1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13:1

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Though I speak in never so great variety of languages, though I speak never so excellently and divinely, and have not Charity, the noise that I make is no better than that of a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal, which fills the ear to little purpose.

1 Corinthians 13:2

And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains.

And, though I have never so strong a faith, so as that I could remove mountains.

1 Corinthians 13:8

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be, &c.

Charity is a during and perpetual grace; and, where it is truly rooted in the heart, never faileth; whereas other gifts, and tongues, and prophecy, and knowledge, at last vanish away.

1 Corinthians 13:9

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

For this knowledge, which we now have, is but weak and imperfect; and our prophesying is, accordingly, full of infirmity.

1 Corinthians 13:10

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

But, when we once attain to that heavenly perfection of knowledge, which we shall once enjoy in heaven, then all these our weak and imperfect apprehensions shall cease, and give way.

1 Corinthians 13:11

When 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.

Even as it is with us, in our several ages: when I was a child, I spake as a child, and understood as a child, and thought as a child; but now, when that I am become a man, I meddle no more with those childish words, gestures, actions, and they are now to me as if they had never been: so shall it be with us, in that our future state of glory, compared with the present: now, we are mere children in our desires and apprehensions; then, we shall be of full and perfect stature: all the thoughts and conceits of this our present childishness shall then be passed and gone; and perfection of all grace and heavenly knowledge shall come in the room of them.

1 Corinthians 13:12

For 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. Now, all the knowledge that we have of God is dim and dark, as a man that looks in a glass sees there but the image or resemblance and representation of the thing seen, and not the thing itself; but then, we shall see him clearly and immediately, even as we now see each other in the face, and not in the glass: so shall we see him then: now, I know but in part; but then, I shall know God in the same manner that I am known, fully, according to the capacity of a finite creature, and clearly.

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

And now, whereas there are three main graces, which we must chiefly labour for in all our lives, Faith, Hope, and Charity, the greatest of them all is Charity.