1 Corinthians 13

The Excellence of Love

1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not #I.e. a profound thoughtfulness and unselfish concern for other believers regardless of their circumstances or station in life.love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. 2And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. 3If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body #Early mss read so that I may boast, i.e. as a martyr.to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.

4Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

8Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete]. 10But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. 13And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.

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1 Corinthians 13

Love: The Superior Way

1If I speak human or angelic languages

but do not have love, # Jn 13:35; 1Jn 4:7-12

I am a sounding gong # Mt 10:9 or a clanging cymbal.

2If I have the gift of prophecy # 1Co 14:1,3-6,22-39; Eph 4:11; 1Th 5:20

and understand all mysteries

and all knowledge,

and if I have all faith

so that I can move mountains # Mt 17:20

but do not have love, I am nothing.

3And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor,

and if I give my body in order to boast # Other mss read body to be burned

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, # 1Th 5:14 love is kind.

Love does not envy, # Nm 25:13; Gl 4:17

is not boastful, is not conceited, # 1Co 4:6

5does not act improperly,

is not selfish, # Mk 10:45; Php 2:4 is not provoked, # Ac 17:16

and does not keep a record of wrongs.

6Love finds no joy in unrighteousness

but rejoices in the truth. # Ps 119:142; Jn 8:14; 14:6

7It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures # Jms 1:12 all things.

8Love never ends. # Mt 7:25,27; Lk 6:49; 11:17; 13:4; 16:17; Ac 15:16; Heb 11:30; Rv 11:13; 16:19

But as for prophecies,

they will come to an end;

as for languages, they will cease;

as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

9For we know in part,

and we prophesy in part.

10But when the perfect comes,

the partial will come to an end.

11When I was a child,

I spoke like a child,

I thought like a child,

I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man,

I put aside childish things.

12For now we see indistinctly, # Or indirectly as in a mirror, # Ancient mirrors were normally made out of polished metals and were not as clear as modern ones.

but then face to face. # 1Jn 3:2

Now I know in part,

but then I will know fully, # Pr 2:6; Jn 17:3; 1Jn 4:8

as I am fully known. # 1Co 8:3; Gl 4:9

13Now these three remain:

faith, hope, # 1Th 1:3 and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

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