Thematic Bible
1 Corinthians 13:1 (show verse)
If I have the ability to speak in the languages of human beings and angels [Note: Perhaps the idea is supernaturally and eloquently], but do not have love [for people], I have become [no more than] a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Brass » Articles made of » Trumpets
Brass » Characterized by » Sonorousness
Brotherly love » General references to
Chosen Instruments » Names of » cymbals
Cymbal » Of brass (bronze)
Graces » Christian
Love » Brotherly » General references to
Love » The test » To men
Love » Preeminent above » The gift of tongues
Love » The test » Of speech
Love to man » Supernatural gifts are nothing without
Miraculous gifts of the holy ghost » Might be possessed without saving grace
Music » Names of » cymbals
Music » Instruments of » Made of brass
Musical instruments » Names of » cymbals
Preeminence » Preeminent above » The gift of tongues
Brass » Characterized by » Sonorousness
Brotherly love » General references to
Chosen Instruments » Names of » cymbals
Cymbal » Of brass (bronze)
Graces » Christian
Love » Brotherly » General references to
Love » The test » To men
Love » Preeminent above » The gift of tongues
Love » The test » Of speech
Love to man » Supernatural gifts are nothing without
Miraculous gifts of the holy ghost » Might be possessed without saving grace
Music » Names of » cymbals
Music » Instruments of » Made of brass
Musical instruments » Names of » cymbals
Preeminence » Preeminent above » The gift of tongues
1 Corinthians 13:2 (show verse)
And if I have the [spiritual] gift of prophecy, and can understand all [of God's] secret purposes, and have all knowledge; and if I have all [the supernatural] faith necessary to relocate mountains [See Matt. 17:20], but do not have love [for people], I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3 (show verse)
And if I donate all my possessions to feed poor people, and if I surrender my body to be burned [Note: This probably refers to becoming a martyr, but some manuscripts read, "that I may be able to boast"], but do not have love [for people], it is no benefit to me.
Alms » Almsgiving, general advice concerning
Almsgiving » General advice concerning
Graces » Christian
Liberality » Unprofitable, without love
Love » Preeminent above » Benevolence and martyrdom
Love to man » The greatest sacrifices are nothing without
Philanthropy » General advice concerning
Preeminence » Preeminent above » Benevolence and martyrdom
Social duties » Almsgiving, general advice concerning
Suffering for righteousness' sake » Martyrdom » General references to
Vanity » Almsgiving without charity is
Vanity » Almsgiving without love is
Almsgiving » General advice concerning
Graces » Christian
Liberality » Unprofitable, without love
Love » Preeminent above » Benevolence and martyrdom
Love to man » The greatest sacrifices are nothing without
Philanthropy » General advice concerning
Preeminence » Preeminent above » Benevolence and martyrdom
Social duties » Almsgiving, general advice concerning
Suffering for righteousness' sake » Martyrdom » General references to
Vanity » Almsgiving without charity is
Vanity » Almsgiving without love is
1 Corinthians 13:4 (show verse)
[Note: The following traits should be understood in the context of love for people]. Love is patient [with people], and is kind [to them]; love does not envy [what people are or have]; love does not boast [of being superior to others], it is not arrogant [in dealing with people].
1 Corinthians 13:5 (show verse)
[Love] does not act improperly [toward people]; it does not insist on having its own way [at the expense of others]; it is not easily irritated [by others]; it does not keep track of the wrongs [done by others].
Behaviour » Behaviour, exhortations concerning
Charity » The attributes of charity
Charity » Explained
Christian conduct » Behaviour, exhortations concerning
fruit of the Spirit » Love
Graces » Christian
Love to man » Saints should » Be disinterested in
Love to man » Explained
Self-denial » Should be exercised in » Not seeking our own profit
Selfishness » Inconsistent with » Christian love
Charity » The attributes of charity
Charity » Explained
Christian conduct » Behaviour, exhortations concerning
fruit of the Spirit » Love
Graces » Christian
Love to man » Saints should » Be disinterested in
Love to man » Explained
Self-denial » Should be exercised in » Not seeking our own profit
Selfishness » Inconsistent with » Christian love
1 Corinthians 13:6 (show verse)
[Love] is not glad about the evil [that people do], but is glad about the truth [i.e., the good in their lives].
Charity » The attributes of charity
Charity » Explained
fruit of the Spirit » Love
Graces » Christian
Love to man » Explained
Rejoice » What to rejoice in
Rejoice » What not to rejoice in
Rejoicing » In tribulation, examples of » In evil forbidden
Truth » Saints should » Rejoice in
Truth » Rejoice in
Charity » Explained
fruit of the Spirit » Love
Graces » Christian
Love to man » Explained
Rejoice » What to rejoice in
Rejoice » What not to rejoice in
Rejoicing » In tribulation, examples of » In evil forbidden
Truth » Saints should » Rejoice in
Truth » Rejoice in
1 Corinthians 13:7 (show verse)
[Love] conceals all [people's] faults; it believes [the best about] all people; it hopes [for the best in] all people; it endures [ill treatment from] all people.
1 Corinthians 13:8 (show verse)
Love will never cease. But though there are [now supernatural gifts of] prophecies, [someday] they will be abolished [i.e., such gifts will cease to be exercised]. Though there are [now supernatural gifts of] languages, [someday] they will stop [i.e., such gifts will cease to be exercised]. Though there is [now the supernatural gift of] knowledge, [someday] it will be abolished [i.e., this gift will cease to be exercised].
Charity » The attributes of charity
failure » What does not fail
failure » What fails
fruit of the Spirit » Love
Graces » Christian
Knowledge » May become a hinderance instead of a help to men » Vanity of human
Knowledge » Danger of » Vanity of human
Love to man » Is an abiding principle
Miracles » Miraculous gifts of the holy spirit » Temporary nature of
Miraculous gifts of the holy ghost » Temporary nature of
Tongues (the gift) » The miraculous gift granted to some early Christians
the things that are Transient » Power » Knowledge
failure » What does not fail
failure » What fails
fruit of the Spirit » Love
Graces » Christian
Knowledge » May become a hinderance instead of a help to men » Vanity of human
Knowledge » Danger of » Vanity of human
Love to man » Is an abiding principle
Miracles » Miraculous gifts of the holy spirit » Temporary nature of
Miraculous gifts of the holy ghost » Temporary nature of
Tongues (the gift) » The miraculous gift granted to some early Christians
the things that are Transient » Power » Knowledge
1 Corinthians 13:9 (show verse)
For [now] we have partial knowledge and partial prophetic messages,
1 Corinthians 13:10 (show verse)
but when that which is complete comes [i.e., the full revelation of God's will, contained in the New Testament Scriptures], then the partial will be abolished [i.e., the supernatural gifts, which provided only part of the revealed will of God, will cease to be exercised].
1 Corinthians 13:11 (show verse)
When I was a child I spoke, thought and reasoned like a child. But now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. [Note: Paul uses an analogy to illustrate that the church made use of the supernatural gifts in its infancy, but that these would no longer be needed when it matured].
Charity » The attributes of charity
Children » Figurative
Immaturity » The time when you are immature
Knowledge » Now we know in part
Man » Intellect of, matured by age
Maturity » The time when you are mature
Maturity, spiritual » By putting away childish things
Spiritual » Maturity how secured » By putting away childish things
Children » Figurative
Immaturity » The time when you are immature
Knowledge » Now we know in part
Man » Intellect of, matured by age
Maturity » The time when you are mature
Maturity, spiritual » By putting away childish things
Spiritual » Maturity how secured » By putting away childish things
1 Corinthians 13:12 (show verse)
For now [i.e., during the church's infant state] we see in a mirror [Note: God's word is elsewhere likened to a mirror. See James 1:22-25] indistinctly [i.e., because of having only partial knowledge and prophecy], but then [i.e., when the church matures and has the completed Scriptures], we will see face to face [i.e., clearly]. Now I have [only] partial knowledge, but then I will have full knowledge, just as [God has] full knowledge of me.
Charity » The attributes of charity
Fuller revelation » In the future
Heavenly » Nature's praise » Vision
Immaturity » The time when you are immature
Knowledge » Withheld from man withheld » Earthly limitations fetter
Knowledge » Now we know in part
Maturity » The time when you are mature
Mirror » Figurative
Revelation » Fuller revelation » In the future
Vision » Earthly, a source of temptation » Heavenly vision, beholds the glory of things to come
Fuller revelation » In the future
Heavenly » Nature's praise » Vision
Immaturity » The time when you are immature
Knowledge » Withheld from man withheld » Earthly limitations fetter
Knowledge » Now we know in part
Maturity » The time when you are mature
Mirror » Figurative
Revelation » Fuller revelation » In the future
Vision » Earthly, a source of temptation » Heavenly vision, beholds the glory of things to come
1 Corinthians 13:13 (show verse)
But now [i.e., since the temporary gifts are to pass away], these three things remain: faith, hope and love; and the most important of them is love.
Charity » The attributes of charity
the Enduring » Those things that abide » The three graces
Graces » Christian
Hope » Spiritual » Abides forever
Hope » Connected with faith and love
Love » Preeminent above » The greatest gift of all
Love to man » Is an abiding principle
Preeminence » Preeminent above » The greatest gift of all
Spiritual » Hope » Abides forever
the Enduring » Those things that abide » The three graces
Graces » Christian
Hope » Spiritual » Abides forever
Hope » Connected with faith and love
Love » Preeminent above » The greatest gift of all
Love to man » Is an abiding principle
Preeminence » Preeminent above » The greatest gift of all
Spiritual » Hope » Abides forever