Opinion

“We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds people up.” (1^st Corinthians 8:1b-2. Common English Bible)

“Of course ‘We all have knowledge,’ as you say. ‘Knowledge’ inflates a man, whereas love builds him up.” (1 Cor 8:1b-2, Revised English Bible)

In seminary, my New Testament professor shared with us what he considered the key verses to the four Gospels, and asked to decide on the key verses to the rest of the books in the NT. For me, this is the key verse to Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. “Knowledge,” or more to the point, opinion, was the original sin of the Church in Corinth.

They were full of opinions: Was Paul or Apollos the better teacher? Should they throw out all the rules of sexual morality, or force celibacy on everyone? Eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols that didn’t really exist, or give those illusionary idols authority over their lives by not eating? Which spiritual gifts were really the most important? Did Paul degrade himself by not accepting pay when he was with them, or did his refusal to take money from them make him less distinguished than those apostles who had come after him? [Inhale]

So many opinions, so many “inflated” or arrogant egos. Is our own time so different? So many opinions. Pick your own from the propaganda masquerading as “news” that suits you. But do all our opinions actually build up the people that we throw them at? Or do our opinions simply motivate them to build up their own wall of opinion ever higher. Don’t we react the same when it’s aimed at us.

After reading this scripture in my morning prayer, I then turned to one of the newer canticles in the Episcopal Church, from the supplemental volume Enriching Our Worship:

Canticle A Song in Praise of Wisdom

Wisdom 7:26—8:1

Wisdom is a reflection of eternal light, *

a flawless mirror of God’s activity,

an image of divine goodness.

Though Wisdom is only one, *

she can accomplish everything;

remaining self-contained, *

she transforms all around her.

In every generation *

Wisdom enlightens holy souls,

making them friends of God, *

making them prophets.

For God loves nothing so much *

as the person who lives with Wisdom.

She is more radiant than the sun, *

and outshines every constellation.

She excels daylight by far, for day is eclipsed by night; *

but evil does not overshadow Wisdom.

She spans the earth from pole to pole *

and orders all things well.

In that same NT class, we were to write a collect based on each NT book. This is what I came up with for 1^st Corinthians, and I’ll close with that:

Heavenly Father, you love all whom you have made and seek nothing but what is good for them.  Move our hearts with the vision of your only Son's self-giving love, that we may seek first the good of others; through Jesus Christ, who died and lives for us, for ever and ever.  Amen.