The International Bible Lesson (Uniform Sunday School Lessons Series) for Sunday, May 31, 2015, is from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. This posting and podcast includes both the International Bible Lesson Commentary and the International Bible Lesson. The International Bible Lesson Commentary is now available in five different Bible translations on the International Bible Lessons Commentary (http://www.ouosu.com/IBLC/) website: these versions are the English Standard Version (ESV), King James Version (KJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New International Version (NIV), and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).  Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further follow the verse-by-verse International Bible Lesson Commentary. The Study Hints for Discussion and Thinking Further discusses each of the Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further to help with class preparation and in conducting class discussion: these hints are available on the  International Bible Lessons Commentary (http://www.ouosu.com/IBLC/) website along with the International Bible Lesson that you may want to read to your class as part of your Bible study using the easy printable lesson. To help your class review the lesson, links to an easy printable Word Search Puzzle, a Crossword Puzzle, and a True and False Test are also available below. To listen to this commentary a podcast is available by subscribing (http://ouosu.com/biblelessonforum/?page_id=6113) and by clicking on the audio links here on the International Bible Lesson Forum.
International Bible Lesson Commentary
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
(1 Corinthians 13:1) If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

The Apostle Paul wrote “The Love Chapter†(1 Corinthians 13) in his letter to the Corinthians. Paul addressed the issues of speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues (languages others probably could not understand, unless they were speaking a foreign language for people who would understand that foreign language, as on the Day of Pentecost). Paul said some accused him of being a poor speaker. Paul began chapter thirteen by saying that someone can speak with eloquence and sophisticated spiritual languages; but, if they do not have love for those they speak to; then, they will eventually sound like an endlessly repeated noise that can give people a headache.

(1 Corinthians 13:2) And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Some Christians claimed to be able to foretell the future. They could proclaim the gospel message with power and sound reasoning. Some claimed to understand the spiritual realities that most cannot comprehend. Others claimed to be able to know things that others could not know. Some claimed to have enough faith to work astounding miracles. Even if these claims were true, if they did not love God and others, they were nothing.

(1 Corinthians 13:3) If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Paul argued that we can make any sacrifice, even sacrifice our own body by giving it over to torture, imprisonment, burning, or martyrdom as an expression of our faith, but if we do not have love, we will gain nothing. “Having love†means more than doing a “loving or caring†action from time to time. “Having love†is having something we possess. “Having love†means love for God and others is the mainspring or supreme motive or ultimate intention for all of our actions.

(1 Corinthians 13:4) Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant

Paul defined love and listed the attributes of love to make clear the kind of love he meant. When love is my motive in the way I treat others, I will choose to be patient with others. If I fail to treat others with patience,