1 Corinthians 13:1-13
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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vauntetha not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;b
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;c whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.d
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thoughte as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly;f but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
The apostle dealt with love, its values (verses 1Co 13:1-3), its virtues (verses 1Co 13:4-7), and its victory (verses 1Co 13:8-13). The values of love are discovered in the fact that, apart from it, all the best things are worthless.
Its virtues are shown with force and beauty. Every sentence is simple and sublime, and the whole contains a perfect analysis of love.
Passing from this description of the virtues of love, the apostle now showed how it is supreme because of its victory. The first element is its duration -"Love never faileth." The thought in the word translated "faileth" is falling off, like the leaves of a flower. Love never loses its life principle. To emphasize the truth of his affirmation, the apostle now put love into comparison with excellent things, things indeed to be desired as gifts; and showed how, while they are transient, love is permanent. He added the final word in demonstration of the proof when he compared love no longer with the things that pass, but with the things that abide, and yet declared it to be the greatest-"Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love."
It is the greatest because it is the reason and strength of the others. If it were possible to lose it, faith would fail, and hope would die. It is the greatest, moreover, because it is the real heart of the spirit's union with God and the light of its understanding of Him.