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.
Parallel translations
- WEB If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
- BSB If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
- NKJV Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
- NASB If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
- NLT If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even speaking in human or angelic tongues without love is mere noise. Love, not eloquence, gives speech its worth.
Overview
Paul opens his great chapter on love by addressing the gift the Corinthians prized most. Without love, even the most impressive speech is empty clamor like a gong or cymbal. This sets the theme: spiritual gifts are worthless apart from the love that should animate them, the love supremely shown in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Tim 1:5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
- 1 Pet 4:8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
- Gal 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
- 1 Cor 13:8Charity 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.
- Gal 5:6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- 1 Cor 13:2–3And 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.
- 1 Cor 8:1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
- 2 Pet 2:18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
- Matt 25:45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
- 1 Cor 14:6–8Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
- Rom 14:15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
- 1 Cor 12:8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
- 1 Cor 12:29–30Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
- 1 Cor 12:16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
- 2 Cor 12:4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 13:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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