Overview
The Necessity of Love (verses 1-3): Paul asserts that without love, all spiritual gifts and sacrifices are meaningless. Even if you speak in tongues or have prophetic powers, without love, you gain nothing.
Characteristics of Love (verses 4-7): In these verses, Paul defines what love is and what love is not. He describes it as patient, kind, not envious, not arrogant, and always persevering, among other attributes.
Eternal Nature of Love (verses 8-13): While spiritual gifts like prophecy and tongues will cease, love will never end. Paul concludes by stating that faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13 is often cited in discussions and sermons about the centrality of love in Christian faith. It shows us that love is not just a feeling but an action and a virtue that surpasses all others. The chapter ties beautifully into Paul's preceding and following thoughts on spiritual gifts and the church community.
Characteristics of Love (verses 4-7): In these verses, Paul defines what love is and what love is not. He describes it as patient, kind, not envious, not arrogant, and always persevering, among other attributes.
Eternal Nature of Love (verses 8-13): While spiritual gifts like prophecy and tongues will cease, love will never end. Paul concludes by stating that faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13 is often cited in discussions and sermons about the centrality of love in Christian faith. It shows us that love is not just a feeling but an action and a virtue that surpasses all others. The chapter ties beautifully into Paul's preceding and following thoughts on spiritual gifts and the church community.
1 Corinthians 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
🔑 Devotional
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
End of 1 Corinthians 13
1 Year Plan: Jul 24 - Est 10; Job 1, 1 Co 13 [next day]
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
🔑 Devotional
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
End of 1 Corinthians 13
1 Year Plan: Jul 24 - Est 10; Job 1, 1 Co 13 [next day]
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