Love as a Verb (1 Cor 13:4-8a)

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a uses sixteen verbs (active in meaning and in the present tense) to express positive and negative characteristics of agape (love). This choice of verbs sets Paul's hymn to love apart from other passages where he presents characteristics of love but not through an exclusive...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: O'Collins, Gerald 1931- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Sage [2019]
In: The expository times
Year: 2019, Volume: 131, Issue: 5, Pages: 205-208
IxTheo Classification:HC New Testament
Further subjects:B Bible. Corinthians 1. 13,4-8
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:1 Corinthians 13:4-8a uses sixteen verbs (active in meaning and in the present tense) to express positive and negative characteristics of agape (love). This choice of verbs sets Paul's hymn to love apart from other passages where he presents characteristics of love but not through an exclusive use of verbs (e.g., Rom 12:9-21). Some commentators (e.g., Joseph Fitzmyer and Anthony Thiselton) note the apostle's use of verbs in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, without discussing reasons for the choice. Other commentators, including Wolfgang Schrage, do not even observe the presence of sixteen verbs. With help from Daniel Wallace's work on Greek grammar, this article argues that for Paul love consists not so much in a set of habitual characteristics but in doing (or refraining from doing) certain things. One might even say that love exists in action or it does not exist at all.
ISSN:1745-5308
Contains:Enthalten in: The expository times
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0014524619883809