Pre-Lent · Quinquagesima Sunday
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Love
February 15, 2026
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.
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Commentary
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 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 Preaching Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching notes on love as the more excellent way over the gifts.
1 Corinthians 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 Austin Precept Austin
Detailed study notes on agape and the contrast with tongues and knowledge.
1 Corinthians 13:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators on love that is patient, kind, and enduring.
Background & Word Study
1 Corinthians (Enter the Bible) Enter the Bible
Background on the divisions at Corinth that frame the hymn to love.
Book of 1 Corinthians Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of Paul's call to unity and love in the church.
1 Corinthians 13:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word study of agape and the qualities Paul lists.
The Church Fathers
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).
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