What does it mean that the greatest of these is love? 1 Cor. 13:13
In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul writes, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:1 - 13
AMP - 1 IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
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Asked January 29 2024
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Anonymous
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Tim Maas
Supporter
In my opinion, the passage calls love the "greatest" of the three virtues named (faith, hope, and love) because, in eternity, the earthly faith and hope of believers will have been superseded by sight (so that it will no longer be necessary to exercise faith) and realization (because they will be experiencing the eternal life for which all of the believers had hoped during their earthly lives), whereas Christian love between God and the redeemed, and among the redeemed themselves, will last forever.
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