1 Corinthians 13:2 kjv
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, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 nkjv
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 love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 niv
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 esv
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 nlt
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing.
1 Corinthians 13 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 13:2 | "If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." | Direct statement on the necessity of love. |
| 1 Cor 12:28 | "And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers..." | Lists spiritual gifts in order of prominence, setting context for chapter 13. |
| Rom 12:6 | "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them..." | Highlights that gifts are by grace and should be used in service. |
| 1 Cor 8:1 | "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." | Contrasts knowledge with love, showing love's superiority. |
| Gal 5:22-23 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." | Lists love as the primary fruit of the Spirit. |
| Col 3:14 | "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." | Affirms love's foundational role in Christian unity. |
| Matt 7:22-23 | "On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" | Shows that even great spiritual works without a true relationship with Christ are insufficient. |
| 1 Cor 13:3 | "If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." | Continues the theme, emphasizing acts of extreme sacrifice without love. |
| 1 John 4:7-8 | "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." | Defines God as love and connects knowing God to loving others. |
| 1 Cor 12:31 | "But earnestly desire the higher gifts." | Encourages seeking greater spiritual gifts, immediately followed by the "love chapter." |
| Phil 2:3 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." | Advocates for humility and valuing others, which stems from love. |
| Mark 11:23 | "For truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him." | Directly quotes Jesus about faith's power, relevant to Paul's analogy. |
| Eph 4:2 | "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love," | Shows love as the basis for Christian virtues and relationships. |
| 1 Thes 5:8 | "But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love..." | Identifies faith and love as essential armor for believers. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." | Addresses disunity, which love is meant to overcome. |
| Matt 22:37-40 | "And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." | Jesus' summation of the law, highlighting love as paramount. |
| 1 Cor 3:12-15 | "Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest..." | Discusses the enduring or perishing nature of works built on Christ, with the quality of building materials being significant. |
| 2 Peter 1:5-7 | "make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." | Lists virtues that are to be progressively added to faith, culminating in love. |
| 1 John 3:18 | "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." | Contrasts superficial love with genuine, active love. |
| Ps 50:16-17 | "But to the wicked God says: ‘What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips, since you hate instruction and cast my words behind you?’" | Illustrates how outward religious profession is worthless without an inner disposition that aligns with God's will. |
1 Corinthians 13 verses
1 Corinthians 13 2 Meaning
This verse states that even if someone possesses exceptional prophetic abilities and understands all mysteries and knowledge, and if they have faith that can move mountains, without love, these abilities are worthless. It emphasizes that genuine spiritual gifts and immense faith are ultimately hollow and meaningless if not accompanied by the supreme virtue of love. The value of spiritual endowments is contingent upon the motive and character behind their use, which is love.
1 Corinthians 13 2 Context
First Corinthians chapter 13 serves as a vital interlude between Paul's discussions on spiritual gifts in chapters 12 and 14. The Corinthian church was experiencing disorder due to a prideful and competitive use of spiritual gifts, particularly speaking in tongues. Some members seemed to consider certain gifts superior to others, leading to divisions and envy. Paul writes this chapter to correct this misuse, demonstrating that while gifts are important for building up the church, they are subordinate to the superior and essential quality of love (agape). He highlights that all spiritual gifts are temporary and will cease, but love endures forever, making it the ultimate characteristic that should define Christian conduct and the measure by which all gifts and actions are judged.
1 Corinthians 13 2 Word Analysis
- ev (ei) – If
- lachowsin (laleo) – speak
- glossais (glossa) – tongues (plural)
- kairo (kairós) – opportunities, suitable times (used here with "and")
- kai (kai) – and
- pneumata (pneuma) – spirits, or inspired utterances/prophetic insight
- Ev (ei) – If
- gnosí (gnosis) – knowledge
- mystíria (mystérion) – mysteries (secrets revealed)
- Pósata (pása) – all (feminine singular)
- KAI (kai) – and
- pistí (pistis) – faith
- hína (hina) – so that, in order that
- óres (oros) – mountains (accusative plural)
- metastéro (metístēmi) – move, remove (aorist subjunctive)
- Pósata (pása) – all (feminine singular)
- Ev (ei) – If
- ou (ou) – not
- echo (echo) – have
- agapí (agapē) – love (divine, self-sacrificing love)
- Ev (ei) – If
- eími (eimi) – I am
- oudé (oude) – not even, neither
- eipoi (legó) – to say (aorist subjunctive)
- pásata (pasa) – all
Words Group Analysis:
- "If I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love...": The phrase "tongues of men and of angels" is not found in extant Greek texts of 1 Corinthians 13:1 or 2. The closest biblical reference is 1 Corinthians 12:28 and 13:1, "speaking in tongues." The phrase "and of angels" appears in some later manuscripts for 1 Cor 13:1, but the common scholarly understanding for this verse pertains to extraordinary spiritual utterance, potentially even divine languages understood only by God or angels. The emphasis here is on the most spectacular, yet potentially most superficial, spiritual gift, highlighting that even the highest forms of ecstatic or divinely inspired speech are insufficient without love.
- "all mysteries and all knowledge": This signifies understanding profound theological truths and having comprehensive intellectual grasp of divine matters, surpassing ordinary comprehension.
- "all faith, so as to remove mountains": This refers to an immense, potentially miraculous, faith that could perform supernatural feats, echoing Jesus' words about faith's power (Mark 11:23). It emphasizes an extraordinary level of faith, not mere belief.
- "but have not love, I am nothing": The conjunction "but" (de) introduces a stark contrast. The final assertion "I am nothing" (outí eimi) powerfully states the utter worthlessness of all these spiritual gifts and acts of faith if love, specifically agape love, is absent. Agape is the unconditional, selfless, benevolent love characteristic of God.
1 Corinthians 13 2 Bonus Section
The verse’s powerful declaration that lacking love renders one "nothing" (ouden - meaning 'not one' or 'nothing at all') underscores that God's judgment and the true measure of our lives are not based on the spectacular nature of our spiritual endowments or deeds, but on the presence of His love in our hearts, expressed through our actions. This sets a standard not for acquiring gifts, but for using them in a manner that honors God and edifies others through selfless love. The progression from speaking in tongues to knowing mysteries and having faith sets a context where the Corinthian church’s focus on prominent gifts was misplaced. Paul redirects their ambition toward the “more excellent way” of love, which is the very essence of God and the highest calling for every believer.
1 Corinthians 13 2 Commentary
This verse is central to understanding the hierarchy of Christian virtues. While miraculous gifts like speaking in tongues and prophecy, extensive knowledge, and unwavering faith that can move mountains are impressive and demonstrably supernatural, they are presented as hollow shells without love. Paul uses hyperbole to drive home his point: no matter how spectacular or outwardly religious someone appears, if their actions are devoid of genuine agape love—the love God has for humanity and the love believers are called to have for God and one another—then their efforts and gifts amount to nothing. This love is the driving motivation and the enduring substance behind all true spiritual service and experience. It is the essential characteristic that transforms mere religious activity into something meaningful and eternally valuable.
Practical Usage Examples:
- A minister delivering a powerful sermon filled with prophetic insight and eloquent words but lacking genuine care for his congregation is effectively "nothing."
- A believer who can perform incredible acts of faith, perhaps in healing or deliverance, but who acts out of pride or for personal gain rather than love, possesses a gift that is ultimately empty.
- A group actively engaged in spiritual warfare or prophecy but marked by internal strife and malice lacks the foundational element that makes their work fruitful in God’s eyes.