*1 Corinthians 13:1-13
The apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of love, which is superior to spiritual gifts and religious deeds.
- The Supremacy of Love:
- Paul begins by emphasizing that without love, speaking in tongues is just noise, and prophetic powers or understanding all mysteries and knowledge have no value.
- He states that even if one has faith that can move mountains, without love, it amounts to nothing.
- Characteristics of Love:
- Love is described as patient and kind.
- It does not envy, boast, and is not proud.
- Love does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, and is not easily angered.
- It keeps no record of wrongs and does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
- Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.
- Endurance and Permanence of Love:
- Paul contrasts love’s enduring nature with the temporary nature of spiritual gifts like prophecy, tongues, and knowledge, which he says will cease or pass away.
- He explains that our current understanding and prophecy are partial, and when completeness comes, the partial will disappear.
- Maturity and Clarity:
- Using the analogy of growing from childhood to adulthood, Paul reflects on how maturity changes perception and understanding, moving from childish ways to a clearer vision.
- He notes that currently we see “only a reflection as in a mirror,” implying an imperfect or indirect understanding, but eventually, we will see “face to face” and know fully, as we are fully known by God.
- The Greatest of These is Love:
- The chapter concludes with the assertion that faith, hope, and love are enduring, but the greatest of these is love.
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
13:2 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.
13:3 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.
13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
13:8 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.
13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
13:11 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.
13:12 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.
13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.