Love (13:1-13)

The Corinthians should have been able to experience unity in diversity, but had not because of a lack of love. True unity is found in love, not the removal of diversity.

The best tongues w/o love is worthless
The best prophecy w/o love is worthless
The best wisdom w/o love is worthless
The best knowledge w/o love is worthless
The best knowledge w/o love is worthless
The best faith w/o love is worthless
The best giving w/o love is worthless
The best sacrifice w/o love is worthless
*Even all of these added together w/o love is worthless

Love...
is patient
is kind
rejoices in truth (focuses on good)
protects
trusts (assumes the best)
hopes (future focus)
perseveres

Love is not...
envious
boastful
prideful
rude
self-seeking
easily angered
keeping a record of wrongs
delighting in evil
failing

Love will last even as prophecies, tongues & knowledge cease.

What is the 'perfection' mentioned here? Cessationists attempt to argue that it refers to the NT, so that once the NT Canon was established, the gifts were removed. This is a completely arbitrary and unreasonable interpretation. Much more likely, the perfection refers to coming age (eternity) after Christ's return. There will be no need for spiritual gifts in eternity. Since love is the thing that will last, we best cling to it now.