Overview
Paul's declaration in 1 Corinthians 13 establishes love (agape) as the essential mark of Christian maturity, surpassing all other spiritual gifts. This love is not sentimentality but costly commitment to God and others. The passage reveals that without love, even miraculous faith and sacrificial giving are spiritually worthless. Love's patient, kind, and humble character contrasts sharply with pride, envy, and self-seeking, reflecting Christ's own sacrifice and redemptive work.
Key Scriptures
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant" (1 Corinthians 13:4, ESV). "Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away" (1 Corinthians 13:8, ESV). "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13, ESV). "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus" (Isaiah 35:1, ESV).
Application
Examine your daily interactions to ensure they reflect Christ's love through patience, kindness, and truthfulness rather than pride or self-interest.
✦ Scripture References 40 references
1 Corinthians 13:1
1 Corinthians 13:2
1 Corinthians 13:3
1 Corinthians 13:4
1 Corinthians 13:5
1 Corinthians 13:6
1 Corinthians 13:7
1 Corinthians 13:8
1 Corinthians 13:9
1 Corinthians 13:10
1 Corinthians 13:11
1 Corinthians 13:12
1 Corinthians 13:13
Isaiah 35:1
Isaiah 35:2
Isaiah 35:3
Isaiah 35:4
Isaiah 35:5
Isaiah 35:6
Isaiah 35:7
Isaiah 35:8
Isaiah 35:9
Isaiah 35:10
Psalms 23:1
Psalms 23:2
Psalms 23:3
Psalms 23:4
Psalms 23:5
Psalms 23:6
2 Samuel 18:19
2 Samuel 18:20
2 Samuel 18:21
2 Samuel 18:22
2 Samuel 18:23
2 Samuel 18:24
2 Samuel 18:25
2 Samuel 18:26
2 Samuel 18:27
2 Samuel 18:28
2 Samuel 18:29
✦ Topical Scripture Breakdown 796 verses
Charity
1 Corinthians 13:1
1 Corinthians 13:2
1 Corinthians 13:3
1 Corinthians 13:4
1 Corinthians 13:5
1 Corinthians 13:6
1 Corinthians 13:7
1 Corinthians 13:8
1 Corinthians 13:9
1 Corinthians 13:10
1 Corinthians 13:11
1 Corinthians 13:12
1 Corinthians 13:13
Christ's kingdom foreshadowed
Isaiah 35:1
Isaiah 35:2
Isaiah 35:3
Isaiah 35:4
Isaiah 35:5
Isaiah 35:6
Isaiah 35:7
Isaiah 35:8
Isaiah 35:9
Isaiah 35:10
Confidence in God
David's lament over Absalom
2 Samuel 18:19
2 Samuel 18:20
2 Samuel 18:21
2 Samuel 18:22
2 Samuel 18:23
2 Samuel 18:24
2 Samuel 18:25
2 Samuel 18:26
2 Samuel 18:27
2 Samuel 18:28
2 Samuel 18:29
2 Samuel 18:30
2 Samuel 18:31
2 Samuel 18:32
2 Samuel 18:33
Elijah's miraculous preservation
1 Kings 17:1
1 Kings 17:2
1 Kings 17:3
1 Kings 17:4
1 Kings 17:5
1 Kings 17:6
1 Kings 17:7
1 Kings 17:8
1 Kings 17:9
1 Kings 17:10
1 Kings 17:11
1 Kings 17:12
1 Kings 17:13
1 Kings 17:14
1 Kings 17:15
1 Kings 17:16
Elisha and the widow's oil
Esther's triumph
Esther 4:1
Esther 4:2
Esther 4:3
Esther 4:4
Esther 4:5
Esther 4:6
Esther 4:7
Esther 4:8
Esther 4:9
Esther 4:10
Esther 4:11
Esther 4:12
Esther 4:13
Esther 4:14
Esther 4:15
Esther 4:16
Esther 4:17
Esther 7:1
Esther 7:2
Esther 7:3
Esther 7:4
Esther 7:5
Esther 7:6
Esther 7:7
Esther 7:8
Esther 7:9
Esther 7:10
God our refuge
Psalms 46:1
Psalms 46:2
Psalms 46:3
Psalms 46:4
Psalms 46:5
Psalms 46:6
Psalms 46:7
Psalms 46:8
Psalms 46:9
Psalms 46:10
Psalms 46:11
God's providence
Matthew 6:26
Matthew 6:27
Matthew 6:28
Matthew 6:29
Matthew 6:30
Matthew 6:31
Matthew 6:32
Matthew 6:33
Matthew 6:34
In captivity
Psalms 137:1
Psalms 137:2
Psalms 137:3
Psalms 137:4
Psalms 137:5
Psalms 137:6
Psalms 137:7
Psalms 137:8
Psalms 137:9
Joseph revealing his identity
Genesis 45:1
Genesis 45:2
Genesis 45:3
Genesis 45:4
Genesis 45:5
Genesis 45:6
Genesis 45:7
Genesis 45:8
Genesis 45:9
Genesis 45:10
Genesis 45:11
Genesis 45:12
Genesis 45:13
Genesis 45:14
Genesis 45:15
Judah's defense
Genesis 44:18
Genesis 44:19
Genesis 44:20
Genesis 44:21
Genesis 44:22
Genesis 44:23
Genesis 44:24
Genesis 44:25
Genesis 44:26
Genesis 44:27
Genesis 44:28
Genesis 44:29
Genesis 44:30
Genesis 44:31
Genesis 44:32
Genesis 44:33
Genesis 44:34
Lights and shadows
Ruth 1:1
Ruth 1:2
Ruth 1:3
Ruth 1:4
Ruth 1:5
Ruth 1:6
Ruth 1:7
Ruth 1:8
Ruth 1:9
Ruth 1:10
Ruth 1:11
Ruth 1:12
Ruth 1:13
Ruth 1:14
Ruth 1:15
Ruth 1:16
Ruth 1:17
Ruth 1:18
Ruth 1:19
Ruth 1:20
Ruth 1:21
Ruth 1:22
Man in extremity
Psalms 18:1
Psalms 18:2
Psalms 18:3
Psalms 18:4
Psalms 18:5
Psalms 18:6
Psalms 18:7
Psalms 18:8
Psalms 18:9
Psalms 18:10
Psalms 18:11
Psalms 18:12
Psalms 18:13
Psalms 18:14
Psalms 18:15
Psalms 18:16
Psalms 18:17
Psalms 18:18
Psalms 18:19
Man in nature
Mary's Magnificat
Luke 1:46
Luke 1:47
Luke 1:48
Luke 1:49
Luke 1:50
Luke 1:51
Luke 1:52
Luke 1:53
Luke 1:54
Luke 1:55
Luke 1:56
Naaman the leper
2 Kings 5:1
2 Kings 5:2
2 Kings 5:3
2 Kings 5:4
2 Kings 5:5
2 Kings 5:6
2 Kings 5:7
2 Kings 5:8
2 Kings 5:9
2 Kings 5:10
2 Kings 5:11
2 Kings 5:12
2 Kings 5:13
2 Kings 5:14
Nature's testimony
Job 28:1
Job 28:2
Job 28:3
Job 28:4
Job 28:5
Job 28:6
Job 28:7
Job 28:8
Job 28:9
Job 28:10
Job 28:11
Job 28:12
Job 28:13
Job 28:14
Job 28:15
Job 28:16
Job 28:17
Job 28:18
Job 28:19
Job 28:20
Job 28:21
Job 28:22
Job 28:23
Job 28:24
Job 28:25
Job 28:26
Job 28:27
Job 28:28
Old age
Ecclesiastes 12:1
Ecclesiastes 12:2
Ecclesiastes 12:3
Ecclesiastes 12:4
Ecclesiastes 12:5
Ecclesiastes 12:6
Ecclesiastes 12:7
Paul and Silas in prison
Acts 16:16
Acts 16:17
Acts 16:18
Acts 16:19
Acts 16:20
Acts 16:21
Acts 16:22
Acts 16:23
Acts 16:24
Acts 16:25
Acts 16:26
Acts 16:27
Acts 16:28
Acts 16:29
Acts 16:30
Acts 16:31
Acts 16:32
Acts 16:33
Acts 16:34
Acts 16:35
Acts 16:36
Acts 16:37
Acts 16:38
Acts 16:39
Acts 16:40
Paul before Agrippa
Acts 26:1
Acts 26:2
Acts 26:3
Acts 26:4
Acts 26:5
Acts 26:6
Acts 26:7
Acts 26:8
Acts 26:9
Acts 26:10
Acts 26:11
Acts 26:12
Acts 26:13
Acts 26:14
Acts 26:15
Acts 26:16
Acts 26:17
Acts 26:18
Acts 26:19
Acts 26:20
Acts 26:21
Acts 26:22
Acts 26:23
Acts 26:24
Acts 26:25
Acts 26:26
Acts 26:27
Acts 26:28
Acts 26:29
Acts 26:30
Acts 26:31
Acts 26:32
Paul before Felix
Acts 24:1
Acts 24:2
Acts 24:3
Acts 24:4
Acts 24:5
Acts 24:6
Acts 24:7
Acts 24:8
Acts 24:9
Acts 24:10
Acts 24:11
Acts 24:12
Acts 24:13
Acts 24:14
Acts 24:15
Acts 24:16
Acts 24:17
Acts 24:18
Acts 24:19
Acts 24:20
Acts 24:21
Acts 24:22
Acts 24:23
Acts 24:24
Acts 24:25
Acts 24:26
Acts 24:27
Paul on Mars' hill
Acts 17:22
Acts 17:23
Acts 17:24
Acts 17:25
Acts 17:26
Acts 17:27
Acts 17:28
Acts 17:29
Acts 17:30
Acts 17:31
Peter at Pentecost
Acts 2:1
Acts 2:2
Acts 2:3
Acts 2:4
Acts 2:5
Acts 2:6
Acts 2:7
Acts 2:8
Acts 2:9
Acts 2:10
Acts 2:11
Acts 2:12
Acts 2:13
Acts 2:14
Acts 2:15
Acts 2:16
Acts 2:17
Acts 2:18
Acts 2:19
Acts 2:20
Acts 2:21
Acts 2:22
Acts 2:23
Acts 2:24
Acts 2:25
Acts 2:26
Acts 2:27
Acts 2:28
Acts 2:29
Acts 2:30
Acts 2:31
Acts 2:32
Acts 2:33
Acts 2:34
Acts 2:35
Acts 2:36
Song of Moses when Pharaoh and his army were overthrown
Exodus 15:1
Exodus 15:2
Exodus 15:3
Exodus 15:4
Exodus 15:5
Exodus 15:6
Exodus 15:7
Exodus 15:8
Exodus 15:9
Exodus 15:10
Exodus 15:11
Exodus 15:12
Exodus 15:13
Exodus 15:14
Exodus 15:15
Exodus 15:16
Exodus 15:17
Exodus 15:18
Exodus 15:19
Stephen's defense
Acts 7:1
Acts 7:2
Acts 7:3
Acts 7:4
Acts 7:5
Acts 7:6
Acts 7:7
Acts 7:8
Acts 7:9
Acts 7:10
Acts 7:11
Acts 7:12
Acts 7:13
Acts 7:14
Acts 7:15
Acts 7:16
Acts 7:17
Acts 7:18
Acts 7:19
Acts 7:20
Acts 7:21
Acts 7:22
Acts 7:23
Acts 7:24
Acts 7:25
Acts 7:26
Acts 7:27
Acts 7:28
Acts 7:29
Acts 7:30
Acts 7:31
Acts 7:32
Acts 7:33
Acts 7:34
Acts 7:35
Acts 7:36
Acts 7:37
Acts 7:38
Acts 7:39
Acts 7:40
Acts 7:41
Acts 7:42
Acts 7:43
Acts 7:44
Acts 7:45
Acts 7:46
Acts 7:47
Acts 7:48
Acts 7:49
Acts 7:50
The beatitudes
Matthew 5:1
Matthew 5:2
Matthew 5:3
Matthew 5:4
Matthew 5:5
Matthew 5:6
Matthew 5:7
Matthew 5:8
Matthew 5:9
Matthew 5:10
Matthew 5:11
Matthew 5:12
Matthew 5:13
Matthew 5:14
Matthew 5:15
Matthew 5:16
The betrayal
Luke 22:47
Luke 22:48
Luke 22:49
Luke 22:50
Luke 22:51
Luke 22:52
Luke 22:53
Luke 22:54
Luke 22:55
Luke 22:56
Luke 22:57
Luke 22:58
Luke 22:59
Luke 22:60
Luke 22:61
Luke 22:62
The brevity of life
The deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh
Exodus 14:5
Exodus 14:6
Exodus 14:7
Exodus 14:8
Exodus 14:9
Exodus 14:10
Exodus 14:11
Exodus 14:12
Exodus 14:13
Exodus 14:14
Exodus 14:15
Exodus 14:16
Exodus 14:17
Exodus 14:18
Exodus 14:19
Exodus 14:20
Exodus 14:21
Exodus 14:22
Exodus 14:23
Exodus 14:24
Exodus 14:25
Exodus 14:26
Exodus 14:27
Exodus 14:28
Exodus 14:29
Exodus 14:30
The glory of God
Psalms 29:1
Psalms 29:2
Psalms 29:3
Psalms 29:4
Psalms 29:5
Psalms 29:6
Psalms 29:7
Psalms 29:8
Psalms 29:9
Psalms 29:10
Psalms 29:11
The good Samaritan
Luke 10:25
Luke 10:26
Luke 10:27
Luke 10:28
Luke 10:29
Luke 10:30
Luke 10:31
Luke 10:32
Luke 10:33
Luke 10:34
Luke 10:35
Luke 10:36
Luke 10:37
The joy of the righteous
Psalms 84:1
Psalms 84:2
Psalms 84:3
Psalms 84:4
Psalms 84:5
Psalms 84:6
Psalms 84:7
Psalms 84:8
Psalms 84:9
Psalms 84:10
Psalms 84:11
Psalms 84:12
The King of glory
Psalms 24:1
Psalms 24:2
Psalms 24:3
Psalms 24:4
Psalms 24:5
Psalms 24:6
Psalms 24:7
Psalms 24:8
Psalms 24:9
Psalms 24:10
The majesty of God
Habakkuk 3:3
Habakkuk 3:4
Habakkuk 3:5
Habakkuk 3:6
Habakkuk 3:7
Habakkuk 3:8
Habakkuk 3:9
Habakkuk 3:10
Habakkuk 3:11
Habakkuk 3:12
Habakkuk 3:13
Psalms 77:13
Psalms 77:14
Psalms 77:15
Psalms 77:16
Psalms 77:17
Psalms 77:18
Psalms 77:19
Psalms 77:20
The new heaven and the new earth
Revelation 21:1
Revelation 21:2
Revelation 21:3
Revelation 21:4
Revelation 21:5
Revelation 21:6
Revelation 21:7
Revelation 21:8
Revelation 21:9
Revelation 21:10
Revelation 21:11
Revelation 21:12
Revelation 21:13
Revelation 21:14
Revelation 21:15
Revelation 21:16
Revelation 21:17
Revelation 21:18
Revelation 21:19
Revelation 21:20
Revelation 21:21
Revelation 21:22
Revelation 21:23
Revelation 21:24
Revelation 21:25
Revelation 21:26
Revelation 21:27
The new song
Psalms 98:1
Psalms 98:2
Psalms 98:3
Psalms 98:4
Psalms 98:5
Psalms 98:6
Psalms 98:7
Psalms 98:8
Psalms 98:9
The omnipotence and incomparableness of God
Isaiah 40:1
Isaiah 40:2
Isaiah 40:3
Isaiah 40:4
Isaiah 40:5
Isaiah 40:6
Isaiah 40:7
Isaiah 40:8
Isaiah 40:9
Isaiah 40:10
Isaiah 40:11
Isaiah 40:12
Isaiah 40:13
Isaiah 40:14
Isaiah 40:15
Isaiah 40:16
Isaiah 40:17
Isaiah 40:18
Isaiah 40:19
Isaiah 40:20
Isaiah 40:21
Isaiah 40:22
Isaiah 40:23
Isaiah 40:24
Isaiah 40:25
Isaiah 40:26
Isaiah 40:27
Isaiah 40:28
Isaiah 40:29
Isaiah 40:30
Isaiah 40:31
The prodigal son
Luke 15:11
Luke 15:12
Luke 15:13
Luke 15:14
Luke 15:15
Luke 15:16
Luke 15:17
Luke 15:18
Luke 15:19
Luke 15:20
Luke 15:21
Luke 15:22
Luke 15:23
Luke 15:24
Luke 15:25
Luke 15:26
Luke 15:27
Luke 15:28
Luke 15:29
Luke 15:30
Luke 15:31
Luke 15:32
The prophetic blessing of Zacharias
Luke 1:67
Luke 1:68
Luke 1:69
Luke 1:70
Luke 1:71
Luke 1:72
Luke 1:73
Luke 1:74
Luke 1:75
Luke 1:76
Luke 1:77
Luke 1:78
Luke 1:79
Luke 1:80
The raising of Lazarus
John 11:1
John 11:2
John 11:3
John 11:18
John 11:19
John 11:20
John 11:21
John 11:22
John 11:23
John 11:24
John 11:25
John 11:26
John 11:27
John 11:28
John 11:29
John 11:30
John 11:31
John 11:32
John 11:33
John 11:34
John 11:35
John 11:36
John 11:37
John 11:38
John 11:39
John 11:40
John 11:41
John 11:42
John 11:43
John 11:44
John 11:45
John 11:46
The resurrection
Luke 24:1
Luke 24:2
Luke 24:3
Luke 24:4
Luke 24:5
Luke 24:6
Luke 24:7
Luke 24:8
Luke 24:9
Luke 24:10
Luke 24:11
Luke 24:12
The righteous and the wicked in contrast
The river of life
Revelation 22:1
Revelation 22:2
Revelation 22:3
Revelation 22:4
Revelation 22:5
Revelation 22:6
Revelation 22:7
Revelation 22:8
Revelation 22:9
Revelation 22:10
Revelation 22:11
Revelation 22:12
Revelation 22:13
Revelation 22:14
Revelation 22:15
Revelation 22:16
Revelation 22:17
Revelation 22:18
Revelation 22:19
Revelation 22:20
Revelation 22:21
The triumphant king
Psalms 2:1
Psalms 2:2
Psalms 2:3
Psalms 2:4
Psalms 2:5
Psalms 2:6
Psalms 2:7
Psalms 2:8
Psalms 2:9
Psalms 2:10
Psalms 2:11
Psalms 2:12
The wrath of God
Wise and foolish builders