1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 13 is the Bible's love chapter, written by the apostle Paul. It says that gifts, knowledge and sacrifice are worth nothing without love (the KJV calls it charity), describes what love does and does not do, and ends: "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
1 Corinthians 13 (KJV)
Without charity, I am nothing v. 1-3
1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2And 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.
3And 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.
What charity is and does v. 4-7
4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth v. 8-12
8Charity 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.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11When 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.
12For 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.
Faith, hope, charity: the greatest of these v. 13
13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
What 1 Corinthians 13 means
Paul begins with the gifts the Corinthians prized most. Speaking with the tongues of men and of angels, prophecy, knowledge, mountain-moving faith, giving away everything, even giving one's body to be burned: without charity, he says, the result is noise, nothing, and no profit. Love is not one gift among many. It is what makes any gift worth having.
Verses 4-7 describe charity by what it does. It "suffereth long, and is kind"; it does not envy, boast or puff itself up. It does not behave rudely, seek its own way, or get easily provoked, and it thinketh no evil, which is to say it does not plot or assume the worst. It takes no joy in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. Verse 7 ends the list with four alls: it beareth, believeth, hopeth and endureth all things.
Verses 8-12 compare what lasts with what does not. Prophecies, tongues and knowledge are partial and will pass away when that which is perfect is come. Paul uses two pictures: a child growing into a man and putting away childish things, and seeing through a glass, darkly (a dim ancient mirror) compared with seeing face to face.
Verse 13 sums it up. Three things abide: faith, hope and charity. Of the three, charity is the greatest.
Background and context
The letter names its writer: Paul, called to be an apostle, together with Sosthenes (1 Corinthians 1:1). He wrote to the church at Corinth, a young church that was divided and proud of its spiritual gifts.
Chapter 13 sits between two chapters about those gifts. Chapter 12 ends with Paul promising to show them "a more excellent way," and chapter 14 begins, "Follow after charity." So the love chapter is first of all a correction to a church using its gifts to compete.
Why charity? The Greek word is agape. The KJV translators often rendered it love but chose charity here, a word that in 1611 meant self-giving love, not just giving to the poor. Most modern translations use love.
Key verses
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Corinthians 13:4 · KJV
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.
1 Corinthians 13:8 · KJV
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13 · KJV
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 12:31 Paul introduces the chapter: "yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
- 1 Corinthians 14:1 The very next line: "Follow after charity."Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
- John 13:34-35 Jesus' new commandment that his disciples love one another.A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
- 1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
- Romans 13:10 Love is the fulfilling of the law.Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
- Colossians 3:14 Above all, put on charity, the bond of perfectness.And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
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Common questions
Why does the KJV say charity instead of love?
The Greek word is agape. In 1611 the English word charity meant selfless love toward God and others, and the translators used it here. Most modern versions say love.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians 13?
The apostle Paul, who names himself as the writer at the start of the letter (1 Corinthians 1:1). He wrote to the church at Corinth.
Is 1 Corinthians 13 only about marriage?
No. It is read at many weddings, but Paul wrote it to a church about how believers treat each other and use their gifts. It describes love in every relationship.
What does 'through a glass, darkly' mean?
A glass here means a mirror. Ancient mirrors were polished metal and gave a dim image, so Paul is saying we know God only partly now, but will one day see face to face.
What is the greatest of faith, hope and charity?
Verse 13 answers it directly: "the greatest of these is charity."
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