New King James Version
1 Corinthians 13:8
8Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
- New International Version (NIV)Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
Context of 1 Corinthians 13:8
6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 131 Corinthians 13:8 word by word
ἡ ἀγάπη οὐδέποτε πίπτει.¶ Εἴτε δὲ προφητεῖαι, καταργηθήσονται· εἴτε γλῶσσαι, παύσονται· εἴτε γνῶσις, καταργηθήσεται.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Charityὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Charityἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
- neverοὐδέποτεoudepote · neverG3763
- failethἐκπίπτωekpiptō · to fall outG1601
- butδέde · thenG1161
- whetherεἴτεeite · whetherG1535
- propheciesπροφητείαprophēteia · prophecyG4394
- they shall failκαταργέωkatargeō · to abateG2673
- tonguesγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
- they shall ceaseπαύωpauō · to ceaseG3973
- knowledgeγνῶσιςgnōsis · knowledgeG1108
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 13:8
- 1 Corinthians 13:10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
- Luke 22:32But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
- Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
- 1 Corinthians 12:10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
- 1 Corinthians 14:39Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
- Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- Acts 19:6And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
- Jeremiah 49:7Against Edom. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?
- Hebrews 8:13In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 13:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8(16.) Charity never faileth - ̔ · This love never falleth off, because it bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things; and while it does so it cannot fail; it is the means of preserving all other graces; indeed, properly speaking, it includes them all; and all receive their perfection from it. Love to God and man can never be dispensed with. It is essential to social and religious life; without it no communion can be kept up with God; nor can any man…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Charity never faileth - Paul here proceeds to illustrate the value of love, from its “permanency” as compared with other valued endowments. It is valuable, and is to be sought because it will always abide; may be always exercised; is adapted to all circumstances, and to all worlds in which we may be placed, or in which we may dwell. The word rendered “faileth” ( ̓́ ekpiptei) denotes properly to fall out of, to fall from or off; and may be applied to the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 Charity is much to be preferred to the gifts on which the Corinthians prided themselves. From its longer continuance. It is a grace, lasting as eternity. The present state is a state of childhood, the future that of manhood. Such is the difference between earth and heaven. What narrow views, what confused notions of things, have children when compared with grown men! Thus shall we think of our most valued gifts of this world, when we come to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Love will last forever, because God is love (compare 1 John 4:7–12, 16).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. never faileth--never is to be out of use; it always holds its place. shall fail ... vanish away--The same Greek verb is used for both; and that different from the Greek verb for "faileth." Translate, "Shall be done away with," that is, shall be dispensed with at the Lord's coming, being superseded by their more perfect heavenly analogues; for instance, knowledge by intuition. Of "tongues," which are still more temporary, the verb is "shall cease." A…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 13:8
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries