap(885c) made it easier for
Christians to use this word for Christian love as opposed to
er(9373) (sexual love). See also Moffatt's Love in the N.T. (1930)
for further data. The word is rare in the Gospels, but common in
Paul, John, Peter, Jude. Paul does not limit agap(885c) at all (both
toward God and man). Charity (Latin _caritas_) is wholly
inadequate. "Intellect was worshipped in Greece, and power in
Rome; but where did St. Paul learn the surpassing beauty of
love?" (Robertson and Plummer). Whether Paul had ever seen Jesus
in the flesh, he knows him in the spirit. One can substitute
Jesus for love all through this panegyric. {I am become}
(gegona). Second perfect indicative in the conclusion rather
than the usual future indicative. It is put vividly, "I am
already become." Sounding brass (chalchos (8863)h(936e)). Old words.
Brass was the earliest metal that men learned to use. Our word
_echoing_ is (8863)h(936e), present active participle. Used in  Lu
21:25  of the roaring of the sea. Only two examples in N.T.
{Clanging cymbal} (kumbalon alalazon). Cymbal old word, a
hollow basin of brass. Alalaz(935c), old onomatopoetic word to ring
loudly, in lament ( Mr 5:38 ), for any cause as here. Only two
N.T. examples.

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