1 Corinthians 13 (NKJV) (2024)

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The Greatest Gift

13Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of (A)prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, (B)so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3And (C)though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4(D)Love suffers long and is (E)kind; love (F)does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [b]puffed up; 5does not behave rudely, (G)does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 6(H)does not rejoice in iniquity, but (I)rejoices in the truth; 7(J)bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9(K)For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is [d]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11When 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. 12For (L)now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then (M)face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:3 NU so I may boast
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:4 arrogant
  3. 1 Corinthians 13:5 keeps no accounts of evil
  4. 1 Corinthians 13:10 complete

Cross references

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:2 : Matt. 7:22; 1 Cor. 12:8–10, 28; 14:1
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:2 : Matt. 17:20; 21:21; Mark 11:23; Luke 17:6
  3. 1 Corinthians 13:3 : Matt. 6:1, 2
  4. 1 Corinthians 13:4 : Prov. 10:12; 17:9; 1 Thess. 5:14; [1 Pet. 4:8]
  5. 1 Corinthians 13:4 : Eph. 4:32
  6. 1 Corinthians 13:4 : Gal. 5:26
  7. 1 Corinthians 13:5 : 1 Cor. 10:24; Phil. 2:4
  8. 1 Corinthians 13:6 : Ps. 10:3; Rom. 1:32
  9. 1 Corinthians 13:6 : 2 John 4; 3 John 3
  10. 1 Corinthians 13:7 : Rom. 15:1; Gal. 6:2; 2 Tim. 2:24
  11. 1 Corinthians 13:9 : 1 Cor. 8:2; 13:12
  12. 1 Corinthians 13:12 : [2 Cor. 3:18; 5:7]; Phil. 3:12; James 1:23
  13. 1 Corinthians 13:12 : Gen. 32:30; Num. 12:8; Matt. 18:10; [1 John 3:2]
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13If I speak in the tongues[a](A) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy(B) and can fathom all mysteries(C) and all knowledge,(D) and if I have a faith(E) that can move mountains,(F) but do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor(G) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b](H) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient,(I) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.(J) 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,(K) it is not easily angered,(L) it keeps no record of wrongs.(M) 6Love does not delight in evil(N) but rejoices with the truth.(O) 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(P)

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,(Q) they will cease; where there are tongues,(R) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part(S) and we prophesy in part, 10but when completeness comes,(T) what is in part disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood(U) behind me. 12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;(V) then we shall see face to face.(W) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.(X)

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.(Y) But the greatest of these is love.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames

Cross references

  1. 1 Corinthians 13:1 : ver 8; S Mk 16:17
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:2 : ver 8; S Eph 4:11; S Ac 11:27
  3. 1 Corinthians 13:2 : 1Co 14:2
  4. 1 Corinthians 13:2 : S 2Co 8:7
  5. 1 Corinthians 13:2 : 1Co 12:9
  6. 1 Corinthians 13:2 : Mt 17:20; 21:21
  7. 1 Corinthians 13:3 : Lk 19:8; S Ac 2:45
  8. 1 Corinthians 13:3 : Da 3:28
  9. 1 Corinthians 13:4 : 1Th 5:14
  10. 1 Corinthians 13:4 : 1Co 5:2
  11. 1 Corinthians 13:5 : S 1Co 10:24
  12. 1 Corinthians 13:5 : S Mt 5:22
  13. 1 Corinthians 13:5 : Job 14:16, 17; Pr 10:12; 17:9; 1Pe 4:8
  14. 1 Corinthians 13:6 : 2Th 2:12
  15. 1 Corinthians 13:6 : 2Jn 4; 3Jn 3, 4
  16. 1 Corinthians 13:7 : ver 8, 13
  17. 1 Corinthians 13:8 : ver 2
  18. 1 Corinthians 13:8 : ver 1
  19. 1 Corinthians 13:9 : ver 12; S 1Co 8:2
  20. 1 Corinthians 13:10 : Php 3:12
  21. 1 Corinthians 13:11 : Ps 131:2
  22. 1 Corinthians 13:12 : Job 26:14; 36:26
  23. 1 Corinthians 13:12 : Ge 32:30; Job 19:26; 1Jn 3:2
  24. 1 Corinthians 13:12 : 1Co 8:3; Gal 4:9
  25. 1 Corinthians 13:13 : Ro 5:2-5; Gal 5:5, 6; Eph 4:2-5; Col 1:4, 5; 1Th 1:3; 5:8; Heb 6:10-12
  26. 1 Corinthians 13:13 : Mt 22:37-40; 1Co 16:14; Gal 5:6; 1Jn 4:7-12, 16
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New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 Corinthians 13 (NKJV) (1)

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

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1 Corinthians 13 (NKJV) (2024)

FAQs

What is the main point of 1 Corinthians 13? ›

Paul sums it up: Love never fails. Christians may fail to love, as the Corinthians have clearly demonstrated, but God's kind of love will always be effective. And unlike spiritual gifts, which will no longer be needed when Christ comes, love will last forever (1 Corinthians 13:4–8).

What is the lesson of love in 1 Corinthians 13? ›

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Which spiritual gift does Paul identify as the greatest in 1 Corinthians 13? ›

After noting that God gives different spiritual gifts to everyone so that the Body of Christ be glorified, he begins chapter 13 by stating that even if he has the greatest of spiritual gifts, but he does not have love, he is nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1–3) for love is the greatest gift of all.

What is love corinthians nkjv? ›

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

What seems to be a major issue facing the Corinthian believers in 1 Corinthians? ›

1 Corinthians

Among the myriad problems in the Corinthian church were: claims of spiritual superiority over one another, suing one another in public courts, abusing the communal meal, and sexual misbehavior. Paul wrote to demand higher ethical and moral standards.

How do you know if you're in love according to the Bible? ›

We find it in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

How can you apply 1 Corinthians 13 to your life? ›

Love as described in 1 Corinthians 13 is best understood as a way of life, lived in imitation of Jesus Christ, that is focused not on oneself but on the “other” and his or her good. Love is about action, how a person lives for the Lord and obeys him and how a person lives for others and serves them.

What was Paul talking about in 1 Corinthians 13? ›

In this text, Paul reminds the Corinthians that all their spiritual gifts are as nothing unless they have love, which is the greatest gift of all.

What are some discussion questions about 1 Corinthians 13? ›

Reflection questions
  • How does love here differ from the way you talk and think about love in your community, family, and church?
  • What is the easiest part of loving people in the way described in 1 Corinthians 13? ...
  • How does your church demonstrate 1 Corinthians 13 love?

What is the highest spiritual gift in the Bible? ›

Wisdom. Wisdom is considered the first and the greatest of the gifts.

What is Paul trying to tell the Corinthians? ›

Paul warns against divisions within the Church and emphasizes the importance of unity among Church members. He warns members against sexual immorality, teaches that the body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, and encourages self-discipline.

What is the best gift according to the Bible? ›

And he sent him as a baby

So, instead of abandoning us or retaliating against us, he offered us a gift, the best gift that has ever been given: his Son. Though we did not honor God as we should, in his unbounded generosity, he gave his very best and most valuable, the only thing he had only one of – his Son.

What does 1 Corinthians 13 mean? ›

The underlying meaning of 1 Corinthians 13 is that as followers, we are to imitate the love of Jesus by using our gifts while serving and loving others just as He did! So, how do we do that? That is where the well-known and beloved verse of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 comes in.

How many characteristics of love are there in 1 Corinthians 13? ›

The apostle Paul described divine love—the type God shows for us—with 13 thought provoking characteristics in 1 Corinthians 13. Love: “suffers long” (v. 4)—loves difficult people without being difficult in return.

Will we know each other in heaven? ›

The basis of Paul's encouragement and comfort is that we'll be together with those we love and with the Lord forever in heaven. Our fellowship with our Christian loved ones goes right on! We'll pick up where we left off, and we will know even as we are known. We will recognize Him and others, even as they recognize us.

What is the message version of 1 Corinthians 13? ›

Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always “me first,” Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, ...

What is the message that Paul wants the church in Corinth to understand? ›

In this letter to the church at Corinth, Paul covered a number of different issues related to both life and doctrine: divisions and quarrels, sexual immorality, lawsuits among believers, marriage and singleness, freedom in Christ, order in worship, the significance of the Lord's Supper, and the right use of spiritual ...

What does 1 Corinthians teach us? ›

In 1 Corinthians we learn that the Apostle Paul taught these Saints how to promote unity in the Church, how to learn the things of God, the role of the physical body as a temple for the Holy Ghost, the nature of spiritual gifts, the importance of taking the sacrament worthily, and the reality of the Resurrection.

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