lectionary.com

Pre-Lent · Quinquagesima Sunday

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Love

February 15, 2026

Charity, Anthony van Dyck
Charity, Anthony van Dyck, c. 1627–1628The National Gallery, London
Van Dyck paints Charity as a single woman with three children, one feeding, in a composition built on a pyramid of warm flesh against dark cloud.Faith, hope and love abide, these three, and the greatest of these is love: this is the painted shorthand the chapter produced.Anthony van DyckA Flemish prodigy who worked in Rubens's studio as a teenager and went on to invent the look of English aristocratic portraiture.The National Gallery, LondonFounded in 1824 with thirty-eight pictures bought from a banker's estate, and still free to enter, as its founders insisted.The National Gallery, London
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 18:31-43Lk 18:31-43
Epistle1 Cor. 13:1-131 Cor 13:1-13
Old Testament1 Sam. 16:1-131 Sm 16:1-13Alt. OTIsa. 35:3-7Is 35:3-7
PsalterPs. 89:18-29Ps 89:18-29Alt. PsalmPs. 146Ps 146

Overview & Insights

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Although God grants his gifts as an act of grace and not on the basis of merit, there is a dynamic relationship between the effectiveness of the gift and the life of the Christian.1Paul treats this connection between spiritual gifts and the quality of the believer’s life most directly in this chapter. The abrupt insertion of this outburst on love in the midst of his discussion of spiritual gifts (chaps. 12 and 14) signals the intrinsic relatedness of life and gifting in Paul’s mind. Moreover, the unrelenting emphasis that the Christian is nothing (13:2) and gains nothing (13:3) without love exhibits how in Paul’s reasoning spiritual gifts require godliness for true effectiveness. Interpretive Insights 12:31 I will show you the most excellent way. This transitional sentence functions almost like a reset button that lets Paul start over.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 - Working Preacher from Luther SeminaryCommentary on 1 Cor 13:1-13 - Working Preacher from Luther Seminary Working Preacher

Reads Paul's love hymn inside a divided congregation rather than as a wedding poem.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 - Center for Excellence in Preaching1 Cor 13:1-13 - Center for Excellence in Preaching Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching notes on love as the more excellent way over the gifts.

1 Corinthians 13 Commentary: Agape Love1 Cor 13 Commentary: Agape Love Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse study of the character of love that never ends.

1 Corinthians 13 Commentary | Precept Austin1 Cor 13 Commentary | Precept Austin Precept Austin

Detailed study notes on agape and the contrast with tongues and knowledge.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Commentaries1 Cor 13:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators on love that is patient, kind, and enduring.

Background & Word Study

Book of 1 Corinthians OverviewBook of 1 Cor Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of Paul's call to unity and love in the church.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Interlinear1 Cor 13:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word study of agape and the qualities Paul lists.

The Church Fathers

1 Corinthians 13 (Catena Bible)1 Cor 13 (Catena Bible) Catena

Patristic comments on charity as the greatest and abiding gift.

Questions preachers ask

What is the way of love?

Without love, the greatest gifts are nothing; love is patient and kind, bears and hopes all things and never ends; now we see in a mirror dimly, but love is the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:1–13).

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Luke 18:31-43
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.