English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 13:2
2And 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
Context of 1 Corinthians 13:2
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not 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 as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
Read all of 1 Corinthians 131 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 12:8For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
- 1 Corinthians 14:1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
- Numbers 24:15And he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
- Matthew 7:22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
- 1 Corinthians 4:1This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
- Matthew 13:11And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
- Romans 11:25Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
- Romans 16:25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
- Ephesians 3:4When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
- Ephesians 6:19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
- Colossians 1:26the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
- 1 Timothy 3:16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
- 1 Corinthians 12:9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
- Matthew 17:20He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."
- Matthew 21:21And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen.
- Mark 11:22And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God.
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries