The Supreme Importance Of Promoting Equity, Kindness, And Humility: A Descriptive And Comparative Analysis Of Micah 6:1–16 And 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 -- By: Daniel T. Lioy

Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 25:1 (Mar 2018)
Article: The Supreme Importance Of Promoting Equity, Kindness, And Humility: A Descriptive And Comparative Analysis Of Micah 6:1–16 And 1 Corinthians 13:1–13
Author: Daniel T. Lioy


The Supreme Importance Of Promoting Equity, Kindness, And Humility: A Descriptive And Comparative Analysis Of Micah 6:1–16 And 1 Corinthians 13:1–13

Dan Lioy

Keywords

Christlike Love Equity Kindness Humility Intertextuality

About The Author1

Dan Lioy

PhD (North-West University) The Senior Research Manager at the South African Theological Seminary, Dan has a particular research interest in intertextuality, Biblical ethics and spiritual care in professional settings.

This article: https://www.sats.edu.za/lioy-supreme-importance-promoting-equity-kindness-humility

Abstract

This journal article undertakes a descriptive and comparative analysis of Micah 6:1–16 and 1 Corinthians 13:1–13. One incentive for doing so is that both passages clarify in an expansive manner the Lord’s command in Leviticus 19:18 for his children to show godly compassion to others. This priority is more fully developed in the major claim of the article, namely, that promoting equity, kindness, and humility is of supreme importance. A second incentive is that deliberating the meaning and significance of these virtues finds its inspirational and theological roots in the Judeo-Christian canon. A third incentive is that exploring and evaluating the intertextual dialogue between these two passages appears to be a major lacuna in the scholarly literature. This deficit in the academic research becomes even more acute when the focus is narrowed to the topic under consideration.

Introduction

From the earliest days of Paul’s evangelistic ministry, he emphasised the supreme importance of promoting equity, kindness, and humility. A case in point is his letter to the Galatians, which many scholars think was one of the earliest of the apostle’s epistles recorded in the New Testament.2 In 5:13–14, Paul drew a contrast between two stark options. The first involved being controlled by one’s aberrant desires, while the second alternative prioritized using one’s God-given freedom in baptismal union with the Son as an occasion to minister to others with Christlike love.3

The Greek verb rendered ‘serve’ (v. 13) is a strong term often used for slavery.

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