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. NEVER FALLETH - never 'falleth' to the ground (Greek), so as to be out of use: always holds its place. SHALL FALL ... VANISH AWAY, [ katargeetheesetai (G2673)]. The same Greek for both; different from the Greek for "faileth" [ piptei (G4098)]. Translate, 'shall be done away with' - i:e., shall be dispensed with at the Lord's coming, superseded by their more perfect analogues; for instance, knowledge by intuition. Of "tongues," still more temporary, the verb is "shall cease." Begun in sin (Genesis 11:1), they...

8._Love never faileth _Here we have another excellence of _love _— _that _it endures for ever. There is good reason why we should eagerly desire an excellence that will never come to an end. Hence _love _must be preferred before temporary and perishable gifts. _Prophesyings have an end, tongues fail, knowledge ceases _Hence _love _is more excellent than they on this ground — that, while they fail, it survives. Papists pervert this passage, for the purpose of establishing the doctrine which they have contrived, without any authority from Scripture — that the souls of the deceased pray to God on our behalf. For they reason in this manner: “Prayer is a perpetual _office _of love — love endures in the souls of departed saints — therefore they pray for _us.” _For my part, although I should not wish to contend too keenly on this point, yet, in order that they may not think that they have gaine...

8-13 Charity is much to be preferred to the gifts on which the Corinthians prided themselves. From its longer continuance. It is a grace, lasting as eternity. The present state is a state of childhood, the future that of manhood. Such is the difference between earth and heaven. What narrow views, what confused notions of things, have children when compared with grown men! Thus shall we think of our most valued gifts of this world, when we come to heaven. All things are dark and confused now, compared with what they will be hereafter. They can only be seen as by the reflection in a mirror, or in the description of a riddle; but hereafter our knowledge will be free from all obscurity and error. It is the light of heaven only, that will remove all clouds and darkness that hide the face of God from us. To sum up the excellences of charity, it is preferred not only to gifts, but to other gra...

Verse 1 Corinthians 13:8. (16.) _CHARITY NEVER FAILETH_] Ἡ αγαπη ουδεποτε εκπιπτει· _This love never falleth off_, because it _bears,_ _believes, hopes_, and _endures_ all things; and while it does so it cannot _fail_; it is the means of _preserving_ all other graces; indeed, properly speaking, it includes them all; and all receive their perfection from it. Love to God and man can never be dispensed with. It is essential to social and religious life; without it no communion can be kept up with God; nor can any man have a preparation for eternal glory whose heart and soul are not deeply imbued with it. Without it there never was true religion, nor ever can be; and it not only is necessary through life, but will exist throughout eternity. What were a state of blessedness if it did not comprehend love to God and human spirits in the most exq...

CHARITY NEVER FAILETH - Paul here proceeds to illustrate the value of love, from its “permanency” as compared with other valued endowments. It is valuable, and is to be sought because it will always abide; may be always exercised; is adapted to all circumstances, and to all worlds in which we may be placed, or in which we may dwell. The word rendered “faileth” (ἐκπίπτει ekpiptei) denotes properly to fall out of, to fall from or off; and may be applied to the stars of heaven falling Mark 13:25, or to flowers that fall or fade James 1:11; 1 Peter 1:24, or to chains falling from the hands, etc.;...

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

CHARITY NEVER FAILETH,.... It may fail as to the exercise of it, as other graces do; it may be left, but not lost; the fervour of it may be remitted and abated; it may wax cold through the prevalence of sin; it may be greatly damped by the growth of error and heresy, which eat as do a canker; and may be much obstructed by an anxious and immoderate care and concern for worldly things; which are very pernicious to all the branches of vital religion and powerful godliness, and particularly love to God, Christ, and the brethren: but this grace never fails as to its principle; it is an immortal and an incorruptible seed; it lives throughout the most violent temptations, as in Peter; and under the greatest desertions and sorest afflictions, still there is an affection for God; Christ is he whom such a soul loves; and the saints are the excellent in the earth, in whom is all his delight: and it...

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 there be no love to God, and no love to man, the vital element is wanting. Whatever sound we make if the Word of God is not in us, it is a sound that has no meaning, conveys no heavenly meaning. «I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.» What if any of us who bear witness for Christ with our tongues should be found to be no better than this? 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._ Judas had, no doubt, faith in God

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