1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
2And though I have prophecies, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so as to move mountains, and do not have charity, I am nothing.
3And though I give out all my goods to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, I am profited nothing.
4Charity has patience, is kind; charity is not envious, is not vain, is not puffed up;
5does not behave indecently, does not seek her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil.
6Charity does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth,
7quietly covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Charity never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be abolished; if tongues, they shall cease; if knowledge, it will be abolished.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when the perfect thing comes, then that which is in part will be caused to cease.
11When I was an infant, I spoke as an infant, I thought as an infant, I reasoned as an infant. But when I became a man, I did away with the things of an infant.
12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known.
13And now faith, hope, charity, these three remain; but the greatest of these is charity.
Commentary
Matthew Henry on I Corinthians 13
In this chapter the apostle goes on to show more particularly what that more excellent way was of which he had just before been speaking. He recommends it, I. By showing the necessity and importance of it, ver. 1-3. II. By giving a description of its properties and fruits, ver. 4-7. III. By showing how much it excels…
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