Notes on Charity, the Greatest Gift

1 Corinthians Chapter 13

Of all the gifts the greatest gift is that selfless love called charity. Some translations use love in place of charity but I think it loses a little in translation when we do that. Now at this point we are still in selfish imperfection but we look forward to the promise of perfection in Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, without charity, I am the same as a clanging gong or a tinkling cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:2 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.

Even if I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and have a faith that can move mountains, but have not charity, Then I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Even if I give all I possess to feed the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not charity, Then I gain nothing.
- (When we give to the poor we need to do it as an act of charity rather than self aggrandizement. Matthew 6:1 )

1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Charity is patient, Charity is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud

1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

It is not rude nor is it self-seeking, it is slow to angered and remembers no wrongs.
- (We are to focus on those things that are honest, true, and pure. Philippians 4:8)

1 Corinthians 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; · Charity does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.

Rejoice not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth in the truth. Charity does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.
- The KJV translates adikia as iniquity but I liked unrighteousness a little better here. Adikia means those things that while not in violation of the law but rather an act of inherent evil.

1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
- (Because God cannot lie we anchor our hope in his promise. Hebrews 6:17 - 19)

1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Charity never fails. But where there are prophecies, they shall fail; where there are tongues, they shall cease, where there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

1 Corinthians 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
(We do not know all that we will know. 1 Corinthians 8:2 )

1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

But when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
(In this life we are imperfect but we look forward to perfection in the next. 1 John 3:2)

1 Corinthians 13:11 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.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

We see but through a dark glass, but we shall see face to face. For what I know partially I will know fully, even as I am fully known.
- (God knows his own Nahum 1:7, John 10:14, 1 Corinthians 8:3, and 2 Timothy 2:19 )

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Now these three remain: faith, hope and charity. But the greatest of these is charity.

Nahum 1

7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Nahum Chapter 1 - Full Text

Matthew 6:1

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Mathew Chapter 6 - Full Text

John 10

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

1 Corinthians 8:2

2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

1 Corinthians 8:3

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

1 Corinthians 12:8 - 11

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

1 Corinthians Chapter 12 - Full Text

1 Corinthians Chapter 13

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 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 have not love, I am nothing.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

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.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

12 Now we see but a poor 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.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians Chapter 13 - Full Text

Hebrews 6:17 - 19

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Hebrews Chapter 6 - Full Text

2 Timothy 2:19

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Philippians 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians Chapter 4 - Full Text

1 John 3

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1 John Chapter 3 - Full Text

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