1Cor 13:8-13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 13:8-13: 13:8-13 Love , in contrast to spiritual gifts, will last forever . 13:8 Love will last forever , because God is love (cp. 1 Jn 4:7-12 , 16 ).

a13:8-13►

b13:8►

c1 Jn 4:7-12►

d16►

e13:9►

f13:12►

g13:13►

hRom 5:1-5►

iGal 5:5-6►

jCol 1:4-5►

k1 Thes 1:3►

l5:8►

m1 Jn 4:7-12►

n16-21►

‏ 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

Summary for 1Cor 13:8-13: 13:8-13 ^a Love, in contrast to spiritual gifts, will last forever. 13:8 ^b Love will last forever, because God is love (cp. 1 Jn 4:7-12 ^c, 16 ^d).
13:9 ^e None of the spiritual gifts gives us full understanding; unlike love, they are all limited in their benefits.
13:12 ^f 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 ^g Faith, hope, and love are more important than spiritual gifts because they last forever (see also Rom 5:1-5 ^h; Gal 5:5-6 ⁱ; Col 1:4-5 ^j; 1 Thes 1:3 ^k; 5:8 ^l). Of the three, the greatest ... is love, because love is the quintessential nature of God himself (see 1 Jn 4:7-12 ^m, 16-21 ⁿ). So love should epitomize our relationship with him and others.