1 Corinthians 13:13 kjv
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13 nkjv
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 niv
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 esv
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 nlt
Three things will last forever ? faith, hope, and love ? and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 13:13 | "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." | Concluding statement |
| Hebrews 11:1 | "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." | Defines faith |
| Romans 8:24-25 | "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no longer hope. For what does one still hope for? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." | Nature of hope |
| 1 John 4:7-8 | "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." | Love originates from God |
| 1 John 4:16 | "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." | God is love |
| Galatians 5:6 | "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love." | Faith active through love |
| Colossians 3:14 | "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." | Love's unifying role |
| Romans 12:9-10 | "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." | Practical exhortation to love |
| 1 Peter 1:3 | "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." | Source of living hope |
| Ephesians 1:4-5 | "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." | God's predestination in love |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." | God's ultimate act of love |
| Romans 5:5 | "and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." | God's love through the Spirit |
| Matthew 22:37-39 | "Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." | The greatest commandments |
| 1 John 3:14 | "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." | Evidence of life in love |
| 1 Corinthians 8:1 | "Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that all of us possess knowledge. This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up." | Contrast of knowledge and love |
| 1 Corinthians 13:8 | "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." | Preceding statement on love's permanence |
| 1 Corinthians 13:12 | "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." | Contrast between present and future knowledge |
| Romans 13:10 | "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." | Love fulfills the law |
| John 13:34-35 | "“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”" | Christ's commandment of love |
| Hebrews 10:39 | "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and are saved." | Faith leads to salvation |
| 1 John 4:18 | "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment. But the one who fears has not been made perfect in love." | Love casts out fear |
1 Corinthians 13 verses
1 Corinthians 13 13 Meaning
This verse is the conclusion of the Apostle Paul's discourse on love in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. It states that faith, hope, and love are the three enduring spiritual gifts, but of these, love is the greatest because it will last eternally. Faith will cease when what is believed is realized, and hope will cease when what is hoped for is attained. Love, however, will never end because it is a reflection of God's eternal nature.
1 Corinthians 13 13 Context
This verse is the concluding statement of an extended metaphor in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, often called the "love chapter." Paul was addressing divisions and issues within the Corinthian church, particularly their improper use and overemphasis of spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, prophecy, and knowledge. He contrasts these temporary gifts with the supreme virtue of agape (unconditional love), asserting that without love, even the most spectacular spiritual abilities are meaningless. This verse encapsulates his argument, highlighting that while gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will pass away as believers’ understanding matures, faith and hope are essential during the current earthly existence. However, love, being the very essence of God and the motivation behind all true spiritual activity, will endure eternally into the age to come when Christ returns and believers dwell fully in His presence.
1 Corinthians 13 13 Word Analysis
And now (kai nun / καὶ νῦν): These conjunctions introduce the conclusion of Paul's discourse on spiritual gifts and love. "Kai" (and) links this final statement to the preceding thoughts on the temporary nature of other gifts. "Nun" (now) emphasizes the present reality of faith and hope as active in the Christian life, while simultaneously pointing forward to the eternal reality of love.
these (houtos / οὗτος): Refers specifically to the three enduring qualities previously mentioned: faith, hope, and love.
three (treis / τρεῖς): A specific number indicating the three main spiritual virtues that are contrasted with the temporary gifts.
remain (menō / μένω): This verb signifies remaining, abiding, continuing, or lasting. It implies that these three qualities are permanent and will continue to exist.
faith (pistis / πίστις): In the New Testament, faith refers to trust, belief, and firm conviction in God and His promises, particularly through Jesus Christ. While faith in the sense of belief will continue, the need for faith in the sense of waiting for future promises will be superseded by the full realization of those promises.
hope (elpis / ἐλπίς): Hope is the confident expectation and assurance of future good, primarily salvation and the coming kingdom of God. It is future-oriented, based on God's promises and Christ's resurrection. When that which is hoped for is achieved, hope in that specific aspect will cease.
and (kai / καὶ): A conjunction connecting "hope" and "love."
love (agapē / ἀγάπη): This is the key term Paul has been expounding. It refers to unconditional, self-sacrificing, and God-given love, which is the defining characteristic of God and of genuine believers. Unlike faith and hope, which have a temporal component (they are exercised in expectation of a future reality), agape is a permanent state and quality that reflects the eternal nature of God Himself.
But (de / δὲ): A conjunction indicating contrast. It introduces the superlative nature of love in comparison to faith and hope.
the greatest (meizōn / μείζων): The comparative form of "great." It signifies that love is superior to, more important than, or surpasses both faith and hope.
of these (ek toutōn / ἐκ τούτων): Denotes that this greatness is measured within the context of the three mentioned virtues.
is (esti / ἐστι): The verb "to be."
love (agapē / ἀγάπη): Reiteration of the primary virtue, emphasizing its supreme status.
Word-Group Analysis:
- "faith, hope and love" (pistis, elpis, kai agapē / πίστις, ἐλπίς, καὶ ἀγάπη): This trio represents the foundational elements of the Christian life and its ultimate realization. They are interconnected: faith trusts in God's promises, hope anticipates their fulfillment, and love is the very nature of God that motivates and undergirds both.
- "But the greatest of these is love" (meizōn de toutōn estin hē agapē / μείζων δὲ τούτων ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη): This phrase is the climactic declaration. It does not diminish the importance of faith and hope in the present but elevates love to the highest and most enduring position. This greatness is not merely in degree but in essence, as love reflects God's eternal, unchanging character, whereas faith and hope are oriented toward a temporal process that will ultimately be fulfilled and thus transcended.
1 Corinthians 13 13 Bonus Section
The enduring nature of love, as highlighted in this verse, connects to the overarching theme of God's faithfulness and immutability. While spiritual gifts served a specific purpose during the apostolic era to establish the church and bear witness, their manifest forms were temporary. Love, however, is foundational to God's character and thus, foundational to our redeemed humanity. It is the eternal purpose of God’s saving grace. Scholars often emphasize that the Corinthian church's issues stemmed from a misunderstanding of their gifts, placing more value on spectacular displays rather than the underlying fruit of the Spirit. Paul’s correction is profound: gifts build the church, but love is the church in its highest expression, mirroring God's own being. This enduring love is what allows for true unity and enduring relationship with God and one another.
1 Corinthians 13 13 Commentary
Paul's final assessment in this chapter is that love reigns supreme. Faith, the belief in what is unseen, and hope, the anticipation of future realities, are crucial during our earthly journey. However, when believers finally behold Christ face to face and all that was hoped for is realized, faith and hope will naturally give way to the full fruition of that reality. Love, however, is the eternal quality of God Himself, reflecting His very nature. As such, it is the element that will continue into eternity. This passage doesn't mean faith and hope cease to exist, but their operative function will change, being superseded by direct apprehension and perfect fulfillment. Love, therefore, is not merely another virtue; it is the essence of God's being and the most vital characteristic of the redeemed life, both now and forever. It is the perfecting principle that binds all other graces and gifts together.