1 Corinthians 13: Faith, Hope, and the Greatest of These
Without love, Paul says, even great gifts and sacrifice mean nothing.
Called the 'more excellent way' promised at the end of 1 Corinthians 12, this chapter opens with Paul insisting that tongues, prophecy, knowledge, and even self-sacrifice are worthless without charity, or love.
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely, is not puffed up,
Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil:
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth:
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void or tongues shall cease or knowledge shall be destroyed.
For we know in part: and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
When 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 the things of a child.
We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face to face. Now I know in part: but then I shall know even as I am known.
And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.