Bible Commentaries

Charity; true Christian love.

All knowledge; all religious knowledge.--So that I could remove mountains, referring, perhaps, to our Savior's declaration. Matthew 17:20.

And have not charity; honest kindness of feeling. The goods might be bestowed in ostentation and parade.

Suffereth long; is patient and forbearing.--Vaunteth not itself; is not boastful.--Is not puffed up; with vanity and self-conceit.

Unseemly; in a manner deserving of reproach.--Thinketh no evil, is not jealous and suspicious.

Rejoiceth not in iniquity; does not take a malignant pleasure in the faults and sins of others.

Believeth all things; is trustful; putting always the best construction upon the motives and conduct of others.

Charity never faileth; it is a steady and permanent principle which shall endure forever.--It shall vanish away; that is, its importance and value, and the prominence which its possessor now derives from it, shall disappear. This must necessarily be, as is shown in the 1 Corinthians 13:9,10.

In part; imperfectly.

Shall be done away; that is, the uncertain and imperfect attainments made in this life will be superseded by clear and certain knowledge.

Childish things; childish ideas. The knowledge which he prized in childhood, was found of little value when he reached mature years.

Even as also I am known; thoroughly, perfectly; and of course all present attainments in knowledge on which men now pride themselves so much, will be superseded and become worthless.

And now abideth, &c.; are permanent. The idea is, that the only spiritual gifts which are of permanent and lasting value, axe those moral graces which adorn the inward character.