_the tongues of men_ i.e. the languages of mankind. See notes on ch. 14. _and of angels_ The Rabbis (see Lightfoot _in loc_.) speak of the languages of angels. It is possible that St Paul may be referring to this notion. But he himself also speaks (2 Corinthians 12:4) of hearing -unspeakable words... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 12:31 Ch. 1 Corinthians 13:13. The Excellencies of Love _and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way_ Literally, AND FURTHERMORE I SHEW YOU AN EMINENTLY EXCELLENT WAY, i.e. the way of love, described in the words that follow. This was the secret which could reconcile an ardent desire... [ Continue Reading ]
_all faith_ In the sense of ch. 1 Corinthians 12:9, where see note. _so that I could remove mountains_ A quotation of words recorded in St Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21. Whether St Matthew's Gospel were already written or not, these words had reached St Paul, and this must be regarded as a confirmat... [ Continue Reading ]
_And though I bestow all my goods to feed_the poor] It will be observed that the words -the poor" are not in the original. Coleridge (see Dean Stanley's note) says, "the true and most significant sense is - _though I dole away in mouthfuls all my property or estates_." " So Olshausen, Meyer, _to fee... [ Continue Reading ]
_Charity suffereth long, and is kind_ The first the passive, the second the active, exercise of love; the one endurance, the other beneficence. _vaunteth not itself_ The word here used is derived from the Latin _perperus_, vicious, boastful. Both this and the next sentence have reference to the man... [ Continue Reading ]
_doth not behave itself unseemly_ The Vulgate renders unseemly by _ambitiosa_; Erasmus by _fastidiosa_; Wiclif by _coveitous; doth not frawardly_, Tyndale. But see note on ch. 1 Corinthians 12:23, where a word of similar derivation occurs. Also ch. 1 Corinthians 7:36; and cf. Romans 1:27; Revelation... [ Continue Reading ]
_rejoiceth not in iniquity_ Cf. Psalms 5:4-5, -Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." And Hosea 7:3; Romans 1:32; 2 Thessalonians 2:12. _but rejoiceth in the truth_ Better, as margin, and Vulgate, WITH THE TRUTH. Love rejoiceth with the victory of... [ Continue Reading ]
_beareth all things Suffers_, Vulgate, and so Wiclif and Tyndale. See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 9:12, where the same word is used. Here it means to endure patiently indignities and affronts, save of course where the well-being of others requires that they should be repelled. _believeth all things_ ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Charity never faileth_ The Vulgate and some MSS. read _falleth_. Tyndale renders, _falleth never awaye_. In the Septuagint (as in Job 15:33, and Isaiah 28:1; Isaiah 28:4) the word is used of a fading flower. In Romans 9:6, it is applied to the Word of God. _whether there be prophecies, they shall f... [ Continue Reading ]
_and we prophesy in part_ All inspired utterances are but partial revelations of Divine Truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_done away_ See note on 1 Corinthians 5:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I thought as a child_ Better as margin, I REASONED. The same Greek word is used here as in 1 Corinthians 13:5, - _thinketh_no evil." See note there. _when I became a man, I put away childish things_ Rather, SINCE I HAVE BECOME A MAN, I HAVE BROUGHT TO AN END (see note on 1 Corinthians 13:8) THE TH... [ Continue Reading ]
_For now we see through a glass_ Literally, BY MEANS OF A MIRROR. _Per speculum_, Vulgate. _Bi a mirour_, Wiclif. Meyer reminds us that we are to think rather of the mirrors of polished metal used in ancient times, the reflections of which would often be obscure and imperfect, than of our modern loo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And now abideth faith, hope, charity All_these will remain in the life to come. Faith, the vision of the unseen (Hebrews 11:1), with its consequent trust in God; hope, which even in fruition remains as the desire of its continuance; and love, as the necessary condition of our dwelling in God and Go... [ Continue Reading ]