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    1 Corinthians 13 (KJV)

    Read 1 Corinthians chapter 13 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    1 Corinthians 13

    Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

    1 Corinthians 13:4

    "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; ch…"

    1 Corinthians 13:13

    "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the g…"

    1 Corinthians 13:7

    "Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,…"

    1 Corinthians 13:4-7

    "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; ch…"

    1 Corinthians 13:1

    "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and ha…"

    1 Corinthians 13:5

    "Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not…"

    1 Corinthians 13:6

    "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;…"

    1 Corinthians 13:8

    "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they…"

    1 Corinthians 13:11

    "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a ch…"

    Popular Verses in 1 Corinthians 13

    Most searched verses from this chapter, with KJV text and context.

    1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV

    Love & Relationships

    1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

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    1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV

    Love & Relationships

    1 Corinthians 13:7 KJV

    Love & Relationships

    1 Corinthians 13:8 KJV

    Love & Relationships

    1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV

    Love & Relationships

    1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV

    Love & Relationships

    1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV

    Pauline Epistles

    1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV

    Pauline Epistles

    1 Corinthians 13:7 KJV

    Pauline Epistles

    1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV

    Pauline Epistles

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    1 Corinthians 13 Summary

    First Corinthians 13—the 'Love Chapter'—is Paul's correction of a church obsessed with spiritual gifts. Sandwiched between chapters 12 and 14 on gifts, Paul declares that without love, even the most spectacular abilities are worthless noise.

    The chapter's central section defines love through fifteen action verbs: love is patient, kind, doesn't envy, doesn't boast, isn't proud, and so on. Paul then contrasts the temporary nature of spiritual gifts with the permanence of love, which abides forever alongside faith and hope. Love is the greatest because it alone reflects God's eternal character.

    Key Themes

    Love definedLove's supremacy over giftsPatience and kindnessThe eternal nature of loveMaturity

    Key Verses in 1 Corinthians 13

    "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own."

    — 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

    Love defined by verbs, not feelings—it's what you do, not what you feel.

    "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

    — 1 Corinthians 13:13

    Love outlasts everything—even faith and hope will be fulfilled, but love continues eternally.

    "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass."

    — 1 Corinthians 13:1

    The most impressive gift without love is just noise—ability without love is spiritual emptiness.

    Life Application

    Replace 'love' with your name in verses 4-7. Where it doesn't fit reveals where growth is needed. Love isn't a feeling to be found—it's a decision to be made, over and over, especially when it's difficult.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is this chapter about romantic love?

    No—the Greek word 'agape' refers to selfless, sacrificial love. While the passage is popular at weddings, Paul wrote it to correct a church divided over spiritual gifts. Its primary application is community love, though it certainly applies to marriage.

    What does 'when that which is perfect is come' mean?

    Scholars debate whether 'the perfect' refers to the completed Bible, the mature church, or Christ's return. Most interpret it as Christ's return or the eternal state, when partial knowledge gives way to full, face-to-face knowing.

    Read the full summary of 1 Corinthians

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