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. MYSTERIES (; ). Mysteries refer to God's deep counsels heretofore secret, but now revealed; knowledge, to truths long known. FAITH, SO THAT I COULD REMOVE MOUNTAINS () - confidence in God that the miraculous result will surely follow the exercise of the will at the Spirit's secret impulse. Without "love," prophecy, knowledge and faith are not what they seem (cf. ;...

2._And if I should have the gift of prophecy. _He brings down to nothing the dignity of even this endowment, (777) which, nevertheless, he had preferred to all others. _To know all mysteries, _might seem to be added to the term _prophecy, _by way of explanation, but as the term _knowledge _is immediately added, of which he had previously made mention by itself, (1 Corinthians 12:8,) it will deserve your consideration, whether the _knowledge of mysteries _may not be used here to mean _wisdom. _As for myself, while I would not venture to affirm that it is so, I am much inclined to that opinion. That _faith, _of which he speaks, is special, as is evident from the clause that is immediately added — so _that I remove mountains _Hence the Sophists accomplish nothing, when they pervert this passage for the purpose o

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!...

Verse 1 Corinthians 13:2. _AND THOUGH I HAVE_ THE GIFT OF _PROPHECY_] Though I should have received from God the knowledge of future events, so that I could correctly foretell what is coming to pass in the world and in the Church:- _AND UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES_] The meaning of all the types and figures in the Old Testament, and all the unexplored secrets of nature; _and all knowledge_-every human art and science; and _though_ _I have all faith_-such miraculous faith as would enable me even to remove mountains; or had such powerful discernment in sacred things that I could solve the greatest difficulties, Matthew 21:21, _and have not charity_-this love to God and man, as the principle and motive of all my conduct, the c

AND THOUGH I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY - See the note at 1 Corinthians 12:10; note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. AND UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES - On the meaning of the word “mystery” see note, 1 Corinthians 2:7. This passage proves that it was one part of the prophetic office, as referred to here, to be able to understand and explain the “mysteries” of religion; that is, the things that were before unknown, or unrevealed. It does not refer to the prediction of future events, but to the great and deep truths connected with religion; the things that were unexplained in the old economy, the meaning of types and emblems; and the o

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

AND THOUGH I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY,.... Either of foretelling future events, as Balaam, who foretold many things concerning the Messiah and the people of Israel, and yet had no true love for either; and Caiaphas, who was high priest the year Christ suffered, and prophesied of his death, and was himself concerned in it, being a bitter enemy to him; or of explaining the prophecies of the Old Testament, by virtue of an extraordinary gift which some persons had; or of the ordinary preaching of the word, which is sometimes expressed by prophesying, which gift some have had, and yet not the grace of God; see Philippians 1:15 AND UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES; either the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, the mysterious doctrines of the Gospel; such as the trinity of persons in the Godhead, the incarnation of Christ, the unity of the two natures, human and divine, in him,

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.

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

1 CORINTHIANS 13. ALL GIFTS AND SACRIFICES ARE WORTHLESS WITHOUT LOVE, WHICH IS SUPREME AND INCOMPARABLE. The chapter falls into three divisions: (_a)_ superlative gifts and costliest surrenders are valueless in the absence of love (1 Corinthians 13:1); (_b_) description of love's manifold excellences (1 Corinthians 13:4); (_c)_ love is imperishable (1 Corinthians 13:8). It is linked to chs. 12 and 14 by the mention in 1 Corinthians 13:1 f., 1 Corinthians 13:8 f., of tongues and