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1 Corinthians 13

BSB·13 verses ·New Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1IfἘὰνEan — conditional particle; if, whether, in case thatG1437 — Full Word Study → I speakλαλῶlalō — to speak, say, or utter wordsG2980 — Full Word Study → in theταῖςtais — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → tonguesγλώσσαιςglōssais — tongue; language; speechG1100 — Full Word Study → of menἀνθρώπωνanthrōpōn — human being, man, personG444 — Full Word Study → andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → of angelsἀγγέλωνangelōn — Messenger; divine or heavenly envoyG32 — Full Word Study →, butδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study → haveἔχωechō — To have, hold, or possessG2192 — Full Word Study → notμὴmē — Not; negation; lestG3361 — Full Word Study → loveἀγάπηνagapēn — Self-giving love; covenant affectionG26 — Full Word Study →, I amγέγοναgegona — to become, come into being, happenG1096 — Full Word Study → only a ringing gongχαλκὸςchalkos — Copper, bronze, or moneyG5475 — Full Word Study → orē — Or; either...or; conjunction expressing alternativesG2228 — Full Word Study → a clanging cymbalκύμβαλονkymbalon — a percussion instrument with a ringing soundG2950 — Full Word Study →. 2Ifἐὰνean — conditional particle; if, whether, in case thatG1437 — Full Word Study → I haveἔχωechō — To have, hold, or possessG2192 — Full Word Study → the gift of prophecyπροφητείανprophēteian — Divine utterance or prophetic declarationG4394 — Full Word Study → andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → can fathomεἰδῶeidō — to see, perceive, understand, knowG1492 — Full Word Study → allπάνταpanta — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study → mysteriesμυστήριαmystēria — A hidden or revealed secretG3466 — Full Word Study → andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → allπᾶσανpasan — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study → knowledgeγνῶσινgnōsin — Knowledge, understanding, recognitionG1108 — Full Word Study →, andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → ifἐὰνean — conditional particle; if, whether, in case thatG1437 — Full Word Study → I haveἔχωechō — To have, hold, or possessG2192 — Full Word Study → absoluteπᾶσανpasan — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study → faithπίστινpistin — Trust, belief, confidence in GodG4102 — Full Word Study → so asὥστεhōste — so that, with the result that, thereforeG5620 — Full Word Study → to moveμεθιστάναιmethistanai — to move, transfer, or remove from one place to anotherG3179 — Full Word Study → mountainsὄρηorē — a high hill or mountainG3735 — Full Word Study →, butδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study → haveἔχωechō — To have, hold, or possessG2192 — Full Word Study → notμὴmē — Not; negation; lestG3361 — Full Word Study → loveἀγάπηνagapēn — Self-giving love; covenant affectionG26 — Full Word Study →, I amεἰμιeimi — to exist, to be, am/is/areG1510 — Full Word Study → nothingοὐθένouthen — no one, nothing, none at allG3762 — Full Word Study →. 3Ifἐὰνean — conditional particle; if, whether, in case thatG1437 — Full Word Study → I giveψωμίσωpsōmisō — to feed; to give food toG5595 — Full Word Study → allπάνταpanta — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study → Iμουmou — I, me; the first-person singular pronounG1473 — Full Word Study → possess to the poor andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → exult[καυχήσωμαι]kauchēsōmai — to boast, glory, or take pride in somethingG2744 — Full Word Study → in the surrenderπαραδῶparadō — to hand over; to deliver up; to betrayG3860 — Full Word Study → of myμουmou — I, me; the first-person singular pronounG1473 — Full Word Study → bodyσῶμάsōma — Physical body; corporeal formG4983 — Full Word Study →, butδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study → haveἔχωechō — To have, hold, or possessG2192 — Full Word Study → notμὴmē — Not; negation; lestG3361 — Full Word Study → loveἀγάπηνagapēn — Self-giving love; covenant affectionG26 — Full Word Study →, I gainὠφελοῦμαιōpheloumai — to help, benefit, or profitG5623 — Full Word Study → nothingοὐδὲνouden — no one, nothing, none at allG3762 — Full Word Study →. 4Loveἀγάπηagapē — Self-giving love; covenant affectionG26 — Full Word Study → is patientμακροθυμεῖmakrothymei — to endure with patience; to bear longG3114 — Full Word Study →, loveἀγάπηagapē — Self-giving love; covenant affectionG26 — Full Word Study → is kindχρηστεύεταιchrēsteuetai — to show kindness; to be kind or graciousG5541 — Full Word Study →. It does not envyζηλοῖzēloi — to be zealous, earnestly desire, envyG2206 — Full Word Study →, it does not boastπερπερεύεταιperpereuetai — to boast arrogantly; to brag excessivelyG4068 — Full Word Study →, it is not proudφυσιοῦταιphysioutai — to puff up, inflate with prideG5448 — Full Word Study →. 5It is not rudeἀσχημονεῖaschēmonei — to behave improperly or act shamefullyG807 — Full Word Study →, it is not self-seekingζητεῖzētei — to seek, search for, desire, requireG2212 — Full Word Study →, it is not easily angeredπαροξύνεταιparoxynetai — to provoke to anger; to irritate or exasperateG3947 — Full Word Study →, it keeps no accountλογίζεταιlogizetai — to reckon, count, or consider as trueG3049 — Full Word Study → of wrongsκακόνkakon — evil, wicked, bad, morally corruptG2556 — Full Word Study →. 6Love takes no pleasure inἐπὶepi — upon, on, over, againstG1909 — Full Word Study → evilἀδικίᾳadikia — Unrighteousness, injustice, moral wrongdoingG93 — Full Word Study →, butδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study → rejoicesσυνχαίρειsynchairei — to rejoice together with, share joyG4796 — Full Word Study → in theτῇtē — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → truthἀληθείᾳalētheia — Truth; reality; authenticityG225 — Full Word Study →. 7It bearsστέγειstegei — to bear with, endure, or tolerateG4722 — Full Word Study → all thingsπάνταpanta — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study →, believesπιστεύειpisteuei — to believe, trust, have faith inG4100 — Full Word Study → all thingsπάνταpanta — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study →, hopesἐλπίζειelpizei — To hope for, expect, or trust inG1679 — Full Word Study → all thingsπάνταpanta — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study →, enduresὑπομένειhypomenei — To endure, persist, or remain under pressureG5278 — Full Word Study → all thingsπάνταpanta — all, every, the whole ofG3956 — Full Word Study →. 8Loveἀγάπηagapē — Self-giving love; covenant affectionG26 — Full Word Study → neverοὐδέποτεoudepote — Never; at no time; not everG3763 — Full Word Study → failsπίπτειpiptei — to fall, collapse, or fall downG4098 — Full Word Study →. Butδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study → whereεἴτεeite — whether; if; or (disjunctive conjunction)G1535 — Full Word Study → there are prophecies, they will ceaseκαταργηθήσονταιkatargēthēsontai — to abolish, nullify, or render ineffectiveG2673 — Full Word Study →; whereεἴτεeite — whether; if; or (disjunctive conjunction)G1535 — Full Word Study → there are tongues, they will be restrainedπαύσονταιpausontai — to cease, stop, or refrain fromG3973 — Full Word Study →; whereεἴτεeite — whether; if; or (disjunctive conjunction)G1535 — Full Word Study → there is knowledge, it will be dismissedκαταργηθήσεταιkatargēthēsetai — to abolish, nullify, or render ineffectiveG2673 — Full Word Study →. 9Forγὰρgar — for, because, since (causal/explanatory conjunction)G1063 — Full Word Study → we knowγινώσκομενginōskomen — To know, understand, or perceiveG1097 — Full Word Study → inἐκek — out from, out of, from withinG1537 — Full Word Study → partμέρουςmerous — a part, portion, or share of a wholeG3313 — Full Word Study → andκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → we prophesyπροφητεύομενprophēteuomen — to speak forth a divine message; to prophesyG4395 — Full Word Study → inἐκek — out from, out of, from withinG1537 — Full Word Study → partμέρουςmerous — a part, portion, or share of a wholeG3313 — Full Word Study →, 10butδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study → whenὅτανhotan — whenever, at the time when, as soon asG3752 — Full Word Study → theτὸto — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → perfectτέλειονteleion — Complete, mature, fully developedG5046 — Full Word Study → comesἔλθῃelthē — to come, go, arrive, or appearG2064 — Full Word Study →, theτὸto — Definite article: the, this, thatG3588 — Full Word Study → partialμέρουςmerous — a part, portion, or share of a wholeG3313 — Full Word Study → passes awayκαταργηθήσεταιkatargēthēsetai — to abolish, nullify, or render ineffectiveG2673 — Full Word Study →. 11WhenὍτεHote — when, at the time thatG3753 — Full Word Study → I wasἤμηνēmēn — to exist, to be, am/is/areG1510 — Full Word Study → a childνήπιοςnēpios — infant, small child, or one who is spiritually immatureG3516 — Full Word Study →, I talkedἐλάλουνelaloun — to speak, say, or utter wordsG2980 — Full Word Study → likeὡςhōs — as, like, when, in the manner thatG5613 — Full Word Study → a childνήπιοςnēpios — infant, small child, or one who is spiritually immatureG3516 — Full Word Study →, I thoughtἐφρόνουνephronoun — To think, set one's mind on, regardG5426 — Full Word Study → likeὡςhōs — as, like, when, in the manner thatG5613 — Full Word Study → a childνήπιοςnēpios — infant, small child, or one who is spiritually immatureG3516 — Full Word Study →, I reasonedἐλογιζόμηνelogizomēn — to reckon, count, or consider as trueG3049 — Full Word Study → likeὡςhōs — as, like, when, in the manner thatG5613 — Full Word Study → a childνήπιοςnēpios — infant, small child, or one who is spiritually immatureG3516 — Full Word Study →. Whenὅτεhote — when, at the time thatG3753 — Full Word Study → I becameγέγοναgegona — to become, come into being, happenG1096 — Full Word Study → a manἀνήρanēr — Adult male, man, or husbandG435 — Full Word Study →, I set asideκατήργηκαkatērgēka — to abolish, nullify, or render ineffectiveG2673 — Full Word Study → childish waysνηπίουnēpiou — infant, small child, or one who is spiritually immatureG3516 — Full Word Study →. 12Nowἄρτιarti — now, at this present momentG737 — Full Word Study → we seeβλέπομενblepomen — to see, look at, perceive, bewareG991 — Full Word Study → but a dim reflectionαἰνίγματιainigmati — riddle, dark saying, enigmaG135 — Full Word Study → as inδι’di’ — through; by means of; because ofG1223 — Full Word Study → a mirrorἐσόπτρουesoptrou — mirror; reflective surfaceG2072 — Full Word Study →; then we shall see faceπρόσωπονprosōpon — Face, presence, or outward appearanceG4383 — Full Word Study → toπρὸςpros — toward, to, with, in relation toG4314 — Full Word Study → faceπρόσωπονprosōpon — Face, presence, or outward appearanceG4383 — Full Word Study →. Nowἄρτιarti — now, at this present momentG737 — Full Word Study → I knowγινώσκωginōskō — To know, understand, or perceiveG1097 — Full Word Study → inἐκek — out from, out of, from withinG1537 — Full Word Study → partμέρουςmerous — a part, portion, or share of a wholeG3313 — Full Word Study →; thenτότεtote — at that time, then, thereuponG5119 — Full Word Study → I shall know fullyἐπιγνώσομαιepignōsomai — to come to know, recognize, perceive fullyG1921 — Full Word Study →, evenκαὶkai — and; also; even; bothG2532 — Full Word Study → asκαθὼςkathōs — just as; in the manner that; according toG2531 — Full Word Study → I am fully knownἐπεγνώσθηνepegnōsthēn — to come to know, recognize, perceive fullyG1921 — Full Word Study →. 13Andδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study → nowΝυνὶNyni — now, at the present time, at this momentG3570 — Full Word Study → theseταῦταtauta — This one; he, she, it; that person or thingG3778 — Full Word Study → threeτρίαtria — The number threeG5140 — Full Word Study → remainμένειmenei — to remain, stay, abide, endureG3306 — Full Word Study →: faithπίστιςpistis — Trust, belief, confidence in GodG4102 — Full Word Study →, hopeἐλπίςelpis — confident expectation; hope; trust in God's promisesG1680 — Full Word Study →, and love; butδὲde — thenG1161 — Full Word Study → the greatest of these is loveἀγάπηagapē — Self-giving love; covenant affectionG26 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — 1 Corinthians 13
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

First Corinthians 13 is perhaps the most beloved passage in Scripture on the nature of Christian love. Paul interrupts his discussion of spiritual gifts (chapters 12 and 14) to remind the Corinthian church that all spiritual abilities—no matter how impressive or supernatural—are worthless without love. This chapter defines love not as a feeling but as a character quality and sacrificial commitment to others' wellbeing. It stands as a timeless portrait of what genuine Christian maturity looks like and why love must always be the foundation and motivation of all our service to God.

Verses 1–3: Love as the Essential Foundation

Paul begins with three powerful hypotheticals. If someone possesses extraordinary gifts—eloquence in human and angelic languages, prophecy, knowledge of all mysteries, faith to move mountains, generosity that impoverishes themselves—yet lacks love (Greek: agapē, sacrificial, covenant love), they become "as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal" (verse 1). They are merely noise. Verses 2–3 intensify this: such a person is nothing and their works profit them nothing.

The pastoral point is clear: spiritual giftedness is not the same as spiritual maturity. A Corinthian believer might speak in tongues or prophesy with accuracy, but if their motivation and character lack love, their ministry is hollow. This was the core problem in Corinth—pride in gifts rather than humility in service.

Application: We must examine our own service. Do we serve for recognition, or from genuine love for Christ and His people?

Verses 4–7: The Character of Love Defined

Here Paul provides fifteen descriptive statements that paint love's true nature. Love is active and patient ("suffereth long," verse 4), genuinely kind, and free from envy and boastfulness. It is not arrogant ("puffed up," verse 4), does not behave rudely, does not insist on its own way (verse 5), and is not easily angered or suspicious (verse 5). Positively, love "rejoiceth in the truth" (verse 6), never delighting in wrong but always defending what is right.

Verse 7 captures love's remarkable resilience: it bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. Love does not give up on people. This patient, other-centered love reflects the character of Christ Himself and should characterize His church.

Application: Measure your relationships—with family, church members, and neighbors—against this standard. Where do you need the Holy Spirit's transformation?

Verses 8–12: Love's Permanence Versus Temporal Gifts

Paul now contrasts love with the spiritual gifts mentioned in chapter 12. Prophecies will cease, tongues will stop, and knowledge will vanish away (verse 8), because these gifts are partial and temporary (verse 9). When "that which is perfect is come" (verse 10)—referring to either the completion of Scripture or Christ's return—the partial will be superseded. Just as an adult no longer needs childhood speech and understanding (verse 11), the church will no longer need these provisional gifts.

Verses 11–12 use vivid imagery: currently "we see through a glass, darkly" and "know in part," but then we shall see "face to face." Our knowledge now is fragmentary; then it will be complete. This perspective humbles us and elevates love: only love is eternal. Only love will remain when all other gifts fade away.

Application: Fix your hope not on spiritual experiences but on eternal realities. Pursue love as your highest calling.

Verse 13: Love's Supremacy

Paul concludes by identifying the three great virtues: faith, hope, and charity (love). All three abide, but love is the greatest. Why? Because faith and hope will be fulfilled and completed in glory, but love—the very essence of God's nature—is eternal. In heaven, we will not need faith (we shall see), nor hope (we shall possess), but we will love forever.

Application for Today

This chapter calls evangelical churches back to our heart: love must govern all we do. Seek spiritual gifts, yes, but never let giftedness eclipse character. Ask yourself: Am I becoming more loving, more patient, more humble, more others-focused? Does my service flow from genuine affection for Christ and His people? As we grow in love, we grow in true spiritual maturity.

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