*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.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 teaches us that love is the most important thing in life. No matter how talented or successful we are, if we don’t have love, it means nothing. Real love is patient, kind, and puts others first. It doesn’t give up or hold grudges. This reminds us that love isn’t just a feeling but a choice to treat others with care and respect. We can apply this by showing kindness every day, forgiving others, and putting love at the center of everything we do.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (WEB)
13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 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 don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 If 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.4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.8 Love 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. 11 When 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. 12 For 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. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.