1 Corinthians 13 - Introduction

The Greatest Gift Is Love First Corinthians Thirteen

First Corinthians chapter thirteen describes the more excellent gifts. They are faith, hope and love. Paul wrote, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." (1 Corinthians 13:13) The word "charity" in our King James Bible is the word "love" in many other translations. Anything you do without love is meaningless. If a person could speak with angelic tongues or understand all of life's mysteries or had mountain moving faith without love it would still be nothing.

God inspired Paul to give us this beautiful description of love. "Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love is not selfish or quick tempered. It does not keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Love never fails or ends. This is unlike the gifts of prophecy, tongues and all of the miraculous gifts that ended with the completion of the New Testament. We must not search for that which is temporary and imperfect, like miraculous gifts, but rather we should search for that love that is very permanent, now and in eternity. "Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."