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. BESTOW ALL MY GOODS TO FEED THE POOR, [ psoomisoo (G5595)] - dole out (crumble away) in food all my goods; one high function of the "helps" (1 Corinthians 12:28). GIVE MY BODY TO BE BURNED - literally give up my body to such a degree as that I should be burned. As the three youths (Daniel 3:28) "yielded their bodies" (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:15). So C Delta G f g, Vulgate, But A B 'Aleph (') read ...

3._And if I should expend all my possessions. _(779) This, it is true, is worthy of the highest praise, if considered in itself; but as liberality in many cases proceeds from ambition — not from true generosity, or even the man that is liberal is destitute of the other departments of love, (for even liberality, that is inwardly felt, is only one department of _love,) _it may happen that a work, otherwise so commendable, has, indeed, a fair show in the sight of men, and is applauded by them, and yet is regarded as nothing in the sight of God. _And if I should give up my body. _He speaks, undoubtedly, of martyrdom, which is an act that is the most lovely and excellent of all; for what is more admirable than that invincible fortitude of mind, which makes a man not hesitate to pour out his life for the testimony of the gospel? Yet even this, too, God regards as nothing, if the mind is destit...

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 13:3. _AND THOUGH I BESTOW ALL MY GOODS TO FEED_ THE POOR] This is a proof that _charity_, in _our sense of the word_, is not what the apostle means; for surely almsgiving can go no farther than to give up _all_ that a man possesses in order to relieve the wants of others. The word ψωμιζω, which we translate _to feed the_ _poor_, signifies to _divide into morsels, and put into the mouth_; which implies _carefulness_ and _tenderness_ in applying the bounty thus freely given. _AND THOUGH I GIVE MY BODY TO BE BURNED_] ινακαυθησομαι. Mr. Wakefield renders this clause thus: 1. _And though I give up my body_ _so as to have cause of boasting_: in vindication of which he, first, refers to...

AND THOUGH I BESTOW - The Greek word used here ψωμίσω psōmisō, from ψάω psaō, to break off) meant properly to break off, and distribute in small portions; to feed by morsels; and may be applicable here to distributing one’s property in small portions. Charity or alms to the poor, was usually distributed at one’s gate Luke 16:20, or in some public place. Of course, if property was distributed in this manner, many more would be benefitted than if all were given to one person. There would be many more to be thankful, and to celebrate one’s praises. This was regarded as a great virtue; and was often performed in a most ostentatious manner. It was a gratification to wealthy men who desired the praise of being benevolent, that many of the poor flocked daily t

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 BESTOW ALL MY GOODS TO FEED THE POOR,.... Of which the Jews give us instances; they say n, that R. Ishcab stood, והחליק כל נכסיו לעניים, "and distributed all his goods to the poor"; and a little after they say the same of King Monbaz, that he stood and gave away, or dispersed, "all his goods to the poor"; and elsewhere o they say of R. Eliezer ben Judah, that the collectors of alms ran away from him, because he would have given them שיש לו כל מה, "all that he had"; and of another, they say p, that he took all that he had in his house, and went out to divide it among the poor; but of what avail was all this, when what these men did, they did not from a principle of love to God, nor to Christ, nor even to the poor, to whom they gave their substance; but to have honour and applause from men, and have and obtain eternal life hereafter? for they thought by so doing, that they de...

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.

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)....

1 CORINTHIANS 13:3 kauch,swmai {C} Did Paul write i[na kauch,swmai (“that I may glory”) or i[na kauqh,somai (“that I should be burned”)? To answer this question requires the evaluation of several very evenly balanced considerations. In support of the reading kauch,swmai one can appeal to external evidence that is both early and weighty (î46 a A B 6 33 69 1739* copsa, bo gothmg Clement Origen Jerome and Greek mssacc. to Jerome). Transcriptional considerations likewise favor kauch,swmai, for copyists, uncertain of Paul’s meaning in linking the idea of glorying or boasting to the preceding cla...