Paul's Love Chapter (I Corinthians 13): Three Ways Quiz

Answer: Charity

The word "agape" is one of several Greek words that may be translated into English as "love." It is used especially for the love of God, both God's love for His people and believers' love for God. Other Greek words for love include "philia" (brotherly love) and "eros" (romantic love).

Answer: "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror"

In my opinion, this phrase illustrates both one of the strengths and one of the problems of using the King James Version. The phrase "Through a glass darkly" is memorable and poetic. However, few modern readers are likely to immediately recognize "glass" as meaning a mirror, as in "looking glass." The Holy Bible can be difficult enough to understand in modern translations. It is my view that we don't always need the additional problems of Elizabethan English, no matter how beautiful!

Incidentally, Ingmar Bergman's film "Through a Glass Darkly" is a memorable title. However, the original Swedish simply translates "As in a Mirror."

Answer: "The creaking of a rusty gate"

I like The Message very much. It is so contemporary that it feels like a paraphrase, although technically it is not. Peterson translated from the original languages. He often illuminates difficult passages for me. Still, it is such a free translation that I would not recommend it as one's only Bible.

Answer: "But when I became a man, I put away childish things."

The King James Version of the Holy Bible is easily the greatest work of literature in English produced by a committee. It often rivals the greatest of all writers in English, William Shakespeare. Having used the word "famous" in the question, I could not resist throwing in a bit of Polonius' speech to Laertes from "Hamlet" -- that's the part about "To thine own self be true."

Answer: "Then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

This is a passage where I prefer the unadorned, dignified modern English of the NIV. The Message reads, "knowing him directly just as he knows us."

Answer: "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

In my opinion the NIV is pretty good, but can't hold a candle to the King James Version's sonorous cadences. There is a difference between "always trusts" and "trusts in everything."

Answer: "If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy"

In this instance, one might accuse Peterson of over-elaboration, but I personally like the juxtaposition of "eloquence" and "ecstasy." (I thought it time for a little more Shakespeare. The "muse of fire" is from the Prologue to "Henry V.")

Answer: "It is not rude, it is not self-seeking."

Both the KJV and the NIV have the advantage on The Message here, in my opinion. "Isn't always 'me-first'" is not one of Peterson's more graceful phrases.

Answer: "It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

I give The Message a split decision on this one. "Doesn't fly off the handle" seems unnecessarily colloquial to me, but "Doesn't keep score of the sins of others" is more specific and vivid than either of the other translations.

I'm not crazy about "Thinketh no evil." I can't help feeling that it's the lost fourth monkey of the "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" grouping.

Answer: "Love extravagantly"

"Love extravagantly!" What a magnificent directive!

Here's all of verse 13, according to The Message: "But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."