1Cor 13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 13:1-13: 13:1-13 Paul interrupts his discussion of spiritual gifts (resumed in ch 14 ) to emphasize that love is more important than any spiritual gift (cp. 8:1-3 ). The most important thing for Christians is to become deeply and consistently loving people. Summary for 1Cor 13:1-3: 13:1-3 Spiritual gifts in themselves do not define our worth to God or to the church. In fact, apart from the expression of love , spiritual gifts are of no value. 13:1 all the languages of earth (literally the tongues of men ) and of angels: Tongues was the spiritual gift most highly prized by the Corinthians (see also 12:10 , 28 ; 14:1-25 , 27 ). Some may have thought tongues to be the language of angels ; in Acts, Luke uses the same term to refer to natural human languages (see Acts 2:4-13 ).

Summary for 1Cor 13:1-13: 13:1-13 ^a Paul interrupts his discussion of spiritual gifts (resumed in ch 14 ^b) to emphasize that love is more important than any spiritual gift (cp. 8:1-3 ^c). The most important thing for Christians is to become deeply and consistently loving people.
Summary for 1Cor 13:1-3: 13:1-3 ^d Spiritual gifts in themselves do not define our worth to God or to the church. In fact, apart from the expression of love, spiritual gifts are of no value. 13:1 ^e all the languages of earth (literally the tongues of men) and of angels: Tongues was the spiritual gift most highly prized by the Corinthians (see also 12:10 ^f, 28 ^g; 14:1-25 ^h, 27 ⁱ). Some may have thought tongues to be the language of angels; in Acts, Luke uses the same term to refer to natural human languages (see Acts 2:4-13 ^j).
13:2 ^k If I ... possessed all knowledge possibly refers to the gift of “special knowledge” (12:8 ^l).
13:3 ^m sacrificed my body, I could boast about it: Some manuscripts read sacrificed my body to be burned; it would have been easy for a copyist to change the text accidentally, because in Greek the two readings differ only by one letter. It is unclear which reading is to be preferred; however, the manuscripts supporting the reading I could boast are generally better.

• I would have gained nothing: Even the most impressive sacrificial acts mean nothing if not motivated by love.
Summary for 1Cor 13:4-7: 13:4-7 ⁿ This description of Christian love emphasizes the willingness to give up one’s own desires for the good of others (see also 8:1–10:33 ^o; Rom 5:6-8 ^p; 15:3 ^q; 2 Cor 8:9 ^r; Phil 2:4-8 ^s).
13:5 ^t It does not demand its own way: Love is not self-centered, not concerned simply with its own interests (see Phil 2:4-8 ^u).
Summary for 1Cor 13:8-13: 13:8-13 ^v Love, in contrast to spiritual gifts, will last forever. 13:8 ^w Love will last forever, because God is love (cp. 1 Jn 4:7-12 ^x, 16 ^y).
13:9 ^z None of the spiritual gifts gives us full understanding; unlike love, they are all limited in their benefits.
13:12 ^aa The contrast between now and then is between this age and the coming age.

• Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror: In Paul’s day, mirrors were usually made of polished bronze, so the view was imperfect. Our perception in this life is limited and our understanding is partial and incomplete.

• then: When the end comes and Christ establishes his eternal kingdom, we will see everything with perfect clarity. Then the spiritual gifts that give knowledge will be unnecessary.
13:13 ^ab Faith, hope, and love are more important than spiritual gifts because they last forever (see also Rom 5:1-5 ^ac; Gal 5:5-6 ^ad; Col 1:4-5 ^ae; 1 Thes 1:3 ^af; 5:8 ^ag). Of the three, the greatest ... is love, because love is the quintessential nature of God himself (see 1 Jn 4:7-12 ^ah, 16-21 ^ai). So love should epitomize our relationship with him and others.