1 Corinthians 13:2

1 Corinthians 13:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
• New King James Version (NKJV)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, but have not love, I am nothing.

Context of 1 Corinthians 13:2

1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. 3If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all. 4Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.

1 Corinthians 13:2 word by word

καὶ ἐὰν ἔχω προφητείαν καὶ εἰδῶ τὰ μυστήρια πάντα καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γνῶσιν, καὶ ἐὰν ἔχω πᾶσαν τὴν πίστιν ὥστε ὄρη μεθιστάναι, ἀγάπην δὲ μὴ ἔχω, οὐθέν εἰμι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• thoughἐάνean · ifG1437
• I haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• prophecyπροφητείαprophēteia · prophecyG4394
• understandεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• mysteriesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• mysteriesμυστήριονmustērion · mysteryG3466
• knowledgeγνῶσιςgnōsis · knowledgeG1108
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• so thatὥστεhōste · soG5620
• I could removeμεθίστημιmethistēmi methistanō · to moveG3179
• mountainsὄροςoros · mountainG3735
• andδέde · thenG1161
• notμήmē · notG3361
• charityἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• I amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 13:2

• 1 Corinthians 12:8To one is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit;
• 1 Corinthians 14:1Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].
• Numbers 24:15He took up his [fourth] discourse (oracle) and said: “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, The oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
• Matthew 7:22Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’
• 1 Corinthians 4:1So then, let us [who minister] be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees, administrators) of the mysteries of God [that He chooses to reveal].
• Matthew 13:11Jesus replied to them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
• Romans 11:25I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan]—so that you will not be wise in your own opinion—that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in;
• Romans 16:25Now to Him who is able to establish and strengthen you [in the faith] according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [of the plan of salvation] which has been kept secret for long ages past,
• Ephesians 3:4By referring to this, when you read it you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
• Ephesians 6:19And pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of salvation],
• Colossians 1:26that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).
• 1 Timothy 3:16And great, we confess, is the mystery [the hidden truth] of godliness: He (Jesus Christ) who was revealed in human flesh, Was justified and vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
• 1 Corinthians 12:9to another [wonder-working] faith [is given] by the same [Holy] Spirit, and to another the [extraordinary] gifts of healings by the one Spirit;
• Matthew 17:20He answered, “Because of your little faith [your lack of trust and confidence in the power of God]; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have [living] faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and [if it is God’s will] it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
• Matthew 21:21Jesus replied to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have faith [personal trust and confidence in Me] and do not doubt or allow yourself to be drawn in two directions, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen [if God wills it].
• Mark 11:22Jesus replied, “Have faith in God [constantly].

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 13:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy - Though I should have received from God the knowledge of future events, so that I could correctly foretell what is coming to pass in the world and in the Church: - And understand all mysteries - The meaning of all the types and figures in the Old Testament, and all the unexplored secrets of nature; and all knowledge - every human art and science; and though I have all faith - such miraculous faith as would enable me…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy - See the note at 1 Corinthians 12:10; note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. And understand all mysteries - On the meaning of the word “mystery” see note, 1 Corinthians 2:7. This passage proves that it was one part of the prophetic office, as referred to here, to be able to understand and explain the “mysteries” of religion; that is, the things that were before unknown, or unrevealed. It does not refer to the prediction of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2If I … can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge: might refer to the gift of "special knowledge" (12:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. mysteries--(Ro 11:25; 16:25). Mysteries refer to the deep counsels of God hitherto secret, but now revealed to His saints. Knowledge, to truths long known. faith ... remove mountains--(Mt 17:20; 21:21). The practical power of the will elevated by faith [Neander]; confidence in God that the miraculous result will surely follow the exercise of the will at the secret impulse of His Spirit. Without "love" prophecy, knowledge, and faith, are not what they…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 13:2

• Charitableness
• Gifts from God
• Graces
• Love
• Readings, Select
• Religion
• Righteousness
• Sanctification
• Uncharitableness
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Charity
• Childish
• Love
• Mystery
• Prophesy
• Tongues, Gift of
• Vaunt
• Abstinence
• Bible, the
• Busybody

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings