This chapter has been admired by all ages, but, unfortunately, it has been practiced by none. In it Paul shows that love is superior to all extraordinary gifts, both by reason of its inherent excellency and its perpetuity. Also that it surpasses all other graces.] _If I speak with the tongues of men... [ Continue Reading ]
And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. [Love is next compared with the gifts of prophecy and miracle-working faith mentioned in the last chapter. The gift of prophecy manifeste... [ Continue Reading ]
And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. [Love is here contrasted with those works of charity and self-sacrifice which are included under the term "helps;" so that in his comparison Paul practically exhausts the wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Love suffereth long, and is kind [In this catalogue the first and last negative qualities are coupled with their corresponding positives, suggesting a like coupling throughout. Love suffers evil and confers blessing, and seeks to thus overcome evil with good-- Romans 12:21; Matthew 23:37; Luke 22:48... [ Continue Reading ]
doth not behave itself unseemly [Self-love betrays its lack of sympathy by vulgar indecorum, and cares not how offensive its conduct is towards others. Manners often give the measure of the man (Luke 7:44-47; Luke 23:11; John 13:14-15). Christians should manifest a courteous spirit-- 1 Peter 3:8-9;... [ Continue Reading ]
rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth [It does not rejoice in seeing sin committed nor in the downfall of those who are overcome by it (Romans 1:32; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; comp. John 8:3-11), but is glad when truth puts down iniquity (2JO_4; Acts 11:23; Luke 10:17-21; comp. 2... [ Continue Reading ]
beareth all things [it endures wrongs without complaint, and bears the adversities, troubles and vexations of life without murmuring (Matthew 17:24-27), and often without divulging its needy condition-- 1 Corinthians 9:12; Philippians 4:11-12], _believeth all things_ [It takes the kindest views of m... [ Continue Reading ]
Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away.... [ Continue Reading ]
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;... [ Continue Reading ]
but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.... [ Continue Reading ]
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.... [ Continue Reading ]
For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. [The superlative excellence of love is here shown in that it survives all things with which it may be compared, and reveals its close relation to God whose name... [ Continue Reading ]
But now [in this present state] _abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love_. [If we give the phrase "but now" its other sense, as though the apostle said "But to sum things up, to give the net results," then we have him saying that faith, hope and love are eternal. Wh... [ Continue Reading ]