Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 13:1

"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal." — 1 Corinthians 13:1 (ASV)

Verse 31b introduces ch. 13. Love is the most excellent way for Christians to use their spiritual gifts. The word “love” (agape GK 27) is used in the NT of the deep and abiding affection of God and Christ for each other (17:26) and for us . It is also used of Christians in their relationship with one another (e.g., Jn 13:34-35). Christians are to love, because they belong to God, and “God is love” .

In referring to tongues and prophecy (13:1–3), Paul is apparently trying to counteract the excessive emphasis the Corinthians were evidently placing on these gifts to the detriment of love for Christ and for their fellow believers. “Tongues of men and of angels” are obviously the languages humans and angels use. (On occasion, angels spoke to people in human language; e.g., Lk 1:13-20, 26-38.) It was in the temple worship that the “resounding gong” and “clanging cymbal” were struck (2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; Psalms 150:5).

Also prophecy, understanding mysteries and knowledge, and possessing dynamic faith are nothing apart from love. Both “mysteries” (GK 3696) and “knowledge” (GK 1194) mean the deep, secret things to be discovered about God’s redemptive works. “Faith” (GK 4411) refers to special acts of faith (e.g., performing miracles), as the reference to the moving of mountains shows (cf. Matthew 21:21). Moreover, Paul says that giving all one’s material wealth to the poor can be done without love and that one can even be martyred or submit voluntarily to torture without a sense of love for others.