1 Corinthians 13
Dort1. What the Apostle had promised in the latter part of the former chapter, that he would show the Corinthians a more excellent way, that he performs in this chapter; teaching that love is the principal gift, which Christians must seek after, which he proves by comparing it with other great gifts, as are divers tongues, prophecy, knowledge, working of miracles, liberally relieving the poor, and courageously even to suffer death for the name of Christ: and showeth that all such gifts are nothing without love, 4. and praiseth love because of its excellent properties, and operations, 8. as also because it shall endure and abide always, whereas other gifts shall cease, 9. seeing they are imperfect in this life, 10. which he declares by a comparison of the knowledge of a child, and of a man full-grown, and of seeing in a glass, and in the face itself, 13. and finally because love is greater and more excellent than faith and hope.
1. Although it were that I spoke the languages [Gr. with tongues] of men [that is, which any men in the world were able to speak] and of Angels, [the Angels, which are spirits, Hebrews 1:14. have properly no tongues, as we have, but this must be understood of the excellency, and multitude of languages which even the Angels might be able to speak when they are with men] and had not love, I were become a sounding [or, resounding] brass, [that is, brazen instrument, wherewith men make a great noise without pleasantness or understanding] or a ringing cymbal .
2. And although I had the (gifts) of prophecy, [See of his gift, Romans 12:7. and Cor. 12. 10.] and knew all mysteries and all knowledge: [See also of this gift, 1 Cor. 12. v. 8, 10.] and although I had all faith, [namely, to work all kind of miracles. See 1. Cor. 12. 9, 10] So that should transpose mountains, [that is, should do one of the greatest miracles, such as it would be to transfer a mountain from one place unto another] and had not love, I were nothing, [that is, the gift were not profitable nor serviceable to me for salvation.]
3. And though I should distribute all my goods for the maintenance ( of the poor), [The Greek word signifies to cut bread in pieces or morsels to feed any one] and though I should give up my body that I might be burned, [namely, for Christ’s name and truth: which is the greatest work of the Christian fortitude] and had no love [that is, did not that out of love of Gods glory, and to edify the church thereby, and confirm it in the truth, but out of ambition, or other necessities and respects] it would yield me no profit. [Or profit me nothing]
4. Love [That is, a man that hath true love] is long-suffering, [that is, by the grace of the Holy Ghost endures the reproaches and injuries offered unto it, and restrains wrath and desire of revenge] it is bountiful: [that is, inclined and ready to do good to every one, even to enemies] love is not envious: love dealeth not wantonly, [or pervesly, male pertly, vainly, namely, in words or in deeds] it is not puffed up. [that is, proud, ambitious, highly conceited of itself, and despising others.]
5. It dealeth not unfitly [Or unseemly] it seeketh not itself, [Gr. the things which are its own; or the things which concern its own advantage, but the welfare of its neighbour and of many] it is not embittered, [namely, to wrath, passion, and desire for revenge] it thinketh no evil. [that is, plotteth not in its mind, how it shall do its neighbour any evil in the actions of its neighbour, out of mistrust or evil-suspicion; or imputes not evil]
6. It rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, [Or for unrighteousness, namely, when any one doth that which is unjust, or else when injustice is done to any man] but it rejoiceth in the truth: [or with the truth, i.e. when any one doth, or there is done to any one, that which is just and fit.]
7. It covereth all things, [Or, beareth, for the Greek word signifieth both. But forasmuch afterward in the same verse is spoken of forbearance; therefore the word cover is better used here; seeing this is a proper work of love, Proverbs 10:12. 1 Pet. 4.8. Or it taketh all things in good part and to the best] it believeth all things, [namely, which are any way credible and not manifestly false. Namely, concerning the actions of his neighbhour, construing them always to the best as long as the contrary appears not] it hopeth all things, [namely, of God, that he will deliver and assist him, Job 13:15. and of men, that they have not meant, spoken or done so evil, or that being fallen they will rise again] it beareth all things. [that is, suffers all injuries done to it for peace sake, without revenging it self.]
8. Love never [That is, it neither ceaseth in this life to bring forth these fruits: neither shall it cease in that to come, but always abide and be perfect, although not always employed in one kind of operations] perisheth: [Gr. never falleth out, or off, as Romans 9:6.] but whether it be prophecies, [see 1 Cor. 12.10.] they shall be abolished [namely, as well in this life, when that gift shall cease, as it came to pass after the Apostle times, as in that to come, in which the foretelling of things future shall not be necessary] be it languages, [Gr. tongues. See 1 Cor. 12.1.] they shall cease, [namely, the imperfect knowledge which we now obtain by the ministry of the word in this life, as is declared in the following verse it shall be abolished.
9. For we know [Namely, now in this life] in part, [not that we do not know all that is necessary for us to salvation, John 16. v. 13. 1 Cor. 1.5. 2 Tim. 3.15. but the Apostle speaks thus in respect and comparison of the knowledge we which we shall have of divine things in the life to come: unto which, this is our knowledge which we now have, is to be accounted but a little part] and we prophecy in part.
10. But when the perfect [That is, the perfect knowledge of divine things, as much as mere man shall be able to comprehend, and shall be needful for us to perfect joy and salvation] shall be come, [which shall be first in the life to come] then shall that which is in part, [that is, the imperfect knowledge. See v.8.] be done away.
11. When I was a child, [The Apostle compares the knowledge which we have now in this life, to the knowledge which little children have: and the knowledge which shall have in the life to come to the knowledge of men grown. Such a difference there is betwixt both, and yet much greater] I spoke as a child, I was minded as a child, [or, I considered, I though] I reasoned as a child; [that is, weighing things with mine understanding] but when I became a man, I did away that which was a child’s. [that is, that small, mean, and childish knowledge which was in me.]
12. For we see now [Namely, as long as we are in this life] by a glass: [that is, betwixt our present knowledge, that which we shall have after this life, is such a difference, as there is when one seeth the image of another’s face in the glass, when he beholds the face itself] in a dark sentence. [Gr. in a riddle. i.e. there is also such a difference, as one propounds any thing darkly, in the manner of a riddle, and when he doth the same with plain, proper and express words] but when [namely, in the life to come] (shall we see) [that is, know, namely, God and all divine things] face to face: [that is, clearly and perfectly. See 1 John 3:2.] now [namely, in this life] know I in part, [that is, even I myself although I am an Apostle, and was taken up in the third heaven, and there heard unutterable word, 2 Cor. 12.4.] but then [namely, in this life to come] I shall know even also I am known. [namely, acknowledgeth me for this, and through this his love shall give me the same knowledge.]
13. And now [See v.12.] abideth faith, hope (and) love, these three: [that is, we have need that all these three virtues be and bide in us. For without faith we cannot be justified, and it is impossible to please God: and without hope faith cannot stand, and by love faith must be operative] but the greatest [Gr. greater, namely, because faith and hope shall cease in this life to come, because when we shall actually enjoy and posses the good things which we now believe and hope for: but love shall abide forever, and be perfect. See v.8.] of this is love.