1 Corinthians 13

Chapter Summary

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul teaches that love is the greatest of all spiritual gifts and that it is the essential component of a Christian's character. He argues that without love, all other virtues and accomplishments, such as speaking in tongues, prophesying, and giving to the poor, are meaningless. Paul describes the characteristics of love, including patience, kindness, and humility, and he contrasts it with the fleeting nature of spiritual gifts. The chapter culminates with the famous statement that faith, hope, and love are the three greatest virtues, but that the greatest of these is love. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, even the most impressive spiritual gifts are worthless without love, and in 1 Corinthians 13:13, he concludes that love is the greatest virtue because it is the one that will endure forever.

Context for the Chapter

This chapter is part of Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church, which was written to address various problems and issues that had arisen in the church. The chapter is a response to the Corinthians' emphasis on spiritual gifts, which had led to pride and division in the church. Paul writes to remind them that love is the greatest of all virtues and that it is the essential component of a Christian's character. The chapter is also connected to the larger biblical narrative, as it reflects the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels, such as in John 13:34-35, where Jesus commands his disciples to love one another.

Heart Application

This chapter has practical applications for Christians today, as it reminds us that love is the greatest of all virtues and that it is the essential component of a Christian's character. We should strive to love as Christ loves, and to prioritize love in our relationships with others. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, love is patient, kind, and humble, and does not envy or boast, and we should seek to exhibit these characteristics in our own lives.

What Does This Chapter Mean?

This chapter teaches that love is the most important thing in the Christian life. Even if we have great spiritual gifts or do many good works, if we do not have love, we are nothing. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, love is the greatest of all virtues, and it is the essential component of a Christian's character. We should strive to love others as Christ loves us, and to prioritize love in our relationships with others.

Voices from the Church

“The love of which Paul speaks is not a natural affection, but a supernatural gift, which is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. As Calvin writes in his commentary on 1 Corinthians, "The love which is here commended is not that which is produced by nature, but that which is bestowed by God."”

— John Calvin

“Love is the grandest thing in the Christian's character, and it is the thing which will last the longest. As Spurgeon preached in a sermon on 1 Corinthians 13, "Love is the music which will be heard in heaven, when all the other sounds of earth have ceased."”

— Charles Spurgeon

Outline for Preaching

1. The Supremacy of Love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) — Paul argues that love is the greatest of all virtues, and that without it, all other accomplishments are meaningless.
2. The Characteristics of Love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) — Paul describes the characteristics of love, including patience, kindness, and humility.
3. The Fleeting Nature of Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) — Paul argues that spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying, are temporary and will one day cease, but love will endure forever.
4. The Enduring Nature of Love (1 Corinthians 13:11-13) — Paul writes that love is the greatest of all virtues because it is the one that will endure forever.
5. Conclusion (1 Corinthians 13:13) — Paul concludes that faith, hope, and love are the three greatest virtues, but that the greatest of these is love.

Core Doctrines

The Doctrine of Love

This chapter teaches that love is the greatest of all virtues and that it is the essential component of a Christian's character. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, love is the greatest of all virtues, and it is the essential component of a Christian's character.

The Doctrine of Spiritual Gifts

The chapter teaches that spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying, are temporary and will one day cease, but love will endure forever. In 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, Paul writes that prophecy and tongues will be stilled, but love will remain.

The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

The chapter implies that love is a supernatural gift, which is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. As Calvin writes in his commentary on 1 Corinthians, "The love which is here commended is not that which is produced by nature, but that which is bestowed by God."

The Doctrine of Heaven

The chapter teaches that love is the one thing that will endure forever, and that it will be the music of heaven. As Spurgeon preached in a sermon on 1 Corinthians 13, "Love is the music which will be heard in heaven, when all the other sounds of earth have ceased."

Lessons from 1 Corinthians 13

1. The Importance of Love — This chapter teaches that love is the greatest of all virtues, and that it is the essential component of a Christian's character. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, love is the greatest of all virtues, and it is the essential component of a Christian's character.
2. The Characteristics of Love — Paul describes the characteristics of love, including patience, kindness, and humility, which are all essential components of a Christian's character. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul writes that love is patient, kind, and humble, and does not envy or boast.
3. The Fleeting Nature of Spiritual Gifts — The chapter teaches that spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying, are temporary and will one day cease, but love will endure forever. In 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, Paul writes that prophecy and tongues will be stilled, but love will remain.
4. The Enduring Nature of Love — Paul writes that love is the greatest of all virtues because it is the one that will endure forever. As Spurgeon preached in a sermon on 1 Corinthians 13, "Love is the music which will be heard in heaven, when all the other sounds of earth have ceased."
5. The Priority of Love — The chapter teaches that love should be the top priority for Christians, and that we should strive to love others as Christ loves us. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, love is patient, kind, and humble, and does not envy or boast, and we should seek to exhibit these characteristics in our own lives.

Themes from 1 Corinthians 13

1. The Supremacy of Love — This chapter teaches that love is the greatest of all virtues, and that it is the essential component of a Christian's character. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, love is the greatest of all virtues, and it is the essential component of a Christian's character.
2. The Characteristics of Love — Paul describes the characteristics of love, including patience, kindness, and humility, which are all essential components of a Christian's character. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul writes that love is patient, kind, and humble, and does not envy or boast.
3. The Fleeting Nature of Spiritual Gifts — The chapter teaches that spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying, are temporary and will one day cease, but love will endure forever. In 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, Paul writes that prophecy and tongues will be stilled, but love will remain.
4. The Enduring Nature of Love — Paul writes that love is the greatest of all virtues because it is the one that will endure forever. As Spurgeon preached in a sermon on 1 Corinthians 13, "Love is the music which will be heard in heaven, when all the other sounds of earth have ceased."
5. The Priority of Love — The chapter teaches that love should be the top priority for Christians, and that we should strive to love others as Christ loves us. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, love is patient, kind, and humble, and does not envy or boast, and we should seek to exhibit these characteristics in our own lives.

Questions for Meditation

1. What is the central theme of 1 Corinthians 13, and how does it relate to the Christian life?
2. How does Paul describe the characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, and how can we exhibit these characteristics in our own lives?
3. What does Paul mean by the statement that faith, hope, and love are the three greatest virtues, but that the greatest of these is love?
4. How does the fleeting nature of spiritual gifts relate to the enduring nature of love, and what implications does this have for our priorities as Christians?
5. How can we prioritize love in our relationships with others, and what role does the Holy Spirit play in pouring out love into our hearts?

Detailed Chapter Outline

Frequently Asked Questions

Top Cross References

Sermons on 1 Corinthians 13

	Sermon	Description
	Dating Sermon by Paul Washer	In this sermon, the speaker discusses the issue of young men in today's society, referring to them as "mall waifs" who spend their time playing video games and hanging out at malls
	1 Cor 13 (Version 2) by Leonard Ravenhill	In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about an old couple who were brutally attacked by a man they had shown love to. The preacher emphasizes the importance of love and how i
	Testimony - Part 1 by Gladys Aylward	In this sermon transcript, the speaker shares their experience of being the only missionary in a heathen government and their journey of spreading the Gospel in South Shansey. Desp
	Do These Things Move You? by Leonard Ravenhill	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having unwavering faith in God, even in the midst of challenging circumstances. He uses the example of a man who remained c
	(Missions Conference Shoals) - Part 4 by Paul Washer	In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of listening to God's commandments and living a life of repentance. He compares the urgency of this message to a parent plead
	Four Loves by C.S. Lewis	C.S. Lewis explores the concept of love through the lens of the four Greek words: Storge, which represents familial affection; Philia, the bond of friendship; Eros, the romantic lo
	Behaviors That Bind Us by Charles Stanley	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of teaching children that their sense of security comes from a relationship with God, rather than material possessions. The sp
	(John) 08 - What He Takes He Breaks by Alan Redpath	In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of relying on God's power rather than human programs or gimmicks. He uses the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand as an
	(1 Corinthians) ch.12:22-13:13 by Zac Poonen	In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of love in the exercise of spiritual gifts. He describes a hypothetical man who possesses impressive gifts such as speaking in
	A Salute to Those Who Stayed With It by David Wilkerson	This sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing and embracing the diverse callings within the body of Christ. Using the story of David and his army in 1 Samuel 30, it highligh

Summary of Matthew Henry Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13

In this chapter, Paul teaches that love is the greatest of all virtues, and that it is the essential component of a Christian's character. He describes the characteristics of love, including patience, kindness, and humility, and he contrasts it with the fleeting nature of spiritual gifts. As Matthew Henry writes in his commentary, "Love is the most excellent way, and it is the way that will last when all other ways have come to an end." Henry also notes that love is not a natural affection, but a supernatural gift, which is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. He concludes that love is the one thing that will endure forever, and that it will be the music of heaven, when all the other sounds of earth have ceased. As Henry writes, "The love which is here commended is not that which is produced by nature, but that which is bestowed by God." Read the full unabridged Matthew Henry Commentary →

What Do You Notice?