1 Corinthians 13:8
What does 1 Corinthians 13:8 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 13:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 13:8 means
Love never fails; it does not collapse or expire. In contrast, prophecies, tongues, and knowledge (as spiritual gifts) belong to a temporary order. They will cease when their purpose is fulfilled. The point is not to despise these gifts but to relativize them. They serve the church for a time, but love belongs to the very nature of God’s life among His people and therefore abides. The Corinthians prized what dazzled; Paul prizes what endures. The most excellent way is not the most spectacular display but the most faithful affection—love that keeps building up when other ministries have reached their God-appointed end.
1 Corinthians 13:8 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 · 2000Love 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Charity 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Love 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Though the prophet's word may come to an end, tongues come to nothing, and knowledge have no more value, love has no end.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The love doth never fail; and whether <FI>there be<Fi> prophecies, they shall become useless; whether tongues, they shall cease; whether knowledge, it shall become useless;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void or tongues shall cease or knowledge shall be destroyed.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Love never fails; but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be done away.
Context
Moving from love’s actions to its endurance, Paul directly contrasts love with the gifts featured in chapter 12. By stating that certain gifts will be “done away” or “cease,” he begins an argument about partial versus complete that will be explained in verses 9–10. The focus is not on ranking gifts within time but on showing that love outlasts them beyond time. The next verses clarify why these gifts are temporary: our present knowledge and prophecy are fragmentary.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 49:7
Of Edom. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?
- 1 Corinthians 13:10
but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
- Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13
But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
- 1 Corinthians 14:39
Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
- Luke 22:32
but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren.
Sermon ideas from 1 Corinthians 13:8
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What 1 Corinthians 13:8 teaches us about christian love
What 1 Corinthians 13:8 teaches us about gifts in proportion
What 1 Corinthians 13:8 teaches us about permanence of love
What 1 Corinthians 13:8 teaches us about maturity
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