1 Corinthians 13 KJV
The Way of Love
1 Corinthians 13 is structured with triadic parallelism describing love's necessity, character, and permanence, ending in the triad of faith, hope, and love.
1 Corinthians Chapter 13: The Way of Love
This chapter explores themes of Love, Patience. Known as 'the Love Chapter' - read at most Christian weddings
1hough I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
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Did You Know?
Known as 'the Love Chapter' - read at most Christian weddings
Paul wrote this to a church full of conflict - love was what they lacked
Lists 15 characteristics of love - 8 positive and 7 negative
'Love is patient' comes first - patience is the foundation of love
'When I was a child' (v.11) - spiritual maturity means outgrowing selfishness
'Now we see through a glass, darkly' - our understanding is partial until heaven
'Faith, hope, charity...the greatest of these is charity' - love outlasts everything
Without love, even speaking in tongues and prophecy are 'nothing' (v.1-3)
'Love never faileth' (v.8) - the only thing that is eternal besides God Himself
The Greek word is 'agape' - unconditional, self-giving love, not emotion
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain tongues โ from these he ascends to "prophecy" (1Co 13:2); then, to "faith"; then to benevolent and self-sacrificing deeds: a climax. He does not except even himself, and so passesโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on 1 Corinthians 13 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Charity or love superior to all gifts.
- 1
- tongues โ from these he ascends to "prophecy" (1Co 13:2); then, to "faith"; then to benevolent and self-sacrificing deeds: a climax. He does not except even himself, and so passes from addressing them ("unto you," 1Co 12:31) to putting the case in his own person, "Though I," &c. speak with the tongues โ with the eloquence which was so much admired at Corinth (for example, Apollos, Ac 18:24; compare 1Co 1:12; 3:21, 22), and with the command of various languages, which some at Corinth abused to purposes of mere ostentation (1Co 14:2, &c.). of angels โ higher than men, and therefore, it is to be supposed, speaking a more exalted language. charity โ the principle of the ordinary and more important gifts of the Spirit, as contrasted with the extraordinary gifts (1Co 12:1-31). sounding... tinkling โ sound without soul or feeling: such are "tongues" without charity. cymbal โ Two kinds are noticed (Ps 150:5), the loud or clear, and the high-sounding one: hand cymbals and finger cymbals, or castanets. The sound is sharp and piercing.
- 2
- mysteries โ (Ro 11:25; 16:25). Mysteries refer to the deep counsels of God hitherto secret, but now revealed to His saints. Knowledge, to truths long known. faith... remove mountains โ (Mt 17:20; 21:21). The practical power of the will elevated by faith [NEANDER]; confidence in God that the miraculous result will surely follow the exercise of the will at the secret impulse of His Spirit. Without "love" prophecy, knowledge, and faith, are not what they seem (compare 1Co 8:1, 2; Mt 7:22; Jas 2:14; compare 1Co 13:8), and so fail of the heavenly reward (Mt 6:2). Thus Paul, who teaches justification by faith only (Ro 3:4, 5; Ga 2:16; 3:7-14), is shown to agree with James, who teaches (Jas 2:24) "by works" (that is, by LOVE, which is the "spirit" of faith, Jas 2:26) a man is justified, "and not by faith only."
Read all 13 notes on 1 Corinthians 13 โ