And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
What does 1 Corinthians 13:13 mean?
Charity is much to be preferred to the gifts on which the Corinthians prided themselves. From its longer continuance.
Key themes
Read with
Keep this verse inside 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth - "Remains" (μενει menei). The word means properly to remain, continue, abide; and is applied to persons remaining in a place, in a state or condition, in contradistinction from removing or changing their place, or passing away. Here it must be understood to be used to denote "permanency," when the other things of which he had spoken had passed away; and the sense is, that faith, hope, and love would "remain" when the gift of tongues should cease, and the need of prophecy, etc.; that is, these should survive them all.
Key words
- abideth
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And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three,.
- faith
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And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three,.
- hope
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And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three,.
Context in 1 Corinthians 13
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1 Corinthians 13 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as the resurrection chapter and closing. First Corinthians is a pastoral and doctrinal letter correcting divisions while teaching about holiness, worship, gifts, and resurrection. Read this chapter with the wider themes of the cross, church order, and holiness in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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