1 Corinthians 13:1-4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Here the apostle shows what more excellent way he meant, or had in view, in the close of the former chapter, namely, charity, or, as it is commonly elsewhere rendered, love?agape: not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, which most men understand of alms-giving, but love in its fullest and most extensive meaning, true love to God and man, a benevolent disposition of mind towards our fellow-christians, growing out of sincere and fervent devotion to God. This living principle... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

The apostle gives us in these verses some of the properties and effects of charity, both to describe and commend it, that we may know whether we have this grace and that if we have not we may fall in love with what is so exceedingly amiable, and not rest till we have obtained it. It is an excellent grace, and has a world of good properties belonging to it. As, I. It is long suffering?makrothymei. It can endure evil, injury, and provocation, without being filled with resentment, indignation, or... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

13 I may speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but if I have not love, I am become no better than echoing brass or a clanging cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all sacred secrets and all knowledge, I may have faith enough to remove mountains, but if I have not love I am nothing. I may dole out all that I have, I may surrender my body that I may be burned, but if I have not love it is no good to me. Love is patient; love is kind; love knows no envy; love... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:1

Though I speak with the tongues of men ,.... That is, of all men, all languages that men anywhere speak, or have been spoken by them. The number of these is by some said F9 Eupherus & alii in Clement. Alex. Stromat. l. 1. p. 338. to be "seventy five"; but the general opinion of the Jews is, that at the confusion of languages at Babel, they were seventy; for they say F11 Pirke Eliezer, c. 24. , that then "the holy blessed God descended, and "seventy angels" surrounding the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:2

And though I have the gift of prophecy ,.... Either of foretelling future events, as Balaam, who foretold many things concerning the Messiah and the people of Israel, and yet had no true love for either; and Caiaphas, who was high priest the year Christ suffered, and prophesied of his death, and was himself concerned in it, being a bitter enemy to him; or of explaining the prophecies of the Old Testament, by virtue of an extraordinary gift which some persons had; or of the ordinary preaching... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:3

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor ,.... Of which the Jews give us instances; they say F14 T. Hieros. Peah, fol. 15. 2. , that R. Ishcab stood, והחליק כל נכסיו לעניים , "and distributed all his goods to the poor"; and a little after they say the same of King Monbaz, that he stood and gave away, or dispersed, "all his goods to the poor"; and elsewhere F15 Juchasin, fol. 51. 2. Vid. T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 148. 2. they say of R. Eliezer ben Judah, that the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:4

Charity suffereth long ,.... The apostle, in this and some following verses, enumerates the several properties and characters of the grace of love; and all along represents it as if it was a person, and no doubt designs one who is possessed of it, and in whose heart it is implanted and reigns; such an one is said to "suffer long", or be "patient", as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read; not only under afflictions by the hand of God, which such an one considers as arising from love;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:1

Though I speak, etc. - At the conclusion of the preceding chapter the apostle promised to show the Corinthians a more excellent way than that in which they were now proceeding. They were so distracted with contentions, divided by parties, and envious of each other's gifts, that unity was nearly destroyed. This was a full proof that love to God and man was wanting; and that without this, their numerous gifts and other graces were nothing in the eyes of God; for it was evident that they did... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:2

And though I have the gift of prophecy - Though I should have received from God the knowledge of future events, so that I could correctly foretell what is coming to pass in the world and in the Church: - And understand all mysteries - The meaning of all the types and figures in the Old Testament, and all the unexplored secrets of nature; and all knowledge - every human art and science; and though I have all faith - such miraculous faith as would enable me even to remove mountains; or had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:3

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor - This is a proof that charity, in our sense of the word, is not what the apostle means; for surely almsgiving can go no farther than to give up all that a man possesses in order to relieve the wants of others. The word ψωμιζω , which we translate to feed the poor, signifies to divide into morsels, and put into the mouth; which implies carefulness and tenderness in applying the bounty thus freely given. And though I give my body to be... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:3

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