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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is…” It lands on “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Connecting words, claims, reasons, contrasts, and commands hold the argument together. Each instruction draws its force from the truth that supports it. Words such as charity, nothing, rejoiceth, angels, Beareth, become tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Patient, truthful, enduring love enacted in ordinary care, correction, sacrifice, and reconciliation rather than romantic imagery alone,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Beareth, Charity, Doth, Rejoiceth, Though. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: charity, nothing, rejoiceth, angels, Beareth, become
Verse-by-verse path
- 1 Corinthians 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…” Naming Though keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- 1 Corinthians 13:2
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith…” The line’s distinctive content terms include charity, faith, gift. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 1 Corinthians 13:3
“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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bestow, body, burned. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,” Naming Charity keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- 1 Corinthians 13:5
“Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;” Naming Doth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- 1 Corinthians 13:6
“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;” Naming Rejoiceth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- 1 Corinthians 13:7
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Naming Beareth 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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be…” By verse 10, the text has turned to “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” It lands on “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 5 stated contrasts. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Connecting words, claims, reasons, contrasts, and commands hold the argument together. Each instruction draws its force from the truth that supports it. Words such as child, charity, know, face, abideth, became tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Patient, truthful, enduring love enacted in ordinary care, correction, sacrifice, and reconciliation rather than romantic imagery alone,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Charity. Its number language includes three. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 10: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: child, charity, know, face, abideth, became
Verse-by-verse path
- 1 Corinthians 13:8
“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 13:9
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- 1 Corinthians 13:10
“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” 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 13:11
“When 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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include child, became, childish. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 1 Corinthians 13:12
“For 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…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
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.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Identify the audience, problem, argument, command, and pastoral purpose.
- Follow connecting words so that one sentence remains inside the author’s reasoning.
- Distinguish a universal theological claim from an instruction shaped by a particular situation.
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.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from 1 Corinthians 13?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of 1 Corinthians 13 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Patient, truthful, enduring love enacted in ordinary care, correction, sacrifice, and reconciliation rather than romantic imagery alone?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?