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. The New Testament psalm of love, as the 45th Psalm (see its title) and Canticles in the Old Testament. While Paul's chief theme is faith, he handles love also with the... [ Continue Reading ]
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. MYSTERIES (; ). Mysteries refer to God's deep counsels heretofore secret, but now revealed; knowledge, to tr... [ Continue Reading ]
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. BESTOW ALL MY GOODS TO FEED THE POOR, [ psoomisoo (G5595)] - dole out (crumble away) in food all my goods; one high function of the "helps" (1 Corinthians 12:... [ Continue Reading ]
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, SUFFERETH LONG - under provocations of evil from others. The negative side of love. IS KIND - the positive; good to others. Compare the future of the "wisdom from above" (James 3:17). ENVIE... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY - in not uncourteous. THINKETH NO EVIL - imputeth not (Romans 4:8; Hebrew, chashab) evil; literally, 'the evil' which actually is there (Proverbs 10:12; 1 Peter 4:8). Love... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; REJOICETH IN THE TRUTH. Greek, 'rejoiceth with the truth.' Exults not at unrighteousness perpetrated by others (cf. ), but rejoices when the truth (which is on the side of righteousness) rejoices: sympathizes with its triumphs (). See the opp... [ Continue Reading ]
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. BEARETH ALL THINGS. The same Greek as in . It endures without divulging to the world its distress. Literally holding fast, like a water-tight vessel: the charitable man contains himself from giving vent to what selfis... [ Continue Reading ]
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. NEVER FALLETH - never 'falleth' to the ground (Greek), so as to be out of use: always holds its place. SHALL FALL ... VANISH AWA... [ Continue Reading ]
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. IN PART - partially and imperfectly. Compare a similar contrast to the "perfect man," Ephesians 4:11. THAT WHICH IS IN PART - fragmentary and isolated.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. WHEN I WAS A CHILD (1 Corinthians 3:1; 1 Corinthians 14:20). I SPAKE - alluding to "tongues." UNDERSTOOD - `I was minded,' or 'had the sentiments of:' a... [ Continue Reading ]
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, [ arti (G737)] - in our present state. SEE - appropriate in connection with the "prophets" or seers (1 Samuel 9:9). THROUGH A GLASS - i:e., in a mirror: the... [ Continue Reading ]
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. AND NOW, [ nuni (G3570)] not the same Greek as "now," 1 Corinthians 13:12. Translate 'But now,' As 1 Corinthians 13:8 already showed, "love" extends beyond this present time; "now" here expresses not time, bu... [ Continue Reading ]