In the past several weeks, we have been studying 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 verses 4 through 8 in depth. Today, we are finally at the final verse, verse 8.
It says: “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.”
So let’s look at these in depth.
Firstly, remember that “Charity” means “love” when translated from Greek – literally “love feast.”
What do we see when we look at the phrase “never faileth?” Faileth comes from the Greek word ekpipto, which means: “to drop away, specifically, be driven out of one’s course; figuratively, to lose, become inefficient, be cast, fail, fall (away, off), take none effect.”
What is this telling us? This means that not only does love never fail, never drop away, never fails or falls away, but love cannot be driven out of one’s course. This technically means that when you show love to others, you cannot be driven out of your course!
Verses 9 – 13 (the rest of the chapter) says: “For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
In other words, as we grow and learn, we can learn more and right now, while we’re on earth, we don’t see the whole picture because Heaven and God are so much more than we can comprehend. One day, we will be able to see it. Right now, we need to abide (which means “to stay, to dwell, to remain, to endure, to be present” from the Greek word meno) in faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.
Everything else falls away, but love never will.
Concluding our five-part study… What do we now know about love from 1 Corinthians Chapter 13: 4-8?
Love is…
(Verse 4)
- Patient and has endurance
- Kind, makes oneself useful, to act benevolently
- Doesn’t envy, covet, desire, or is jealous
- Doesn’t brag or boast
- Is not puffed up
(Verse 5)
6. Doesn’t behave unseemly or uncomely
7. Doesn’t seek its own and instead worships God
8. Isn’t easily provoked or sharpened or exasperated
9. Doesn’t think or esteem evil, wicked, depraved, bad, or ill things
(Verse 6)
10. Doesn’t rejoice, isn’t happy or cheerful with injustice and moral wrongfulness
11. Rejoices, sympathize with gladness, congratulates in truth
(Verse 7)
12. Bares, to cover with silence, to roof over, and suffers all things
13. Believes, have faith in, trusts one’s spiritual self to Christ
14. Hopes, to expect, confide and trust all things
15. Endures, stays under or behind, remains, have fortitude and perseverance in all things
(Verse 8)
16. Never fails, doesn’t drop away, and doesn’t cause you to be driven off your course
17. Between faith, hope, and love – love is the greatest of these
I hope this Study of Love helped you and taught you. God bless you! Stay tuned next week for another article on a brand new topic!
