1 Corinthians 13:1
What does 1 Corinthians 13:1 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 13:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 13:1 means
Paul imagines the most exalted speech possible—fluency in every human language and even the language of angels. Yet if love is absent, all that eloquence amounts to empty noise. Like a piece of metal struck without melody, words divorced from love are harsh and hollow. The point strikes at the Corinthians’ fascination with tongues: spiritual expression, however spectacular, has no spiritual value unless animated by genuine love for God and neighbor. Love is the life in the gift; without it, the performance may impress people for a moment but it does not edify the church or please God. God weighs the heart more than the sound produced.
1 Corinthians 13:1 in context
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.
- Christian love
- Gifts in proportion
- Permanence of love
- Maturity
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If 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 · 1611Though 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 · 1901If 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 · 1949If 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 · 1862If 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) · 1752If 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 · 1890If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
Context
This opening line introduces the chapter’s thesis: love is indispensable. Coming right after a discussion of various spiritual gifts, it addresses a church tempted to measure maturity by public displays, especially tongues. Verse 1 starts with the gift they prized most and declares it worthless without love. The next verses widen the scope, taking in prophecy, knowledge, faith, and even heroic sacrifice, to show that none of these can replace love. The frame prepares readers to re-evaluate what counts as truly spiritual.
v.1This passage
v.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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 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:
Sermon ideas from 1 Corinthians 13:1
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What 1 Corinthians 13:1 teaches us about christian love
What 1 Corinthians 13:1 teaches us about gifts in proportion
What 1 Corinthians 13:1 teaches us about permanence of love
What 1 Corinthians 13:1 teaches us about maturity
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