The big picture
1 Corinthians 13 opens in verse 1 with “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”, and closes in verse 13 with “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Repeated or prominent terms include charity, child, know, face, faith. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Corinthians · King James Version · 131 Corinthians 13:1-7
1–7: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not…
1 Corinthians 13:1–7 opens with “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as…” and reaches “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Patient, truthful, enduring love enacted in ordinary care, correction, sacrifice, and reconciliation rather than romantic imagery alone, with particular weight carried by charity, nothing, rejoiceth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a…” Naming Though keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Corinthians 13:1-7
King James Version1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2And 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.
3And 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.
4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
8–13: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail…
1 Corinthians 13:8–13 opens with “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be…” and reaches “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Patient, truthful, enduring love enacted in ordinary care, correction, sacrifice, and reconciliation rather than romantic imagery alone, with particular weight carried by child, charity, know.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
King James Version8Charity 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.
9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11When 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.
12For 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.
13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Corinthians 13:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Corinthians 13:10 forms a natural hinge: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
The final note
1 Corinthians 13:13 leaves the reader with “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words charity, child, know, face, faith, knowledge help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Abram pursue peace?
He names their kinship and offers a practical separation without insisting on first choice.
What can Lot see that Abram cannot yet possess?
Lot sees fertile land; Abram receives a promise of land and descendants still to come.
KJV words made clear
- doth
- does
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.