I Corinthians 13
To get the understanding of I Corinthians chapters twelve, thirteen and fourteen you must read
them as a whole, together. People have taken one or the other of the three chapters and lauded
them to the sky without regard to the other two chapters.
What these chapters are dealing with is the operation of the spirit. Chapter twelve shows us the
operations within the gift of holy spirit namely speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues,
prophesy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith miracles and gifts of
healing.
Chapter 13 shows us the more excellent way. The “way” is the operation of ministries and
leadership within the body. The “more excellent way” is that of love.
Chapter fourteen rounds this all out by explaining how the manifestations are to be operated in
the Church with everything being done decently and in order.
Below, I have given you chapter thirteen in from the King James version of the Bible. After that
I have expanded chapter thirteen so that you can get a better understanding.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (KJV)
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.
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.
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.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed
up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
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.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 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.
12 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.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.1 Although I speak with the tongues of men or of angels (speaking in tongues is always the
language of men or of angels) and don’t have the love of God in operation (evidence) in my life,
I will either be as a noisy gong or a crashing cymbal, loud and noisy but of no benefit.
2 And though I have the ability to prophesy and to understand all mysteries and to understand all
knowledge and have so trained myself to believe big enough that I can say to a mountain “be
thou removed and cast into the sea” and it goes lfying into the sea and don’t have the love of God
in operation in my life, I am nothing.
3 And though I give all of my worldly possessions to feed the hungry and though I work myself
to the bone to help others, it doesn’t benefit me one little bit if I don’t do it with the love of God.
4 When you operate love of God in the renewed mind you are long on patience, you are kind,
you don’t envy, you don’t boast, you are not a braggard or haughty.
5 When you are operating the love of God according to the Word of God you will not act in an
inappropriate manner, you won’t seek your own glory or benefit, you won’t be easily provoked,
when you are operating the love of God in the renewed mind you will think no evil!
6 When you are operating the love of God according to the Word of God you will not rejoice in
wrong but you will rejoice in truth.
7 You will cover the faults of others with silence, you can believe for God’s deliverance in all
situations, you will look forward in anticipation to the promises of God and you will be able to
endure anything.
8 The love of God in the renewed mind in operation will never fail! But, at the end of the age
prophesies shall be done away with, there won’t be a need for speaking in tongues and the
manifestation of word of knowledge will cease because we will know even as we are known.
9 For God gives us pieces of knowledge by revelation and prophesy when needed
10 But, when Christ comes for his Church (I Thess.4:13-17) then the manifestations of holy
spirit, as we know them, will be done away with.
11 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. So, it will be at the coming of Christ. The tools God
has given us to use will be put away and we will have the fullness of God.
12 For now we can’t see things clearly, but rather, as if we were looking at the world in a
reflection from polished brass,
13 And now these three – believing, hope and the love of God in the renewed mind in operation
will continue even after the gathering together of the Christians; but the greatest of these is God’s
love that you can manifest in this day and in this time.So, how do you get this love of God into operation?? Look at Romans 12:2
Romans 12:2 (KJV)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We study the Bible written to us in the New Testament and apply it in our lives