Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 13:9

What does 1 Corinthians 13:9 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 13:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 13:9 means

Our present knowing and prophesying are partial. Even when God truly speaks through these means, they are pieces of a larger whole. This humbles the spiritually ambitious and comforts the spiritually insecure. No one now sees the full picture; we all depend on God’s future unveiling. By calling our knowledge “in part,” Paul reminds the church that certainty about many matters must be tempered with modesty and patience. The partial is real and valuable, but it is not ultimate. God has reserved a fuller disclosure that will render present aids unnecessary, like lamplight at noon.

1 Corinthians 13:9 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 · 2000

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For our knowledge is only in part, and the prophet's word gives only a part of what is true:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for in part we know, and in part we prophecy;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For we know in part: and we prophesy in part.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part:

Context

This verse supports the claim of verse 8 by explaining the limited nature of current gifts. It prepares the contrast with the future state introduced in verse 10. The emphasis on partialness undercuts Corinthian overconfidence in their insights and experiences. The next verse will sharpen the contrast by describing the arrival of “the perfect,” which will supplant the partial, and then illustrate it with the child-to-adult analogy in verse 11.

v.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.

v.9This passage

v.10but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:2

    If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;

  • Colossians 2:2

    that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ,

  • Job 11:7

    Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

  • Proverbs 30:4

    Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou knowest?

  • Romans 11:34

    For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

  • 1 Peter 1:10

    Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

Sermon ideas from 1 Corinthians 13:9

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What 1 Corinthians 13:9 teaches us about christian love

  • What 1 Corinthians 13:9 teaches us about gifts in proportion

  • What 1 Corinthians 13:9 teaches us about permanence of love

  • What 1 Corinthians 13:9 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.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to 1 Corinthians 13:9.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary