Paul continues addressing the Corinthian church in the midst of its confusion about spiritual gifts, status, maturity, and public worship. The church is gifted, but its gifts are being distorted by pride, rivalry, impatience, and self-regard.
Text Size
1 Corinthians 13
The More Excellent Way of Love
Love is the indispensable mark of true Christian maturity, the necessary atmosphere for every spiritual gift, and the enduring virtue that outlasts all partial manifestations in the present age.
Reading a chapter
What this page is: Each chapter page shows the big idea, the argument flow, key original-language terms, doctrine connections, and passage units, all in one place.
How to use it: Start with the Overview tab to get the chapter's main point. Then move to Passages to study individual units, or Language to trace key terms.
Going deeper: The Doctrines and Motifs tabs show how this chapter connects to the broader biblical story.
Chapter Summary
Love is the indispensable mark of true Christian maturity, the necessary atmosphere for every spiritual gift, and the enduring virtue that outlasts all partial manifestations in the present age.
Overview
Paul begins by dismantling every Corinthian temptation to rank spirituality by gifted impressiveness. He selects some of the most prized and dramatic expressions imaginable, eloquent tongues, prophetic power, deep knowledge, miracle-like faith, lavish generosity, and even extreme self-sacrifice, and declares them worthless without love. The point is devastating: what appears spiritually impressive may be spiritually empty if love is absent.
Paul then turns from negation to definition, describing love not as sentimentality, but as a pattern of holy, relational action. Love is patient under strain, kind in posture, and free from envy, boastfulness, arrogance, and rudeness. It does not insist on its own way, is not easily provoked, does not keep a ledger of wrongs, and does not delight in unrighteousness.
Instead, love rejoices with the truth and persists through burden, trust, hope, and endurance. Paul is therefore not describing mere emotional warmth, but the moral shape of life under the gospel. Finally, He explains why love is supreme. Gifts such as prophecy, tongues, and knowledge belong to the church’s present partial state. They are real and good, but they are temporary.
The church currently knows in part and sees dimly, like a reflected image in a mirror. But when the perfect or complete comes, the partial will pass away. Paul illustrates this with the movement from childhood to maturity and from indirect sight to face-to-face encounter. Love, however, does not belong merely to the provisional age. It abides. Faith, hope, and love remain as central virtues of Christian existence, but love is the greatest because it is the very atmosphere of God-like life and the enduring relational fulfillment toward which the gifts were always pointing.
The chapter therefore argues that love is not an optional supplement to giftedness. It is the indispensable essence of Christian maturity and the criterion by which all church life must be judged.
Context
Love is the indispensable mark of true Christian maturity, the necessary atmosphere for every spiritual gift, and the enduring virtue that outlasts all partial manifestations in the present age.
Paul continues addressing the Corinthian church in the midst of its confusion about spiritual gifts, status, maturity, and public worship. The church is gifted, but its gifts are being distorted by pride, rivalry, impatience, and self-regard.
Structural Flow
Paul states that the most impressive gifts and sacrifices, including tongues, prophecy, knowledge, mountain-moving faith, radical generosity, and martyr-like surrender, are nothing without love.
Paul defines love through a series of relational descriptions. Love is patient and kind, rejects envy, boasting, arrogance, rudeness, self-seeking, irritability, and resentment, and delights not in evil but in truth. Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.
Paul contrasts the permanence of love with the partial and temporary nature of gifts such as prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. Present knowing is partial, but future consummation will bring fuller sight. Faith, hope, and love remain, and the greatest of these is love.
Chapter Outline
- 13:1-3: Paul states that the most impressive gifts and sacrifices, including tongues, prophecy, knowledge, mountain-moving faith, radical generosity, and martyr-like surrender, are nothing without love.
- 13:4-7: Paul defines love through a series of relational descriptions. Love is patient and kind, rejects envy, boasting, arrogance, rudeness, self-seeking, irritability, and resentment, and delights not in evil but in truth. Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things.
- 13:8-13: Paul contrasts the permanence of love with the partial and temporary nature of gifts such as prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. Present knowing is partial, but future consummation will bring fuller sight. Faith, hope, and love remain, and the greatest of these is love.
Theological Focus
- The emptiness of giftedness without love
- The superiority of love over spectacular manifestations
- Love as the true measure of spiritual maturity
- Love as relational holiness rather than vague sentiment
- The moral texture of patience, kindness, humility, and endurance
- The rejection of envy, pride, self-seeking, and resentment
- Love’s delight in truth rather than evil
- The temporary nature of gifts in the present age
- The partial nature of present knowledge
- The future consummation that will eclipse partial gifts
- The enduring nature of faith, hope, and love
- The supremacy of love among abiding Christian virtues
- Sanctification
- Ecclesiology
- Spiritual gifts
- Eschatology
- Christology
- Virtue theology
Covenant Significance
Love is presented as the covenantal atmosphere in which the people of God are meant to live. It is the fitting expression of a redeemed community formed by God’s grace, and without it even covenant activities and gifted service lose their true meaning.
Canonical Connections
Love is presented as the covenantal atmosphere in which the people of God are meant to live. It is the fitting expression of a redeemed community formed by God’s grace, and without it even covenant activities and gifted service lose their true meaning.
Leviticus 19:18
Numbers 12:8
Proverbs 10:12
John 13:34-35
Galatians 5:22-23
Colossians 3:12-14
1 John 4:7-12
1 Corinthians 12:31
1 Corinthians 14:1
Cross References
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and...
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our...
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in...
Shows Old Testament grounding that frames or supports this passage.
“ ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
Shows Old Testament grounding that frames or supports this passage.
He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Shows Old Testament grounding that frames or supports this passage.
With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and he shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?”
Shows Old Testament grounding that frames or supports this passage.
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
Shows Old Testament grounding that frames or supports this passage.
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove...
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove...
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices...
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when...
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ...
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
Gospel Clarity
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
Gospel Cross References
Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.
Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and...
By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our...
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in...
Primary Emphasis
Though Christ is not named in every verse, the chapter is profoundly christological in shape. The pattern of love Paul describes reflects the self-giving, patient, truthful, enduring love of Christ Himself. The church’s gifts only make sense when exercised in conformity to the cruciform character of its Lord.
Chapter Contribution
Paul begins by dismantling every Corinthian temptation to rank spirituality by gifted impressiveness. He selects some of the most prized and dramatic expressions imaginable, eloquent tongues, prophetic power, deep knowledge, miracle-like faith, lavish generosity, and even extreme self-sacrifice, and declares them worthless without love. The point is devastating: what appears spiritually impressive may be spiritually empty if love is absent.
Paul then turns from negation to definition, describing love not as sentimentality, but as a pattern of holy, relational action. Love is patient under strain, kind in posture, and free from envy, boastfulness, arrogance, and rudeness. It does not insist on its own way, is not easily provoked, does not keep a ledger of wrongs, and does not delight in unrighteousness.
Instead, love rejoices with the truth and persists through burden, trust, hope, and endurance. Paul is therefore not describing mere emotional warmth, but the moral shape of life under the gospel. Finally, He explains why love is supreme. Gifts such as prophecy, tongues, and knowledge belong to the church’s present partial state. They are real and good, but they are temporary.
The church currently knows in part and sees dimly, like a reflected image in a mirror. But when the perfect or complete comes, the partial will pass away. Paul illustrates this with the movement from childhood to maturity and from indirect sight to face-to-face encounter. Love, however, does not belong merely to the provisional age. It abides. Faith, hope, and love remain as central virtues of Christian existence, but love is the greatest because it is the very atmosphere of God-like life and the enduring relational fulfillment toward which the gifts were always pointing.
The chapter therefore argues that love is not an optional supplement to giftedness. It is the indispensable essence of Christian maturity and the criterion by which all church life must be judged.
Doctrines in This Chapter
Love is the defining virtue of the Christian life and reflects the character of God revealed in Christ.
The health of the church depends on members relating to one another with Christlike love.
The present age of partial knowledge will give way to the fullness of understanding in the future presence of God.
The gospel reshapes relationships so that believers live with humility, patience, and truth.
Believers look forward to a future in which they will know God fully and experience perfected fellowship with Him.
Christian service flows from the redeeming love of God revealed through Jesus Christ.
Believers grow in Christlikeness as the Spirit forms attitudes and actions shaped by love.
Spiritual gifts serve the church during the present age but are not permanent features of the eternal kingdom.
Doctrinal Weight
The chapter defines the ethical and relational texture of maturity in Christ, showing that true holiness is inseparable from love.
Love is the indispensable atmosphere of body-life and the proper context for every spiritual gift in the church.
Paul places gifts in their proper perspective by showing both their value and their temporary, partial character when compared to love.
The chapter contrasts the church’s present partial state with the future fullness of face-to-face knowing.
The portrait of love is deeply shaped by the character of Christ, even when not stated in explicit doctrinal formulas.
Faith, hope, and love are presented as abiding Christian virtues, with love as the greatest.
Key Greek Terms
Sense love, covenantal self-giving love, active goodwill seeking another’s good
Definition love
Why it matters This term governs the entire chapter. Paul is not treating love as an accessory but as the very essence of mature Christian existence.
Individual words χρυσὸν μηδὲ ἄργυρον μηδὲ χαλκὸν chryson mēde argyron mēde chalkon · χαλκὸς ἠχῶν chalkos ēchōn
Sense resounding brass, noisy metallic sound without substance
Definition resounding gong
Why it matters This phrase exposes the difference between impressiveness and substance. Noise is not the same as edification.
Sense clanging cymbal, loud crashing noise, shrill public sound
Definition clanging cymbal
Why it matters This phrase warns the church against confusing public effect with genuine spiritual worth.
Sense mysteries, divine truths once hidden and now revealed
Definition mysteries
Why it matters This term humbles theologians and teachers. Insight alone is not maturity.
Sense knowledge, understanding, perception, doctrinal awareness
Definition knowledge
Why it matters This term ties chapter 13 back to earlier Corinthian arrogance about knowledge. Love remains the higher way.
Sense faith, trust, believing confidence, fidelity
Definition faith
Why it matters This term shows that even real spiritual potency does not substitute for loving character.
Sense to feed in morsels, distribute food, give away provisions
Definition give away
Why it matters This term warns against assuming that external sacrifice automatically proves inward charity.
Sense to be patient, long-suffering, endure offense without retaliation
Definition is patient
Why it matters This term is profoundly pastoral. Love is tested not first in intensity, but in patience.
Sense to show kindness, act benevolently, be useful in goodness
Definition is kind
Why it matters This term shows that biblical love does things. It does not simply refrain from harm.
Sense to envy, be jealous, burn with rivalry or possessive desire
Definition does not envy
Why it matters This term directly confronts rivalry in gifted, status-conscious churches.
Sense to boast, parade oneself, behave as a braggart
Definition does not boast
Why it matters This rare verb is perfectly suited to Corinth’s vanity. Love is not self-promotional.
Sense to be puffed up, inflated with pride, become arrogant
Definition is not arrogant
Why it matters This term shows the continuity of the letter. Love is the antidote to being puffed up.
Sense to behave disgracefully, act unbecomingly, violate propriety
Definition does not behave rudely
Why it matters This term is highly practical. Love is seen in basic relational decency and honor.
Sense to seek, pursue, strive after
Definition does not seek its own
Why it matters This term cuts to the heart of the chapter. Love overturns self-centeredness.
Sense to become irritated, provoked, sharply stirred up
Definition is not irritable
Why it matters This term is especially helpful pastorally in conflict settings. Love resists quick provocation.
Sense to reckon, calculate, count, keep account
Definition does not keep record
Why it matters This term confronts resentment and relational bookkeeping, a common destroyer of church life.
Sense to rejoice with, delight together in
Definition rejoices with
Why it matters This term shows that love is not morally indifferent. It has a theological joy.
Sense truth, reality, what is in accord with God’s revelation
Definition truth
Why it matters This term prevents false oppositions between love and doctrine.
Sense to bear, endure, cover, hold up under pressure
Definition bears
Why it matters This term shows that love is strong, not fragile sentiment.
Sense to believe, trust, place confidence in
Definition believes
Why it matters This term does not teach gullibility, but a charitable stance shaped by hope and faith.
Sense to hope, expect, look forward with confidence
Definition hopes
Why it matters This term shows that love does not easily give up on what God may yet do.
Sense to endure, remain under, persevere steadfastly
Definition endures
Why it matters This term completes the portrait of love as durable covenant faithfulness.
Sense to fall, collapse, fail, come to ruin
Definition fails
Why it matters This term introduces the contrast between what is temporary and what abides.
Sense to abolish, render inoperative, bring to an end
Definition will pass away / be abolished
Why it matters This term highlights the provisional role of gifts in contrast to the permanence of love.
Individual words ἀστράπτουσα ἐκ τῆς ὑπ’ οὐρανὸν ... λάμπει astraptousa ek tēs hyp' ouranon ... lampeī · τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ θήσει to meros autou thēsei
Sense in part, partially, fragmentarily
Definition in part
Why it matters This phrase cultivates humility. The church’s present grasp, however real, remains incomplete.
Sense perfect, complete, mature, brought to fullness
Definition the perfect / the complete
Why it matters This term points the church forward to consummation rather than inward to self-satisfaction.
Individual words τὸ πρόσωπον ἐστήρισεν to prosōpon estērisen · ἐβέβλητο πρὸς τὸν πυλῶνα αὐτοῦ ebeblēto pros ton pylōna autou
Sense face to face, direct encounter rather than mediated reflection
Definition face to face
Why it matters This phrase marks the eschatological horizon of the chapter and explains why present gifts are temporary.
Sense to remain, abide, continue enduringly
Definition remain
Why it matters This term gathers the chapter into a vision of abiding realities, with love supreme among them.
Sense greater, larger, more significant
Definition greatest
Why it matters This term seals the chapter’s hierarchy. Love stands above all Corinthian pretensions and all merely partial manifestations.
Lexicon data: MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML (CC0) · Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0) · Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon (CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible Data (CC BY 4.0) · Full details
Verb Aspect (47 main verbs)
completed 1ongoing 22prospective 6resultant 1subjunctive 10background 3infinitive 1participle 3
| v.1 | λαλῶlaléōspeakpresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentἔχωéchōhavepresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentἠχῶνēchéōnoisypresent active participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting actionἀλαλάζονclangingpresent active participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting action |
| v.2 | ἔχωéchōhavepresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentεἰδῶeídōunderstandperfect active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentἔχωéchōhavepresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentμεθιστάναιmethístēmiremovepresent active infinitiveinfinitiveInfinitive — verbal noun or complementary verbἔχωéchōhavepresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingent |
| v.3 | ψωμίσωpsōmízōgive awayaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentὑπάρχοντάhypárchontapossessionspresent active participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting actionπαραδῶparadídōmihand overaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentκαυθήσομαιkaíōI would be burnedfuture passive indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised actionἔχωéchōhavepresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentὠφελοῦμαιōpheléōgainpresent passive indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.4 | μακροθυμεῖmakrothyméōpatientpresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthχρηστεύεταιchrēsteúomaikindpresent middle indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthζηλοῖzēlóōenvypresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthπερπερεύεταιperpereúomaiboastpresent middle indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthφυσιοῦταιphysióōarrogantpresent passive indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.5 | ἀσχημονεῖrudepresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthζητεῖzētéōseekpresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthπαροξύνεταιparoxýnōprovokedpresent passive indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthλογίζεταιlogízomaikeep a record ofpresent middle indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.6 | χαίρειchaírōrejoicepresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthσυγχαίρειsynchaírōrejoices withpresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.7 | στέγειstégōbearspresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthπιστεύειpisteúōbelievespresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthἐλπίζειelpízōhopespresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthὑπομένειhypoménōendurespresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.8 | πίπτειpíptōendspresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthκαταργηθήσονταιkatargéōcome to an endfuture passive indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised actionπαύσονταιpaúōceasefuture middle indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised actionκαταργηθήσεταιkatargéōpass awayfuture passive indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised action |
| v.9 | γινώσκομενginṓskōknowpresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthπροφητεύομενprophēteúōprophesypresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.10 | ἔλθῃérchomaicomesaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentκαταργηθήσεταιkatargéōcome to an endfuture passive indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised action |
| v.11 | ἐλάλουνlaléōspokeimperfect active indicativebackgroundImperfect indicative — continuous or repeated past actionἐφρόνουνphronéōthoughtimperfect active indicativebackgroundImperfect indicative — continuous or repeated past actionἐλογιζόμηνlogízomaireasonedimperfect middle indicativebackgroundImperfect indicative — continuous or repeated past actionκατήργηκαkatargéōput an end toperfect active indicativeresultantPerfect indicative — completed action with present result |
| v.12 | βλέπομενseepresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthγινώσκωginṓskōknowpresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthἐπιγνώσομαιepiginṓskōknow fullyfuture middle indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised actionἐπεγνώσθηνepiginṓskōfully knownaorist passive indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed action |
| v.13 | μένειménōabidepresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
Verb forms indicate aspect — not interpretive weight. Consult context before drawing conclusions about emphasis.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain
Warnings and Misreadings
- Paul warns that giftedness, insight, generosity, and even sacrificial acts can amount to nothing before God if love is absent. The chapter exposes the terrifying possibility of impressive ministry without real spiritual substance.
- This chapter is mainly about romance or private affection. - Paul is addressing church life, spiritual gifts, and communal maturity. The chapter certainly applies broadly, but its primary setting is the life of the gathered and gifted church.
- Love replaces the need for truth, discernment, or doctrine. - Paul explicitly says that love rejoices with the truth. Love does not suspend truth but delights in it.
- Because love is supreme, spiritual gifts are unimportant or bad. - Paul does not denigrate gifts. He relativizes them by showing they are temporary and must be governed by love.
- The chapter teaches that emotions alone define love. - Paul describes love mainly in terms of durable, ethical, relational conduct, not fleeting feelings.
- The 'perfect' has already come in the present through complete doctrine or maturity, so gifts have fully ceased by definition here. - Paul’s emphasis is on the contrast between the present partial state and the future face-to-face fullness. The chapter’s horizon is eschatological consummation.
- If I perform great sacrifice, that automatically proves my love is genuine. - Paul says even radical sacrifice may be spiritually empty without love. Outward intensity is not identical to inward charity.
Discipleship Questions
- Do I secretly measure maturity by platform, eloquence, insight, or visibility more than by love?
- In my relationships, am I marked by patience and kindness, or by irritation and self-assertion?
- Do I envy the gifts or opportunities of others?
- Do I keep records of wrongs and quietly nourish resentment?
- Do I delight more in being right or in rejoicing with the truth in a loving way?
- Are my acts of service truly governed by love, or by the desire to be seen, useful, or impressive?
- What temporary things am I overvaluing right now that will one day pass away?
- Would those closest to me say that love is the clearest mark of my life?
Pastoral Applications
- Churches must teach that gifts without love become distortions. A gifted church without love is not mature, but disordered.
- This chapter is a necessary diagnostic in settings of rivalry, impatience, offense, and self-importance. Love refuses to weaponize gifts, truth, or influence.
- Leaders should not be assessed merely by visibility, ability, productivity, or charisma. Love must be a central criterion of trustworthy ministry.
- Paul’s descriptions of love provide concrete categories for counseling anger, insecurity, pride, resentment, comparison, and relational breakdown.
- Congregations should cultivate an atmosphere where patience, kindness, humility, and shared endurance are normal expectations, not rare exceptions.
- Believers should learn to hold present experiences, insights, and manifestations with humility because all present knowing is partial and temporary.
Pastoral Trajectories
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
Imperatives
Very high
Imperative Themes
- The chapter functions primarily by revelatory description, moral exposure, and reorientation rather than direct commands
Motifs in This Chapter
The Biblical World
Chapter At A Glance
Love is presented as the covenantal atmosphere in which the people of God are meant to live. It is the fitting expression of a redeemed community formed by God’s grace, and without it even covenant activities and gifted service lose their true meaning.
The gospel shapes this chapter by setting forth a love that is self-giving, truthful, humble, and enduring. The kind of love Paul describes is not natural human sentiment at its best, but the moral fruit of life transformed by the crucified and risen Christ. The supremacy of love reflects the cross-shaped life of the gospel itself.
Focus Points
- The emptiness of giftedness without love
- The superiority of love over spectacular manifestations
- Love as the true measure of spiritual maturity
- Love as relational holiness rather than vague sentiment
- The moral texture of patience, kindness, humility, and endurance
- The rejection of envy, pride, self-seeking, and resentment
- Love’s delight in truth rather than evil
- The temporary nature of gifts in the present age
- The partial nature of present knowledge
- The future consummation that will eclipse partial gifts
- The enduring nature of faith, hope, and love
- The supremacy of love among abiding Christian virtues
- Sanctification
- Ecclesiology
- Spiritual gifts
- Eschatology
- Christology
- Virtue theology
Explore Further
Cross References
“ ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of Your people; but You shall love Your neighbor as Yourself. I am Yahweh.
Old Testament foundation
With Him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and He shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were You not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?”
Old Testament foundation
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
Old Testament foundation
Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
Gospel resolution
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
Gospel resolution
A new commandment I give to You, that You love one another. Just as I have loved You, You also love one another. By this everyone will know that You are my disciples, if You have love for one another.”
Thematic parallel
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Thematic parallel
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave You, so You also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
Thematic parallel
Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
Thematic parallel
But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to You.
Thematic parallel
Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that You may prophesy.
Thematic parallel
Passages
Chapter opening: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
With the tongues (ταις γλωσσαις). Instrumental case. Mentioned first because really least and because the Corinthians put undue emphasis on this gift. Plato ( Symposium , 197) and many others have written on love, but Paul has here surpassed them all in this marvellous prose-poem. It comes like a sweet bell right between the jangling noise of the gifts in chapters 12 and 14.
It is a pity to dissect this gem or to pull to pieces this fragrant rose, petal by petal. Fortunately Paul's language here calls for little comment, for it is the language of the heart. "The greatest, strongest, deepest thing Paul ever wrote" (Harnack). The condition (εαν and present subjunctive, λαλω κα μη εχω, though the form is identical with present indicative) is of the third class, a supposable case.
But have not love (αγαπην δε μη εχω). This is the crux of the chapter. Love is the way par excellence of 12:31 . It is not yet clearly certain that αγαπη (a back-formation from αγαπαω) occurs before the LXX and the N. T. Plutarch used αγαπησις. Deissmann ( Bible Studies , p. 198) once suspected it on an inscription in Pisidia. It is still possible that it occurs in the papyri (Prayer to Isis).
See Light from the Ancient East , p. 75 for details. The rarity of αγαπη made it easier for Christians to use this word for Christian love as opposed to ερως (sexual love). See also Moffatt's Love in the N. T. (1930) for further data. The word is rare in the Gospels, but common in Paul, John, Peter, Jude. Paul does not limit αγαπη at all (both toward God and man).
Charity (Latin caritas ) is wholly inadequate. "Intellect was worshipped in Greece, and power in Rome; but where did St. Paul learn the surpassing beauty of love?" (Robertson and Plummer). Whether Paul had ever seen Jesus in the flesh, he knows him in the spirit. One can substitute Jesus for love all through this panegyric. I am become (γεγονα). Second perfect indicative in the conclusion rather than the usual future indicative.
It is put vividly, "I am already become." Sounding brass (χαλχος ηχων). Old words. Brass was the earliest metal that men learned to use. Our word echoing is ηχων, present active participle. Used in Lu 21:25 of the roaring of the sea. Only two examples in N. T. Clanging cymbal (κυμβαλον αλαλαζον). Cymbal old word, a hollow basin of brass. Αλαλαζω, old onomatopoetic word to ring loudly, in lament ( Mr 5:38 ), for any cause as here.
Only two N. T. examples.
The ecstatic gifts (verse 1 ) are worthless. Equally so are the teaching gifts (prophecy, knowledge of mysteries, all knowledge). Crasis here in καν=κα εαν. Paul is not condemning these great gifts. He simply places love above them and essential to them. Equally futile is wonder-faith "so as to remove mountains" (ωστε ορη μεθιστανειν) without love. This may have been a proverb or Paul may have known the words of Jesus ( Mt 17:20 ; 21:21 ).
I am nothing (ουθεν ειμ). Not ουθεις, nobody, but an absolute zero. This form in θ rather than δ (ουδεν) had a vogue for a while (Robertson, Grammar , p. 219).
Bestow to feed (Ψωμισω). First aorist active subjunctive of ψωμιζω, to feed, to nourish, from ψωμος, morsel or bit, and so to feed, by putting a morsel into the mouth like infant (or bird). Old word, but only here in N. T. To be burned (ινα καυθησωμα). First future passive subjunctive (Textus Receptus), but D καυθησομα (future passive indicative of καιω, old word to burn).
There were even some who courted martyrdom in later years (time of Diocletian). This Byzantine future subjunctive does not occur in the old MSS. (Robertson, Grammar , p. 876). Aleph A B here read καυχησωμα, first aorist middle subjunctive of καυχαομα (so Westcott and Hort), "that I may glory." This is correct. It profiteth me nothing (ουδεν ωφελουμα). Literally, I am helped nothing.
Ουδεν in the accusative case retained with passive verb. See two accusatives with ωφελεω in 14:6 . Verb is old and from οφελος (profit).
Verses 4-7 picture the character or conduct of love in marvellous rhapsody. Suffereth long (μακροθυμε). Late Koine word (Plutarch) from μακρος, long, θυμος, passion, ardour. Cf. Jas 5:7 f . Is kind (χρηστευετα). From χρηστος (useful, gracious, kind) and that from χραομα, to use. Not found elsewhere save in Clement of Rome and Eusebius. "Perhaps of Paul's coining" (Findlay).
Perhaps a vernacular word ready for Paul. Gentle in behaviour. Envieth not (ου ζηλο). Present active indicative of ζηλοω (contraction οει=ο, same as subjunctive and optative forms). Bad sense of ζηλος from ζεω, to boil, good sense in 12:31 . Love is neither jealous nor envious (both ideas). Vaunteth not itself (ου περπερευετα). From περπερος, vainglorious, braggart (Polybius, Epictetus) like Latin perperus .
Only here in N. T. and earliest known example. It means play the braggart. Marcus Anton. V. 5 uses it with αρεσκευομα, to play the toady. Is not puffed up (ου φυσιουτα). Present direct middle indicative of φυσιοω from φυσις (late form for φυσαω, φυσιαω from φυσα, bellows), to puff oneself out like a pair of bellows. This form in Herodas and Menander. Is not arrogant.
See on 4:6 .
Doth not behave itself unseemly (ουκ ασχημονε). Old verb from ασχημων ( 12:23 ). In N. T. only here and 7:36 . Not indecent. Seeketh not its own (ου ζητε τα εαυτης). Its own interests ( 10:24 , 33 ). Is not provoked (ου παροξυνετα). Old word. In N. T. only here and Ac 17:16 which see. Irritation or sharpness of spirit. And yet Paul felt it in Athens (exasperation) and he and Barnabas had παροξυσμος (paroxysm) in Antioch ( 15:39 ).
See good sense of παροξυσμος in Heb 10:24 . Taketh not account of evil (ου λογιζετα το κακον). Old verb from λογος, to count up, to take account of as in a ledger or note-book, "the evil" (το κακον) done to love with a view to settling the account.
Rejoiceth not in unrighteousness (ου χαιρε). See Ro 1:32 for this depth of degradation. There are people as low as that whose real joy is in the triumph of evil. But rejoiceth with the truth (συνχαιρε δε τη αληθεια). Associative instrumental case after συν- in composition. Truth personified as opposed to unrighteousness ( 2Th 2:12 ; Ro 2:8 ). Love is on the side of the angels. Paul returns here to the positive side of the picture (verse 4 ) after the remarkable negatives.
Beareth all things (παντα στεγε). Στεγω is old verb from στεγη, roof, already in 1Co 9:12 ; 1Th 3:1 , 5 which see. Love covers, protects, forbears ( suffert , Vulgate). See 1Pe 4:8 "because love covers a multitude of sins" (οτ αγαπη καλυπτε φηθος αμαρτιων), throws a veil over. Believeth all things (παντα πιστευε). Not gullible, but has faith in men. Hopeth all things (παντα ελπιζε).
Sees the bright side of things. Does not despair. Ενδυρεθ αλλ θινγς (παντα υπομενε). Perseveres. Carries on like a stout-hearted soldier. If one knows Sir Joshua Reynolds's beautiful painting of the Seven Virtues (the four cardinal virtues of the Stoics--temperance, prudence, fortitude, justice--and the three Christian graces--faith, hope, love), he will find them all exemplified here as marks of love (the queen of them all).
Love never faileth (Hη αγαπη ουδεποτε πιπτε). New turn for the perpetuity of love. Πιπτε correct text, not εκπιπτε, as in Lu 16:17 . Love survives everything. They shall be done away (καταργηθησοντα). First future passive of καταργεω. Rare in old Greek, to make idle (αργος), inoperative. All these special spiritual gifts will pass. It is amazing how little of human work lasts.
They shall cease (παυσοντα). Future middle indicative of παυω, to make cease. They shall make themselves cease or automatically cease of themselves.
In part (εκ μερους). See on 12:27 . As opposed to the whole.
That which is perfect (το τελειον). The perfect, the full-grown (τελος, end), the mature. See on 2:6 . Hοταν ελθη is second aorist subjunctive with οταν, temporal clause for indefinite future time.
A child (νηπιος). See on 3:1 for νηπιος in contrast with τελειος (adult). I spake (ελαλουν). Imperfect active, I used to talk. I felt (εφρονουν). Imperfect active, I used to think. Better, I used to understand. I thought (ελογιζομην). Imperfect middle, I used to reason or calculate. Now that I am become (οτε γεγονα). Perfect active indicative γεγονα, I have become a man (ανηρ) and remain so ( Eph 4:14 ). I have put away (κατηργηκα). Perfect active indicative. I have made inoperative (verse 8 ) for good.
In a mirror (δι' εσοπτρου). By means of a mirror (εσοπτρον, from οπτω, old word, in papyri). Ancient mirrors were of polished metal, not glass, those in Corinth being famous. Darkly (εν αινιγματ). Literally, in an enigma. Old word from αινισσομα, to express obscurely. This is true of all ancient mirrors. Here only in N. T. , but often in LXX. "To see a friend's face in a cheap mirror would be very different from looking at the friend" (Robertson and Plummer).
Face to face (προσωπον προς προσωπον). Note triple use of προς which means facing one as in Joh 1:1 . Προσωπον is old word from προς and οπς, eye, face. Shall I know (επιγνωσομα). I shall fully (επι-) know. Future middle indicative as γινωσκω (I know) is present active and επεγνωσθην (I was fully known) is first aorist passive (all three voices).
Abideth (μενε). Singular, agreeing in number with πιστις (faith), first in list. The greatest of these (μειζων τουτων). Predicative adjective and so no article. The form of μειζων is comparative, but it is used as superlative, for the superlative form μεγιστος had become rare in the Koine (Robertson, Grammar , pp. 667ff.) See this idiom in Mt 11:11 ; 18:1 ; 23:11 .
The other gifts pass away, but these abide forever. Love is necessary for both faith and hope. Does not love keep on growing? It is quite worth while to call attention to Henry Drummond's famous sermon The Greatest Thing in the World and to Dr. J. D. Jones's able book The Greatest of These . Greatest, Dr. Jones holds, because love is an attribute of God.