God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 13:2
2I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don’t have 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.
- 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
1I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal. I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don’t have love, I am nothing. 3I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don’t have love, none of these things will help me. 4Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises. It isn’t 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 12:8The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. The same Spirit gives another person the ability to speak with knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 14:1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed.
- Numbers 24:15Then Balaam delivered this message: “This is the message of Balaam, son of Beor. This is the message of the man whose eyesight is clear.
- Matthew 7:22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?’
- 1 Corinthians 4:1People should think of us as servants of Christ and managers who are entrusted with God’s mysteries.
- Matthew 13:11Jesus answered, “Knowledge about the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you. But it has not been given to the crowd.
- Romans 11:25Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery so that you won’t become arrogant. The minds of some Israelites have become closed until all of God’s non-Jewish people are included.
- Romans 16:25God can strengthen you by the Good News and the message I tell about Jesus Christ. He can strengthen you by revealing the mystery that was kept in silence for a very long time
- Ephesians 3:4When you read this, you’ll see that I understand the mystery about Christ.
- Ephesians 6:19Also pray that God will give me the right words to say. Then I will speak boldly when I reveal the mystery of the Good News.
- Colossians 1:26In the past God hid this mystery, but now he has revealed it to his people.
- 1 Timothy 3:16The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great: He appeared in his human nature, was approved by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was announced throughout the nations, was believed in the world, and was taken to heaven in glory.
- 1 Corinthians 12:9To another person the same Spirit gives ⌞courageous⌟ faith. To another person the same Spirit gives the ability to heal.
- Matthew 17:20He told them, “Because you have so little faith. I can guarantee this truth: If your faith is the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
- Matthew 21:21Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.
- Mark 11:22Jesus said to 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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