1 Corinthians — Chapter 13
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1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2And 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.
3And 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.
4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8Charity 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.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11When 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.
12For 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.
13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
2And if I have [the gift of] prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3And if I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
4Love suffereth long, [and] is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
6rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;
7beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8Love never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall be done away; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall be done away.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
10but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.
12For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.
13But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.
4Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.
5It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.
6It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.
7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part,
10but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside.
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.
12For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
3If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.
4Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,
5doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
6doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
10but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
13But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
Summary
The "Love Chapter" — without love, all gifts are worthless noise; love is patient and kind, does not envy or boast; prophecies and tongues will cease but love never fails — "now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the necessity, nature, and permanence of love — and its superiority over all spiritual gifts.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Love" on vv.4-7 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 655) "Charity suffereth long — that is patience. And is kind — that is action. Love is not passive endurance; it is active kindness. It bears wrong AND does good. It absorbs pain AND gives grace. That is the love of God — patient and kind simultaneously." Sermon: "The Greatest of These" on v.13 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1388) "The greatest of these is charity — not faith (which will become sight), not hope (which will become reality) — but love. Love is greatest because it is most like God. God IS love. Faith and hope serve love; love serves God and others forever."
Videos
The Bible Project — 1 Corinthians Overview
Animated overview of the book's literary structure, themes, and theological message. Excellent visual introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)
Reflection
- 1. Read vv.4-7 and replace "charity/love" with your name. "Jeremy suffers long, and is kind; Jeremy envies not..." How does that read? Where does it break down? That's where you need to grow.
- 2. "Though I have all faith... and have not charity, I am nothing" (v.2). You can have impressive gifts, deep knowledge, and strong faith — and be NOTHING without love. How is love motivating your use of your gifts?
- 3. "Love thinketh no evil" (v.5) — it doesn't keep a record of wrongs. Are you maintaining a mental ledger of offenses against someone? Love erases the ledger. Who do you need to stop keeping score with?
- 4. "The greatest of these is charity" (v.13). Love is greater than faith and hope — because it is most like God. Is love the defining characteristic of your life? Would others describe you primarily as a loving person?
- 5. Paul says without love, tongues are "sounding brass" (v.1), prophecy and knowledge make you "nothing" (v.2), and generosity "profiteth nothing" (v.3). How does this challenge a church culture that values gifts over character?
- 6. Love "seeketh not her own" (v.5). It is fundamentally other-centered. In your closest relationships — marriage, family, friendship — how self- centered vs. other-centered are you? Be honest.
- 7. "Love never faileth" (v.8). Gifts are temporary; love is permanent. What are you investing in — temporary displays of giftedness or permanent expressions of love?
- 8. "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face" (v.12). Our current understanding is partial. How does knowing that you don't see the full picture produce humility in your theology and patience with others?
- 9. "The greatest of these is charity" (v.13). If love is the greatest virtue, how should it shape your priorities, your schedule, your relationships, and your use of time and resources?