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. Ver. 1. _Though I speak with the tongues_] The Corinthians gloried much in this gift of tongues; but this a man may have, and yet perish, as Mithridates, who is said to... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _And have not charity_] If I knew and did all for ostentation, not for edification; as Stephen Gardin... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _Though I bestow all my goods_] Unless I draw out my soul as well as my sheaf to the hungry, Isaiah 58:10. Many shrink up charity to a handbreadth, to... [ Continue Reading ]
Charity suffereth long, _and_ is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Ver. 4. _And is kind_] χρηστευεται, or, is easy to be made use of, ready to any good office. Charity is no churl. _ Vaunteth not itself_] With the scorn of others. Arrianus saith, that he is... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Ver. 5. _Behave itself unseemly_] οισχημονει, or, doth not disgrace any one. _ Is not easily provoked_] παροξυνεται, falls not into any sharp fit, as they did, Acts 15:39, so as that her teeth are set o... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Ver. 6. _Rejoiceth with the truth_] _Nulla est igitur inter males charitas, sed coniuratio potius, _ saith a grave expositor. It is not charity, but conspiracy, that is found in wicked men. (Dr Sclater.)... [ Continue Reading ]
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Ver. 7. _Beareth all things_] στεγει, _tegit._ Covereth faults with her large mantle, dissembleth injuries, swalloweth down whole many pills that would prove very bitter in the chewing. The Greek word is _metaphora a... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 8. _Prophecies, they shall fail_] The archprophet shall teach us immediately, as he had done Moses and Elias, who appeari... [ Continue Reading ]
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. Ver. 9. _We prophesy in part_] We therefore know but imperfectly, because we are taught but imperfectly. My greatest knowledge, said Chytraeus, is to know that I know nothing. (Melch. Adam.) And not only in most other things am I ignorant, said Augustin... [ Continue Reading ]
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Ver. 10. _Then that which is in part_] As the old slough falls off when the new skin comes on. As a man returns no more to the free school that hath proceeded in the university.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 11. _When I was a child_] Adrian VI, before he became pope, taxed the Church of Rome for many errors; but afterwards, being desired to reform them, he wic... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _In a glass, &c._] SeeNumbers 12:8 . _ But then face to face_] _i.e._ Distinctly, Clearly, immediately, beatifically. And surely, if Lipsius thought when he di... [ Continue Reading ]
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these _is_ charity. Ver. 13. _The greatest of these_] Because longest lasting. Gifts that suppose imperfection in us, as faith and hope, or misery in others, as pity, &c., shall be put away. Secondly, because it is diffusive of... [ Continue Reading ]