1 Corinthians 13:3
What does 1 Corinthians 13:3 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 13:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 13:3 means
Paul pushes to the furthest edge of self-denial: giving away everything to feed the poor and even surrendering one’s body to death. Astonishing generosity and martyrdom can still be empty if love is absent. This exposes the possibility of doing the right things for wrong reasons—seeking reputation, power, or penance rather than another’s good and God’s glory. Love is the difference between profit and loss in spiritual accounting. Without love, the giver gains nothing from the gift and the sufferer gains nothing from the suffering. True love makes sacrifice more than theater; it transforms costly actions into a fragrant offering that builds up others.
1 Corinthians 13:3 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 · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And if I give all my goods to the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it is of no profit to me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and if I give away to feed others all my goods, and if I give up my body that I may be burned, and have not love, I am profited nothing.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And if I shall dole out all my goods in food, and if I deliver up my body that I may be burned, but have not love, I profit nothing.
Context
After attacking pride in gifts (vv. 1–2), Paul now challenges pride in deeds. He chooses the highest examples of charity and courage to show that even these can be loveless. This completes his first movement: the absolute necessity of love. From verse 4 onward, he will define love’s character in positive and negative terms so the church can recognize and pursue the real thing, not a counterfeit driven by vanity or competition.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 12:43
for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God.
- 1 Timothy 4:8
for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.
- Acts 21:13
Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
- John 6:63
It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.
- John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
- Philippians 1:20
according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.
Sermon ideas from 1 Corinthians 13:3
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What 1 Corinthians 13:3 teaches us about christian love
What 1 Corinthians 13:3 teaches us about gifts in proportion
What 1 Corinthians 13:3 teaches us about permanence of love
What 1 Corinthians 13:3 teaches us about maturity
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore 1 Corinthians 13
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on 1 Corinthians 13.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Kindness
The Bible consistently promotes kindness as a fruit of the Spirit and a necessary trait for believers.
Topic
Bible Verses About Perseverance
Perseverance is a Christian virtue, a steadfastness in faith and obedience that endures through trials and hardships, trusting in God’s unfailing strength and promises.
Topic
Bible Verses About Body Image
Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, and these scriptures help us to see ourselves through His eyes.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for When Your Marriage Is Falling Apart
When the silence at home is louder than the words — verses to pray for your marriage.
Verses for
Bible Verses for the Fear of Death
When you're afraid to die — what scripture promises about the last enemy.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You're Struggling With Addiction
When the cycle won't break — verses for the long road home.