PAUL IS DISCUSSING, FROM CHAPTER 12:1-11; THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS; THE GREAT GIFT OF THE SPIRIT IS NOT TONGUES OR EVEN PROPHECY, BUT LOVE FOR OTHERS, WHICH IS KNOWN WITHIN THE CHURCH INSPIRED ULTIMATELY BY THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST FOR US THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT.( ROMANS 5:5)
IF I SPEAK IN TONGUES OF MORTALS AND ANGELS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM A NOISY GONG OR A CLANGING CYMBAL. AND IF I HAVE PROPHETIC POWERS, AND UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES AND ALL KNOWLEDGE, AND IF I HAVE ALL FAITH, SO TO REMOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM NOTHING. IF I GIVE AWAY ALL MY POSSESSIONS, SO IF I HAND OVER MY BODY SO THAT I MAY BOAST, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I GAIN NOTHING.
LOVE IS PATIENT: ; LOVE IS KIND; LOVE IS NOT ENVIOUS OR BOASTFUL OR ARROGANT OR RUDE. IT DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN WAY; IT IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL; IT DOES NOT REJOICE IN WRONG DOING, BUT REJOICES IN THE TRUTH. IT BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS.
LOVE NEVER ENDS. BUT AS FOR PROPHECIES, THEY WILL COME TO AN END; AS FOR TONGUES, THEY WILL CEASE; AS FOR KNOWLEDGE, IT WILL COME TO AN END. FOR WE KNOW ONLY IN PART, AND WE PROPHESY ONLY IN PART; BUT WHEN THE COMPLETE COMES, THE PARTIAL WILL COME TO AN END.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPOKE LIKE A CHILD, I THOUGHT LIKE A CHILD, I REASONED LIKE A CHILD; WHEN I BECAME AN ADULT, I PUT AN END TO CHILDISH WAYS. FOR NOW WE SEE IN A MIRROR, DIMLY, BUT THEN WE WILL SEE FACE TO FACE. NOW I KNOW ONLY IN PART; THEN I WILL KNOW FULLY, EVEN AS I HAVE BEEN FULLY KNOWN. AND NOW FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE ABIDE, THESE THREE; AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.
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