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1 Corinthians 13

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1 Corinthians 13

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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.

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Parallel translations · 1 Corinthians 13:1

WEB · World English Bible (2000)

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.

KJV · King James Version (1611)

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.

ASV · American Standard Version (1901)

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.

BBE · Bible in Basic English (1949)

If I make use of the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am like sounding brass, or a loud-tongued bell.

YLT · Young's Literal Translation (1862)

If with the tongues of men and of messengers I speak, and have not love, I have become brass sounding, or a cymbal tinkling;

DRA · Douay-Rheims (Challoner) (1752)

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

DBY · Darby Bible (1890)

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

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Commentary · 1 Corinthians 13

The More Excellent Way

Set in the middle of Paul's discussion of spiritual gifts, this chapter is the great hymn of love. Eloquence without love is noisy brass. Knowledge, faith, and self-sacrifice without love profit nothing. Love is patient and kind, does not envy or boast, is not arrogant or rude, does not insist on its own way, is not irritable or resentful, rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Tongues will cease and knowledge pass away, but love never fails.

Themes

  • Christian love
  • Gifts in proportion
  • Permanence of love
  • Maturity

Application

Every gift, every ministry, every theological insight is hollow without love. Love is the proof, the goal, and the abiding reality of the Christian life.

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Key cross-references

From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — verses that illuminate 1 Corinthians 13:1.

  • Romans 14:15

    For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:8

    Love 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:16

    And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:8

    For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit:

  • 2 Corinthians 12:4

    how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

  • 1 Timothy 1:5

    But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:

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1 Corinthians 14 →

"Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritualgifts, but rather that ye may prophesy."