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.
Bible · 1 Corinthians · chapter 13
1 Corinthians 13
The way of love
Awaiting review by a scholar of this tradition. Original texts are public domain; the plain meanings and notes are written by IndiaDigital and are being checked. We describe what each tradition teaches, in its own terms, and never rank faiths. Report a correction
First Corinthians is a letter written by the apostle Paul, around 53 to 55 CE, to the Christian community he had founded in the Greek city of Corinth. Scholars across traditions accept it as genuinely Paul's. The letter addresses divisions, moral questions, marriage, worship, the Lord's Supper, spiritual gifts and the resurrection of the dead. Chapter 13, on love, is one of the most widely read passages in the Bible.
This chapter in brief
Paul tells the church in Corinth that speaking in tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith and even great sacrifice are worth nothing without love. He describes love as patient and kind, not envious, proud or rude, keeping no record of wrongs and never failing. He says that now we see as in a dim mirror, but faith, hope and love remain, and the greatest of these is love; the chapter is often read at weddings.
If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.
If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.
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;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
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 that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
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.
Quiz on 1 Corinthians
How does 1 Corinthians 13:4 begin its description of love?
Paul says that now we see as if in what?
Which three things remain, according to 1 Corinthians 13:13?
Your score: 0 / 3
World English Bible (public domain), eBible.org. eBible.org. Chapter guide: IndiaDigital, awaiting review.
Corrections from members of every tradition are welcome at support@indiadigital.org. Last checked: .