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. The New Testament psalm of love, as the 45th Psalm (see its title) and Canticles in the Old Testament. While Paul's chief theme is faith, he handles love also with the unction of the beloved disciple. TONGUES. From these he ascends to "prophecy" (); then to "faith;" then to benevolent and self-sacrificing deeds: a climax. He passes from addressing them () to putting the case in his own person - "Though I." etc. "speak with the tongues" - with the eloquence so much admired at Corinth (e.g., Apollos, : cf....

The division of the Chapter being so absurd, I could not refrain from changing it, especially as I could not conveniently interpret it otherwise. For what purpose did it serve to connect with what goes before a detached sentence, which agrees so well with what comes after — nay more, is thereby rendered complete? It is likely, that it happened through a mistake on the part of the transcribers. However it may be as to this, after having commanded that regard should be had chiefly to edification, he now declares that he will show them something of greater importance — that everything be regulated according to the rule of _love. _This, then, is _the most excellent way, _when _love _is the regulating principle of all our actions. And, in the outset, he proceeds upon this — that all excellencies (774) are of no value without _love; _for nothing is so excellent or estimable as not to be vitiat...

1-3 The excellent way had in view in the close of the former chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, almsgiving, but love in its fullest meaning; true love to God and man. Without this, the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding, are of no value without a benevolent and charitable heart. There may be an open and lavish hand, where there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to others will do none to us, if it be not done from love to God, and good-will to men. If we give away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will not profit. Nor even the most painful sufferings. How are those deluded who look for acceptance and reward for their good works, which are as scanty and defective as they are corrupt and selfish!...

CHAPTER XIII. _Charity, or love to God and man, the sum and substance of all_ _true religion; so that without it, the most splendid eloquence,_ _the gift of prophecy, the most profound knowledge, faith by_ _which the most stupendous miracles might be wrought,_ _benevolence the most unbounded, and zeal for the truth, even_ _to martyrdom, would all be unavailing to salvation_, 1-3. _The description and praise of this grace_, 4-7. _Its durableness; though tongues, prophecies, and knowledge_ _shall cease, yet this shall never fail_, 8-10....

THOUGH I SPEAK WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN - Though I should be able to speak all the languages which are spoken by people. To speak foreign languages was regarded then, as it is now, as a rare and valuable endowment; compare Virgil, _Aeneas_ vi. 625ff. The word “I” here is used in a popular sense, and the apostle designs to illustrate, as he often does, his idea by a reference to himself, which, it is evident, he wishes to be understood as applying to those whom he addressed. It is evident that among the Corinthians the power of speaking a foreign language was regarded as a signally valuable endowment; and there can be no doubt that some of the leaders in that church valued themselves especially on it; see 1 Corinthians 14. To correct this, and to show them that all this would be vain without love, and to induce them, therefore, to seek for love as a more

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1 _The supremely excellent way of Christian love. _This chapter has been in all ages the object of the special admiration of the Church. Would that it had received in all ages the loftier and more valuable admiration which would have been expressed by an acceptance of its lessons! Tertullian says that it is uttered "with all the force of the Spirit" (_totis Spiritus viribus_)_. _It is a glorious hymn or paean in honour of Christian love, in which St. Paul rises on the wings of inspiration to the most sunlit heights of Christian eloquence. Like the forty-fifth psalm, it may be entitled "A Psalm of Love." Valcknaer says that the "oratorical figures which illuminate the chapter have been born spontaneously in an heroic soul, burning with the love of Christ, and placing all things lower than thi

THOUGH I SPEAK WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN,.... That is, of all men, all languages that men anywhere speak, or have been spoken by them. The number of these is by some said i to be "seventy five"; but the general opinion of the Jews is, that at the confusion of languages at Babel, they were seventy; for they say k, that then "the holy blessed God descended, and "seventy angels" surrounding the throne of his glory, and confounded the languages of seventy people, and every nation of the seventy had their own language and writing, and an angel set over each nation;'' whether this may be the reason, why the tongues of angels are mentioned here with those of men, let it be considered. Mordecai, they say l, was skilled in all these seventy languages, so that when he heard Bigthan and Teresh, who were Tarsians, talking together in the Tarsian language, he understood them. The same is said m of R....

1 Corinthians 12:1. _Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led._ Although the members of the church at Corinth were highly favored with spiritual gifts, they do not seem to have known how to use them. Paul points out to them, in this chapter, how ignorant they were concerning the very gifts which they possessed. They did not know how to put them to proper' use in the service of God. The apostle therefore reminds these gift-exalted Corinthians that, only a little while before, they were heathens, carried away by falsehood and superstition, and worshipping dumb idols. They had nothing, therefore, to boast of; and it is probable that, if we also look back to the hole of the pit whence we were dug, we shall find no more occasion for boasting than they had.

ANGELS See note, (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _ CHARITY That is, love; and so in (1 Corinthians 13:2); (1 Corinthians 13:3); (1 Corinthians 13:4); (1 Corinthians 13:8); (1 Corinthians 13:13)....

3. THE NEED AND SUPERIORITY OF LOVE. CHAPTER 13 __ 1. The Preeminence of Love. (1 Corinthians 13:1 .) 2. Love described in its characteristics. (1 Corinthians 13:4 .) 3. Love never faileth; its Permanence. (1 Corinthians 13:8 .) This chapter is a most blessed exaltation of love. The word “charity” is an unfortunate mistranslation. The Greek word for love used in the New Testament was never used by the Greek heathen classical writers. In its meaning it was unknown among the Gentiles. God is love. As His people, members of His body, we know the love of God manifested in the gift of God's well beloved Son. And this love is shed abroad in the hear