1 Coríntios 13

1 Coríntios 13

1 CORINTHIANS - PROBLEMS OF A LOCAL CHURCH Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission FROM CHART: Note 2 major divisions: FIRST DIVISION - Chapters 1-6 = Problems of Congregation - Divisions & Depravities SECOND DIVISION - Chapters 7-16 = Personal Problems, Worship Problems 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (NASB: Lockman) I speak: 1Co 13:2,3 12:8,16,29,30 14:6 2Co 12:4 2Pe 2:18 do not have love: 1Co 8:1 Mt 25:45 Ro 14:15 Ga 5:6,22 1Ti 1:5 1Pe 4:8 I have become: 1Co 14:7,8 1 Corinthians 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 1 Corinthians 8:1+ Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 1 John 4:16+. “God is love, and the one who (present tense - continually) abides in love (present tense - continually) abides in God, and God abides in him” Mt 22:36-39 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” replied ”‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment." 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ THE WAY TO SPEAK AND SAY "NOTHING" Technical note - The five "IF'S" in 1 Cor 13:1-3 are each THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL sentences, which describe potential actions. If I speak with the tongues (glossa) of men and of angels - Paul has just mentioned tongues in 1 Cor 12:30+ "All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?" His mention of tongues (and not the other spiritual gifts) would suggest that this gift was a significant issue among the saints at Corinth. Of course because it is a speaking gift ("sign gift"), it is more "showy" than some of the other gifts. THOUGHT - Notice that this "IF" introduces a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL statement which might be paraphrased "If we could continually speak in tongues of men or tongues of angels (in their angelic language)." Paul is not advocating or promoting angelic languages, but simply postulating, if that "higher" supernatural language were even possible for finite natural men, it would still be worthless! That's his main point. He is not saying it is possible for men to speak angelic languages. It is not even logical. Only angels can speak angelic language. It is very easy to misinterpret what Paul is saying, but one must always be cautious in applying isolated passages simply because they sound good and make us feel good. That is taking a text out of context and making it a pretext which is always a potentially dangerous practice (A pretext is an excuse to do something or say something that is not accurate. Pretexts may be based on a half-truth or developed from taking a passage out of context to suit one's own interest or purpose.). Be a Berean (Acts 17:11+)! For more discussion on the phrase tongues...of angels as possibly describing a so-called "heavenly language" see comments below from Gotquestions.org. but - Term of contrast. The dramatic turn is from speaking (regardless of source) to speaking without love. Do not (present tense - continually) have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal - What is the key "ingredient" for all Christian ministry? Love is the test of one's speech and for that matter all of one's ministry and exercising of one's spiritual gifts. Paul's statement I think is sarcastic for a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal will drown out what one is saying! They can't even hear the speech because of the screech (so to speak)! Or to say it another way, they don't care what you say (how much you know) until they see how much you care. Become is in the perfect tense indicating that this is one's continuing state or condition (if they speak without love). It is interesting that the same phrase clanging cymbal is found in Ps 150:5 "Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding (Lxx uses related noun - alalagmos = a locu sound or noise) cymbals." Gilbrant on clanging cymbal - Paul was familiar with cymbals used in ritual observances. They were simply metal basins which, when struck together, resulted in a shrill sound. “Such vessels were . . . used in the cultus” (Schmidt, “kumbalon,” TDNT 3:1037). These would also be familiar to the Corinthians who had been pagans previous to salvation (TDNT 3:1038). Charles Hodge referred to this “tinkling cymbal” as the least expensive and lowest of all the musical instruments. Another possible interpretation is that Paul used kumbalon in the classical symbolic sense of a boastful or empty-headed orator. The passage emphasizes that the operation of the gifts of the Spirit should be governed by a demonstration of the Spirit’s fruit. Speak (2980) laleo is the Greek verb meaning to make a sound and then to utter words. Laleo originally meant just sounds like the chatter of birds or the the prattling of children..As a result it has a broad range of meaning and import (e.g., “to say, to chatter [especially of animals], to babble, to sound [a musical instrument]” or “to chirp” [of locusts]) In classical Greek the meanings “to babble” (as an infant) and “to croon” (as a nurse) (cf. English lullaby) or “to whisper” were common. Laleo later became significant in philosophical discussions. Most authorities agree that laleō points to the external sound more than to the content of what is said. The Gospels and Acts are responsible for about two-thirds of the occurrences in the New Testament. The emphasis of laleō upon the physical nature of speech is apparent in some texts (e.g., Matthew 15:31; Luke 1:20; 7:15; Acts 2:6,11; cf. above), but the message of what was spoken is more important (e.g., Luke 24:25; Acts 3:24; 9:6). Vincent contrasts laleo with the other Greek word for speak (lego) explaining that laleo "contemplates the fact rather than the substance of speech. Hence it is used of God (Heb 1:1), the point being, not what God said, but the fact that he spoke to men. On the contrary, lego refers to the matter ("content") of speech. The verb lego originally meant to pick out, and hence to use words selected as appropriate expressions of thought, and to put such words together in orderly discourse." Laleo in 1-2 Corinthians - 1 Co. 2:6; 1 Co. 2:7; 1 Co. 2:13; 1 Co. 3:1; 1 Co. 9:8; 1 Co. 12:3; 1 Co. 12:30; 1 Co. 13:1; 1 Co. 13:11; 1 Co. 14:2; 1 Co. 14:3; 1 Co. 14:4; 1 Co. 14:5; 1 Co. 14:6; 1 Co. 14:9; 1 Co. 14:11; 1 Co. 14:13; 1 Co. 14:18; 1 Co. 14:19; 1 Co. 14:21; 1 Co. 14:23; 1 Co. 14:27; 1 Co. 14:28; 1 Co. 14:29; 1 Co. 14:34; 1 Co. 14:35; 1 Co. 14:39; 1 Co. 15:34; 2 Co. 2:17; 2 Co. 4:13; 2 Co. 7:14; 2 Co. 11:17; 2 Co. 11:23; 2 Co. 12:4; 2 Co. 12:19; 2 Co. 13:3; Love (charity)(26)(agape) is that quality of love which is unconditional, sacrificial. Agape is what God is like (1Jn 4:8,16+), what God shows to those undeserving (Jn 3:16+, 1Jn 4:9+) and what God enables by His Spirit in the heart of His surrendered saints (Ro 5:5-+ Gal 5:22+). Agape does not depend on the world’s criteria for love, such as attractiveness, emotions, or sentimentality. Agape is self-sacrificial and seeks the benefit of the one loved (without expecting anything in return), a love which means death to self since the essence of self is selfishness, self-will and self-gratification. Agape is a love activated by personal choice of our will (enabled by God working within us - see Php 2:13NLT+) and is not based on our feelings toward the one loved. Agape may involve emotion, but it must always involve specific actions as Paul goes on to describe in 1Co 13:4-8 (which in itself is an excellent definition of love as "love in action"). THOUGHT - Do not "try" to "manufacture" this love, but instead learn daily (even moment by moment) to "die" ("to self", cp Mk 8:34+, Lk 9:23+, Ro 6:11+, Ro 6:12-13+, Ro 6:14+ Ro 7:5-6+, Col 3:5+, Php 2:12+, Php 2:13+, Ezekiel 36:27+) that you might manifest this supernatural Christ-like love (cp Ep 5:1,2+) to a lost, dying world (Eph 2:1-2+, Ep 2:3+) in which even natural love is growing cold (cp "unloving" in 2Ti 3:3+, Ro 1:31+, cp Jesus' admonition regarding love in the last of the last days = Mt 24:12). Agape in 1-2 Corinthians - 1 Co. 8:1; 1 Co. 13:1; 1 Co. 13:2; 1 Co. 13:3; 1 Co. 13:4; 1 Co. 13:8; 1 Co. 13:13; 1 Co. 14:1; 1 Co. 16:14; 1 Co. 16:24; 2 Co. 2:4; 2 Co. 2:8; 2 Co. 5:14; 2 Co. 6:6; 2 Co. 8:7; 2 Co. 8:8; 2 Co. 8:24; 2 Co. 13:11; 2 Co. 13:14 Noisy (2278)(echeo from echos = noise or sound) means to ring, peal (often of metal), make a loud sound. Only in 1 Cor 13:1. (But in Textus Receptus of Lk 21:25) Friberg - intransitively, as sounding or ringing out; (1) of brass gonglike instruments boom out, resound; metaphorically in 1 Cor 13.1 of helping no one by what one says resounding cymbal, clanging brass; (2) of the sea roar (Lk 21.25 in Textus Receptus) Gilbrant - This verb is related to the noun echos (a “noise” or “sound” of any sort). It was used by classical writers to denote “ringing noises” in the ears, the “clanging” of metal shields, and even the “chirp” of a grasshopper (cf. Liddell-Scott). ēcheō translates six Hebrew words in the Septuagint including words which denote the “blast” of a trumpet (Ex 19:16), the “roaring” of water (Ps 46:3), and the “tumult” of a city (Ps 83:2). In the New Testament it was used by Luke to describe the “roaring” of sea waves (Luke 21:25) and by Paul to illustrate that those who speak in tongues without love are like “sounding” brass (1 Cor 13:1). (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary).Uses of echeo in Septuagint -Ex. 19:16; Ruth 1:19; 1 Sam. 3:11; 1 Sam. 4:5; 1 Ki. 1:41; 1 Ki. 1:45; 2 Ki. 21:12; Job 30:4; Ps. 46:3; Ps. 83:2; Isa. 16:11; Isa. 17:12; Isa. 51:15; Jer. 5:22; Jer. 19:3; Jer. 50:42; Jer. 51:55; Hos. 5:8; Gong (bronze, copper)(5475) chalkos Eng chalcography = art of engraving copper) refers to the metal itself such as copper, brass (alloy of copper and zinc - 1 Cor 13:1), bronze (alloy of copper and tin) (Rev 18.12). Chalkos was used of anything made of this metal, such as gong (1Cor 13.1), copper coins (Mt 10.9); more generally money (Mk 12.41) Moulton and Milligan speak of chalkos as a word meaning “bronze-money.” From two quotations of the second and third centuries, it appears that the word was used of money in general. Chalkos - 5x - Matt. 10:9; Mk. 6:8; Mk. 12:41; 1 Co. 13:1; Rev. 18:12 Clanging (214)(alalazo) means clashing, to raise a war cry or loud sound. Gilbrant - In Classical Greek Alalazō was formed from the war cry alalai which in ancient times signified the start of the battle (TDNT 1:227). In classical Greek literature it generally means “to cry or shout aloud.” Alalazō may also be used as an exclamation of joy and, although rarely, as a cry of pain or grief. In the Septuagint alalazō is used to translate rûa‛ which is “to raise an alarm.” Terua is also used in regard to exalting God with instruments (cf. Ps 81:1,2). In the New Testament alalazō is used only twice. In Mark 5:38 alalazō is used as crying out or weeping loudly, lamenting over the death of Jairus’ daughter. 1 Corinthians 13:1 finds alalazō used with kumbalon which is a cymbal. This is the same phrase used in Ps 150:5 in the Septuagint. The cymbals create a loud noise, thus a “clanging cymbal” (NIV). (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary,) Alalazo - 2x in NT - Mk. 5:38; 1 Co. 13:1 Uses in Septuagint - Jos. 6:20; Jdg. 15:14; 1 Sam. 17:52; Ps. 47:1; Ps. 66:1; Ps. 81:1; Ps. 95:1; Ps. 95:2; Ps. 98:4; Ps. 98:6; Ps. 100:1; Jer. 4:8; Jer. 25:34; Jer. 47:2; Jer. 49:3; Ezek. 27:30 Cymbals (2950)(kumbalon) is a shallow metal basin or disc producing a clanging sound when two are struck together. A cymbal. Gilbrant - This term is related to kumbos, “a hollow basin,” and to kumbē, “a cup.” The cymbal was made of two hollow basins which were struck together to create a musical sound. Cymbals were used in pagan worship as well as in the Jewish worship of the true God. Classical writers also used kumbalon symbolically to refer to a boastful, empty-headed orator. Kumbalon occurs frequently in the Septuagint where it is used of the musical cymbal (1 Kings 18:6; 1 Chr 13:8; 15:16,19,28). God’s people are encouraged in their worship of God to “praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals” (Psalm 150:5 [LXX 149:5]). The verb form kumbalizō occurs in Nehemiah 12:27 where the cymbal was used with psalteries and harps to celebrate the completion of the wall in Jerusalem. The cymbal was used in the time of David (2 Sa 5:6; 1 Chr 13:8) and then by Asaph and his descendants (1 Chr 16:5; Ezra 3:10). It remained as a Levitical instrument of worship (1 Chronicles 5:12f.; 29:25; Neh 12:27). (See “Music,” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 3:444.) Kumbalon is only used once in the New Testament where Paul said: “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” (1 Corinthians 13:1). Paul was familiar with cymbals used in ritual observances. They were simply metal basins which, when struck together, resulted in a shrill sound. “Such vessels were . . . used in the cultus” (Schmidt, “kumbalon,” Kittel, 3:1037). These would also be familiar to the Corinthians who had been pagans previous to salvation (ibid., 3:1038). Charles Hodge referred to this “tinkling cymbal” as the least expensive and lowest of all the musical instruments (1 Corinthians 13 Commentary). Another possible interpretation is that Paul used kumbalon in the classical symbolic sense of a boastful or empty-headed orator. The passage emphasizes that the operation of the gifts of the Spirit should be governed by a demonstration of the Spirit’s fruit. The exercise of spiritual gifts without love is justly characterized in the way described above.(Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Question - Is there a heavenly language? What language will we speak in heaven? Answer: There is some conjecture as to whether there is such a thing as a “heavenly language.” Is there a language unknown on earth but spoken fluently in heaven? If so, is it possible for someone to learn to speak this esoteric language? Is it possibly a gift of the Holy Spirit? First, we should point out that the expression “heavenly language” is nowhere found in Scripture. Also, the phrase “tongues of angels” is used only once, in 1 Corinthians 13:1, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” Some have suggested that Paul’s reference to “tongues of angels” is proof that there is a heavenly language that only angels—and certain Spirit-filled believers—can speak. Let’s take a closer look at the verse and its context. When Paul speaks of “tongues of men,” he is most likely referring to the gift given on the Day of Pentecost when the apostles were imbued by the Holy Spirit to speak languages virtually unknown to them (Acts 2:4-12). “Tongues of men” is a reference to the various human languages in use at the time. The Corinthian brethren so prized this miraculous gift that it became severely abused and counterfeited. Paul addressed this problem in his epistle. The Corinthians needed to know that God gave the ability to speak a foreign language as a sign, and the gift had some restrictions (1 Corinthians 14:1-33). When Paul speaks of the “tongues of angels,” he isn’t speaking literally of a “heavenly language,” as some want to believe, but is using a hyperbolic expression. Hyperbole is an exaggeration to make a point. Paul is saying that, no matter how gifted one may be, whether in his own language, in foreign languages, or even in the hypothetical speech of angels, it’s all moot without love. In fact, without love, one’s speech is no better than the useless babble of the pagan religions. The pagan culture of Corinth honored their gods in ritualistic ceremonies accompanied by loud musical instruments such as gongs, cymbals, and trumpets. Their worship was a chaotic cacophony. Speaking in “tongues of angels” is probably best understood as having the ability to speak with “divine eloquence.” As one well-known Bible scholar put it, “Paul is simply saying that, were he to have the ability to speak with the skill and eloquence of the greatest men, even with angelic eloquence, he would only become a noisy gong . . .” The fact is that Paul used hyperbolic language elsewhere, including in the very next verse, with his mention of faith “to remove mountains.” His exaggerations serve to emphasize the necessity of love. Showing love is more important than the grandest, most miraculous action imaginable. To suggest that Paul implies that “tongues of angels” is a kind of “heavenly language” is to go beyond what Scripture actually teaches. It is taking the expression completely out of context in an attempt to teach something other than what Paul actually said. GotQuestions.org 1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. I have the: 1Co 12:8-10,28 14:1,6-9 Nu 24:15-24 Mt 7:22,23 know all mysteries: 1Co 4:1 Mt 13:11 Ro 11:25 16:25 Eph 3:4 6:19 Col 1:26 1Ti 3:16 if I have all faith: 1Co 12:9 Mt 17:20 21-21 Mk 11:22-23 Lu 17:5-6 do not have love,: 1Co 13:1,3 16:22 Ga 5:16,22 1Jn 4:8,20,21 I am nothing: 1Co 13:3 7:19 8:4 Mt 21:19 2Co 12:11 Ga 6:3 1 Corinthians 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Matthew 17:20; And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. Mark 11:22-23 And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. 23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Luke 17:5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you. THE WAY TO HAVE A "NOTHING" MINISTRY If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love (agape), I am nothing - Paul moves to the other "showy" gifts like prophecy, knowledge, faith and says in effect that all are absolutely nothing without love! The Greek word for nothing is oudeis (not medeís which means relatively nothing) which means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! This the same word our Lord Jesus used when He declared "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do (ABSOLUTELY) NOTHING (oudeis) (NOTHING OF ETERNAL VALUE!)." (Jn 15:5, cf 1 Cor 2:11 = "the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.") Nothing (3762) (oudeis from ou = not + dé = but + heis = one) Literally "but absolutely not one" no one, nothing, none at all; emphasizes not even one, not the least. Oudeis is used as a negating adjective (not even one) to negate a noun, denying absolutely and objectively (e.g., Lk 4:24) Note that oudeis differs from medeís which also is often translated "no one" as the negative particle ou differs from me. Thus ou = absolutely NOT and is objective while me = conditionally NOT and is subjective. For example Paul uses oudeis twice in 1 Cor 12:3+ "Therefore I make known to you that NO ONE speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and NO ONE can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." Friberg - oudeis - (1) as an adjective, used to negate a noun no, not even one (Lk 4.24); (2) as a substantive; (a) oudeis and oudemia -- no one, nobody, none (Mt 6.24); ouden -- nothing (Mt 5.13); (b) to refer to invalid concepts worthless, of no account, meaningless ( Mt 23.16); (c) ouden as an accusative of respect = in no way, in nothing at all (Gal 4.1) (Analytical Lexicon) All uses in 1-2 Corinthians - 1 Co. 1:14; 1 Co. 2:8; 1 Co. 2:11 = "Even so the thoughts of God (ABSOLUTELY) NO ONE (OUDEIS) knows except the Spirit of God."; 1 Co. 2:15; 1 Co. 3:11; 1 Co. 4:4; 1 Co. 6:5; 1 Co. 7:19; 1 Co. 8:4; 1 Co. 9:15; 1 Co. 12:3; 1 Co. 13:2; 1 Co. 13:3; 1 Co. 14:2; 1 Co. 14:10; 2 Co. 5:16; 2 Co. 7:2; 2 Co. 7:5; 2 Co. 11:9; 2 Co. 12:11 Oudeis 212 v - all(1), any(7), anyone(9), anything(7), cannot*(1), never*(1), no(26), no...anything(1), no such thing(1), no man(3), no one(87), no one's(1), no respect(1), no*(6), nobody(1), none(12), none*(1), nothing(45), nothing at all(1), nothing nothing(1), nothing*(7), one(10), one*(3), useless*(1), worthless(1). Matt. 5:13; Matt. 6:24; Matt. 8:10; Matt. 9:16; Matt. 10:26; Matt. 11:27; Matt. 17:8; Matt. 17:20; Matt. 20:7; Matt. 21:19; Matt. 22:16; Matt. 22:46; Matt. 23:16; Matt. 23:18; Matt. 24:36; Matt. 27:24; Mk. 2:21; Mk. 2:22; Mk. 3:27; Mk. 5:3; Mk. 5:4; Mk. 5:37; Mk. 6:5; Mk. 7:12; Mk. 7:15; Mk. 7:24; Mk. 9:8; Mk. 9:29; Mk. 9:39; Mk. 10:18; Mk. 10:29; Mk. 11:2; Mk. 11:13; Mk. 12:14; Mk. 12:34; Mk. 13:32; Mk. 15:5; Mk. 16:8; Lk. 1:61; Lk. 4:2; Lk. 4:24; Lk. 4:26; Lk. 4:27; Lk. 5:5; Lk. 5:36; Lk. 5:37; Lk. 5:39; Lk. 7:28; Lk. 8:16; Lk. 8:43; Lk. 9:36; Lk. 9:62; Lk. 10:19; Lk. 10:22; Lk. 11:33; Lk. 12:2; Lk. 14:24; Lk. 15:16; Lk. 16:13; Lk. 18:19; Lk. 18:29; Lk. 18:34; Lk. 19:30; Lk. 20:40; Lk. 22:35; Lk. 23:4; Lk. 23:9; Lk. 23:14; Lk. 23:15; Lk. 23:22; Lk. 23:41; Lk. 23:53; Jn. 1:18; Jn. 3:2; Jn. 3:13; Jn. 3:27; Jn. 3:32; Jn. 4:27; Jn. 5:19; Jn. 5:22; Jn. 5:30; Jn. 6:44; Jn. 6:63; Jn. 6:65; Jn. 7:4; Jn. 7:13; Jn. 7:19; Jn. 7:26; Jn. 7:27; Jn. 7:30; Jn. 7:44; Jn. 8:10; Jn. 8:11; Jn. 8:15; Jn. 8:20; Jn. 8:28; Jn. 8:33; Jn. 8:54; Jn. 9:4; Jn. 9:33; Jn. 10:18; Jn. 10:29; Jn. 10:41; Jn. 11:49; Jn. 12:19; Jn. 13:28; Jn. 14:6; Jn. 14:30; Jn. 15:5; Jn. 15:13; Jn. 15:24; Jn. 16:5; Jn. 16:22; Jn. 16:24; Jn. 17:12; Jn. 18:9; Jn. 18:20; Jn. 18:31; Jn. 18:38; Jn. 19:4; Jn. 19:11; Jn. 19:41; Jn. 21:3; Jn. 21:12; Acts 4:12; Acts 4:14; Acts 5:13; Acts 5:23; Acts 5:36; Acts 8:16; Acts 9:8; Acts 15:9; Acts 17:21; Acts 18:10; Acts 18:17; Acts 19:27; Acts 20:20; Acts 20:24; Acts 20:33; Acts 21:24; Acts 23:9; Acts 25:10; Acts 25:11; Acts 26:22; Acts 26:26; Acts 26:31; Acts 27:22; Acts 27:34; Acts 28:5; Acts 28:17; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 14:7; Rom. 14:14; 1 Co. 1:14; 1 Co. 2:8; 1 Co. 2:11; 1 Co. 2:15; 1 Co. 3:11; 1 Co. 4:4; 1 Co. 6:5; 1 Co. 7:19; 1 Co. 8:4; 1 Co. 9:15; 1 Co. 12:3; 1 Co. 13:2; 1 Co. 13:3; 1 Co. 14:2; 1 Co. 14:10; 2 Co. 5:16; 2 Co. 7:2; 2 Co. 7:5; 2 Co. 11:9; 2 Co. 12:11; Gal. 2:6; Gal. 3:11; Gal. 3:15; Gal. 4:12; Gal. 5:2; Gal. 5:10; Eph. 5:29; Phil. 1:20; Phil. 2:20; Phil. 4:15; 1 Tim. 4:4; 1 Tim. 6:7; 1 Tim. 6:16; 2 Tim. 2:4; 2 Tim. 2:14; 2 Tim. 4:16; Tit. 1:15; Phlm. 1:14; Heb. 2:8; Heb. 6:13; Heb. 7:13; Heb. 7:14; Heb. 7:19; Heb. 12:14; Jas. 1:13; Jas. 3:8; 1 Jn. 1:5; 1 Jn. 4:12; Rev. 2:17; Rev. 3:7; Rev. 3:8; Rev. 3:17; Rev. 5:3; Rev. 5:4; Rev. 7:9; Rev. 14:3; Rev. 15:8; Rev. 18:11; Rev. 19:12 1 Corinthians 13:3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. if I give all my possessions Mt 6:1-4 23:5 Lu 18:22,28 19:8 21:3,4 Joh 12:43 Ga 5:26 Php 1:15-18 if I surrender my body to be burned Da 3:16-28 Mt 7:22,23 Joh 13:37 15:13 Ac 21:13 Php 1:20,21 2:3 it profits me nothing Isa 57:12 Jer 7:8 Joh 6:63 1Ti 4:8 Heb 13:9 Jas 2:14-17 1 Corinthians 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries NON-PROFIT GIVING AND SACRIFICING And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor - This is amazing and convicting! Giving can be totally selfish, even when one gives away everything! Giving like this is the absolute antithesis of giving motivated and energized by agape love, for this quality of giving is totally selfless and expects nothing in return, no plaudits or praise or applause! Are you as convicted as I am? Mattoon - The efforts of a person that would give away his entire estate to care for others mouthful by mouthful are nothing and worthless if he gives to others out of duty instead of out of love. They profit nothing leaving the person empty of satisfaction and joy. God does not want us to give from a heart of drudgery, but from a heart of love. (See 2 Cor 9:7) Give (5595) (psomizo from psomion = a morsel) means to feed with morsels. It means means to give away mouthful by mouthful or to feed by putting little bits of food into the mouth, like a bird feeding its babies. Used in Ro 12:20, 1 Cor 13:3 And if I surrender (paradidomi) my body to be burned (kaio) - Paul links giving with burning. The former surrenders one's goods and resources, while the latter surrenders one's body and life. But - Term of contrast. Paul does a 180 again. As "altruistic" as the giving of one's possessions or one's person appear to others, Paul says they are in fact the opposite of what they seem to be! Do not (present tense - continually) have love (agape), it (present tense - continually) profits me nothing (oudeis) - IT refers to radical giving of one's possessions and one's person. This reminds me of Buddhist monks who are sadly so deceived by their false religion that they set their bodies aflame and die for a lie and without Spirit energized love! That is so tragic! But sadly that is what deception can do to a person. And it can happen to believers who give their possessions or their person if they do it without Spirit enabled love! Nothing as noted above means just that - absolutely nothing! Profits (5623)(opheleo from ophéllo = heap up or from ophelos = increase, profit) means to provide assistance, with emphasis upon the resulting benefit. In 1 Cor 13:3 it is in the passive sense meaning to have benefit from or to be profitable. 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, Amplified: Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)