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| Chapter 13 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And 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, but have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up; 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 ¶ Charity 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. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 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 I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. |
In this passage the word ‘Charity’ is ‘Love.’ The whole of this chapter is centred upon ‘Love.’ The main evidence of a Christian maturing is a growing love for God and God’s people. In addition there is a growing concern for the lost souls. We must remember as we read this chapter that Paul was still dealing with the Corinthian problems, the mis-use of the gift of tongues, divisions, splits in the church because of ‘those with gifts’ and ‘those without or very few gifts’ were causing jealousy. Selfishness causing lawsuits, wrong behaviours at meetings. v1-8 Love must control. Paul starts by talking about five of the gifts, tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, giving money, he points out that without love these gifts are nothing. v1 Tongues without love is just noise. v2,3 I can have all these gifts, with great power, but have no love, then I am a nobody. Look at the following on love: God’s love 1 John 4:16-21; God taught us to love 1 Thess 4:9; Love shows who we are John 13:34,35; God’s love in us Rom 5:5. v4-7 We find a list of what love will do to a person, self is removed, others first. The Corinthian were self first, others last, full of pride 1 Cor 4:6; 1 Cor 4:18,19; 1 Cor 5:2. If love took control then pride would go, others would become first. Rom 12:10. Consider the fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22-23. This is what love brings. v8-13 Love is for ever. Love will last for ever, for God is love. The gifts of tongues, prophecies, knowledge will cease at sometime or have already ceased. The Corinthians were wanting the gifts which were to one day end, they were like children, playing with these gifts, they had to grow up v11. v9,12 At the time of Saul God had only revealed part of His future plans in the scriptures, even now we may only know part of God’s mind and plans, however, one day everything will be perfect, today we see as if through a foggy glass, but then we will know all things. Faith will be completed, our hopes fulfilled but love is for ever and when you love a person you trust them and grow in love for them. |
Easy English Translation
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