1 Corinthians 13 is the Bible's love chapter. In the King James Version, love is called charity: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up" (1 Corinthians 13:4). The chapter says that gifts without love are worthless (verses 1 to 3), describes what love is like (verses 4 to 8) and ends, "the greatest of these is charity" (verse 13).
1 Corinthians 13 is read at more weddings than almost any other passage, but Paul did not first write it for a wedding. He wrote it to a church in Corinth that was proud of its spiritual gifts and divided by jealousy. In chapter 12 Paul explained that every believer has a gift, and he ended by saying, "yet shew I unto you a more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). Chapter 13 is that more excellent way: love. Then chapter 14 begins, "Follow after charity" (1 Corinthians 14:1). The King James Version uses the word charity, from the Latin caritas, for the Greek word agape: self-giving love that seeks another's good. It does not mean donations to the poor here. Below are all thirteen verses of 1 Corinthians 13 in the KJV, with verses 9 and 10 kept together, and a short explanation of each. If you are planning a wedding reading, a Valentine's Day devotion for February 14, 2027, or simply want to grow in love, this is a good chapter to read slowly. For more, see Bible verses about love and Bible verses for weddings.
1 Corinthians 13:1-4: without charity, I am nothing
1. 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."
Paul starts with the gift the Corinthians prized most: 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. Corinth was famous for bronze work, and pagan worship used clanging cymbals. Impressive words without love are just noise. This applies to preachers, singers, writers and anyone with a gift for words, including in our online conversations.
2. 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."
Next come knowledge and faith: though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. Jesus spoke of faith that moves mountains (Matthew 17:20), and Paul says even that is nothing without love. It is possible to know a great deal of Bible and still be unloving. God measures a life not by how much we know, but by how we love.
3. 1 Corinthians 13:3
"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."
Even sacrifice is not enough on its own: 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. This is where the KJV shows that charity means more than giving: you can give everything away and still lack charity. Generosity and sacrifice can come from pride or a wish to be seen. Love is the motive that makes them count.
4. 1 Corinthians 13:4
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,"
Now Paul describes love with verbs, because love is something you do: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Suffereth long means patient. Vaunteth not means it does not brag. Puffed up means proud. Try reading this verse with your own name in place of charity. It quickly shows where we need God's help, and it describes Jesus perfectly.
1 Corinthians 13:5-8: what charity is
5. 1 Corinthians 13:5
"Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;"
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. Unseemly means rude. Seeketh not her own means love does not insist on its own way. Is not easily provoked means it does not fly off the handle. Thinketh no evil can mean it does not plot harm or keep a record of wrongs. These are everyday tests in marriage, family and church.
6. 1 Corinthians 13:6
"Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;"
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Love does not enjoy gossip about someone's failure or celebrate wrongdoing. It is glad when truth wins. Love is not the same as approving of everything. Real love tells the truth gently and rejoices when people are set free by it. See Bible verses about truth.
7. 1 Corinthians 13:7
"Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Beareth can mean covers or protects. Believeth all things does not mean believing every lie, but being ready to trust and think the best. Hopeth all things looks forward to what God can still do. Endureth all things keeps going under pressure. This verse is a picture of steady, faithful love over many years.
8. 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."
Charity never faileth. Then Paul contrasts love with the gifts the Corinthians were so proud of: whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Gifts are tools for this life. Love is permanent; it will last into eternity. Investing in love is investing in what lasts forever.
1 Corinthians 13:9-13: the greatest of these
9. 1 Corinthians 13:9-10
"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. Even the best teaching and the clearest prophecy give only part of the picture. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Many Christians understand the perfect as the return of Christ and the new creation, when we will see fully. Until then, humility fits all of us.
10. 1 Corinthians 13:11
"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."
Paul uses a picture from growing up: 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. Childish here is not about playfulness but about immaturity. The Corinthians acted like children fighting over toys. Love is the sign of mature faith.
11. 1 Corinthians 13:12
"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."
For now we see through a glass, darkly. Ancient mirrors were polished metal and gave a dim, blurry image. That is how we see God now. But then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. One day we will see God clearly. The beautiful part is the last phrase: God already knows us fully, and He loves us.
12. 1 Corinthians 13:13
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
The chapter ends: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Faith trusts God and hope waits for His promises, but in heaven faith will become sight and hope will be fulfilled. Love will remain, because God is love (1 John 4:8). That is why it is the greatest. See faith, hope and love.
Color it: 1 Corinthians 13 Valentine coloring pages, free to print, with "Charity suffereth long, and is kind" and "the greatest of these is charity" in outlined letters (KJV).
A short prayer
Lord, without love I am nothing, however gifted I may be. Make me patient and kind. Take away envy, pride and rudeness. Help me not to insist on my own way, not to be easily angered and not to keep a record of wrongs. Teach me to rejoice in the truth, to bear, believe, hope and endure. Thank You that Your love never fails. Fill our home and our church with that love, until we see You face to face. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Print free Bible verse bookmarks with 1 Corinthians 13 · Memorize verses 4 to 7 with the Scripture Memory Cards · Study one line a day with our free SOAP study page
Frequently asked questions
Why does the KJV say charity instead of love in 1 Corinthians 13?
The KJV translators of 1611 followed the Latin word caritas, which meant dear, self-giving love. In their day charity carried that full meaning. Today charity usually means giving to the poor, so most modern Bibles say love. The Greek word is agape, the same word used in "God is love" (1 John 4:8). The meaning is the same: love that seeks the good of others.
What is 1 Corinthians 13 about?
1 Corinthians 13 is about love as the "more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31). Paul wrote it to a church proud of its spiritual gifts. He says gifts without love are worthless (verses 1 to 3), describes what love does and does not do (verses 4 to 7), explains that love lasts forever while gifts will end (verses 8 to 12) and names love the greatest of faith, hope and love (verse 13).
Which verses of 1 Corinthians 13 are read at weddings?
Most weddings use verses 4 to 7 or 4 to 8, beginning "Charity suffereth long, and is kind," and some add verse 13. Couples using the KJV sometimes ask the reader to say love in place of charity, or explain the word briefly. For more readings, see Bible verses for weddings and Bible verses about marriage anniversaries.
What does through a glass, darkly mean?
In 1 Corinthians 13:12, a glass is a mirror. Mirrors in Paul's time were made of polished bronze, which gave a dim and imperfect reflection. Paul means that our knowledge of God now is real but partial. One day we will see "face to face" and know fully, just as God already knows us. It is a verse of hope for anyone with unanswered questions.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
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