Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Corinthians: Chapter 13].
{Clanging cymbal} (\kumbalon alalazon\). Cymbal old word, a
hollow basin of brass. \Alalaz•\, old onomatopoetic word to ring
loudly, in lament (Mr 5:38), for any cause as here. Only two
N.T. examples.
13:2 The ecstatic gifts (verse 1) are worthless. Equally so are
the teaching gifts (prophecy, knowledge of mysteries, all
knowledge). Crasis here in \kan=kai ean\. Paul is not condemning
these great gifts. He simply places love above them and essential
to them. Equally futile is wonder-working faith "so as to remove
mountains" (\h•ste or• methistanein\) without love. This may have
been a proverb or Paul may have known the words of Jesus (Mt
17:20; 21:21). {I am nothing} (\outhen eimi\). Not \outheis\,
nobody, but an absolute zero. This form in \th\ rather than \d\
(\ouden\) had a vogue for a while (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 219).
13:3 {Bestow to feed} (\Ps•mis•\). First aorist active
subjunctive of \ps•miz•\, to feed, to nourish, from \ps•mos\,
morsel or bit, and so to feed, by putting a morsel into the mouth
like infant (or bird). Old word, but only here in N.T. {To be
burned} (\hina kauth•s•mai\). First future passive subjunctive
(Textus Receptus), but D \kauth•somai\ (future passive indicative
of \kai•\, old word to burn). There were even some who courted
martyrdom in later years (time of Diocletian). This Byzantine
future subjunctive does not occur in the old MSS. (Robertson,
_Grammar_, p. 876). Aleph A B here read \kauch•s•mai\, first
aorist middle subjunctive of \kauchaomai\ (so Westcott and Hort),
"that I may glory." This is correct. {It profiteth me nothing}
(\ouden •pheloumai\). Literally, I am helped nothing. \Ouden\ in
the accusative case retained with passive verb. See two
accusatives with \•phele•\ in 14:6. Verb is old and from
\ophelos\ (profit).
13:4 Verses 4-7 picture the character or conduct of love in
marvellous rhapsody. {Suffereth long} (\makrothumei\). Late
_Koin•_ word (Plutarch) from \makros\, long, \thumos\, passion,
ardour. Cf. Jas 5:7f. {Is kind} (\chr•steuetai\). From
\chr•stos\ (useful, gracious, kind) and that from \chraomai\, to
use. Not found elsewhere save in Clement of Rome and Eusebius.
"Perhaps of Paul's coining" (Findlay). Perhaps a vernacular word
ready for Paul. Gentle in behaviour. {Envieth not} (\ou z•loi\).
Present active indicative of \z•lo•\ (contraction \oei=oi\, same
as subjunctive and optative forms). Bad sense of \z•los\ from
\ze•\, to boil, good sense in 12:31. Love is neither jealous
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