1 Corinthians 13

SUMMARY.--Christian Love Better than Miraculous Gifts. The Nature of Love and Its Action. All the Miraculous Gifts Shall Pass Away, but Love Endureth Forever. All Human Knowledge Imperfect, and Transient. But Faith, Hope, and Love Eternal. Of the Three, Love is Greatest.

      "This praise of love, almost a psalm on love it might be called, is as rich in its contents drawn from deep experience as in rhetorical truth, fullness and power, grace and simplicity."--Meyer.

      1-3. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels. In chapter 12 he has spoken of spiritual gifts, one of which was to speak with tongues. "A more excellent way" ( 12:31 ) is now to be shown. Hence, various spiritual gifts are taken up and shown to be useless and vain without love. If he spoke not only with the tongues of men, but even those of angels, it would be, without love (see Revision), an empty sound, like sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. The latter was a brazen basin, which was beaten. The sounds of these instruments would not be musical. 2. Though I have the gift of prophecy. Another and a high spiritual gift. See note on/Commentaries/PeoplesNewTestament/pnt.cgi?book=&chapter=000#_" And know all mysteries. Have supernatural wisdom so as to understand all the secrets of God. And all knowledge. See note on /Commentaries/PeoplesNewTestament/pnt.cgi?book=&chapter=000#_" Though I have all faith. See note on /Commentaries/PeoplesNewTestament/pnt.cgi?book=&chapter=000#_" The faith that imparts miraculous power, faith that could remove mountains. See Matt. 17:20 . It is clear that Paul knew of the utterance of Christ, since the test of the power of faith is the same. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. Though he exhibit what the world calls charity in the highest degree, unless he is filled with love, it is nothing. One might give his goods from a desire of praise. Though I give my body to be burned. Gives not only goods, but his body itself. If, like a Buddhist ascetic, he leaps into the flames to burn away the dross and to etherialize his spirit. These sacrifices are useless unless consecrated by love. All these things are excellencies if sanctified by the divine principle of love, but are profitless without it.

      4-7. The action of love is now described. Love suffereth long. Endures slights and wrongs patiently and long, and returns a kindly spirit. It is "slow to anger" ( Psalm 103:8 ). Christ, "when he was reviled, reviled not again" ( 1 Peter 2:23 ). "The fruit of the Spirit is long-suffering" ( Gal. 5:22 ). See also Romans 2:4 Romans 2:2 and 2 Cor. 6:6 . Love envieth not. How miserable is that envy which is made unhappy by the good fortune of another. Cain is an example. Love excludes it. A mother does not envy her child. Vaunteth not itself. Does not ostentatiously boast of superiority, nor is it inflated. 5. Does not behave itself unseemly. Discourteously and in a way to shock good manners or morals. Seeketh not her own. Is unselfish and disinterested. See Rom. 12:10 . Is not provoked. Does not fly into a rage, but keeps the temper under control. Thinketh no evil. The idea of the Revision is that love does not keep a record of evil rendered so as to return it. 6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity. Instead of rejoicing, is filled with sadness by wrong doing of any kind, but does rejoice with the truth in its triumphs. 7. Beareth all things. Bears up in spite of all things evil, and is not overcome. This is the idea of "beareth." Love bears up against the tide of evil, as the rock against the waves. Believeth all things. Is not distrustful and suspicious. Hopeth all things. Is hopeful instead of despondent, and hopes for the best. How hard for the loving mother to give up hope for her recreant son! Endureth all things. Endures patiently persecution and suffering. The cardinal quality of fortitude, hardihood, unyielding persistence is meant.