rd

1 Corinthians 13

Because love is the fountain and rule of edifying the Church, he setteth forth the nature, office and praise thereof.
 O r,  v e r y o n e  o r  i s p  r t.
1.Though I speak with the tongues of men and Angels, and have not love, I am as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2.And though I had the gift of prophecy, and knew all secrets and all knowledge, yea, if I had all faith, so that I could remove mountains and had not love, I were nothing.
3.And though I feed the poor with all my goods, and though I give my body, that I be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
4.Love suffreth long: it is bountiful: love envieth not: love doeth not boast it self: it is not puffed up:
5.It disdaineth not: it seeketh not her own things: it is not provoked to anger: it thinketh not evil:
6.It rejoyceth not in iniquity, but rejoyceth in the truth:
7.It Suffereth all things: it believeth all things: it hopeth all things: it endureth all things.
8.Love doeth never fall away, though that prophesyings be abolished, or the tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away.
9.For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10.But when that which is perfect, is come, then that which is in part, shalbe abolished.
11.When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12.For now we see through a glass darkly: but then shall we see face to face. Now I know in part: but then shall I know even as I am known.
13.And now abideth faith, hope and love, even these three: but the chiefest of these is love.

Notes

1-a.
If the Angels had tongues, and I had the use thereof, and did not bestow them to profit my neighbour, it were nothing but vain babbling.
2-*.
Mat. 17.20, Luk. 17.6.
2-b.
Faith is here taken for the gift of doing miracles, which the wicked may have, as Mat. 7.22, and also for that faith (called historical) which believes the mighty power of Christ, but can not apprehend God’s mercy through him: and this devils have, Jam. 2.19: and therefore is separate from charity, but the faith that justifies in effect cannot, as 1 John 2.9.
7-c.
Not that it suffers itself to be abused, but judges others by all love and humanity.
7-d.
Which may be without offence of God’s word.
9-e.
Knowledge itself shall be perfected in the world to come, and not abolished: but the manner of knowledge and teaching shall cease, when we shall be before God’s presence, where we shall neither need schools nor teachers.
9-f.
That is, imperfectly.
12-^.
Or, taught of God.
12-g.
The mysteries of God.
13-h.
Because it serves both here and in the life to come: but faith and hope appertain only to this life.