1 Corinthians 13
Παῦλος emphasizes the supremacy of **ἀγάπη** (agape), declaring that spiritual gifts like tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, and even sacrificial acts are worthless without it[1][6]. He describes ἀγάπη as patient, kind, not envious or boastful, enduring all things, never failing, surpassing childish ways, with faith, hope, and ἀγάπη abiding, the greatest being ἀγάπη[1][3][4].
Interlinear Text
if
if
with the
to the
tongues
to/for tongues
of the
the
men
of human beings
I speak
I am speaking
and
and
of the
the
angels
messenger
love
self-giving love
but
now
not
not (contingently)
have
I have
I have become
I have become
brass
copper/bronze
sounding
having
or
or
cymbal
arched metal cymbal
clanging
shouting loudly
Verse 1
ἐὰν
ean
if
if
CONJ.S
ταῖς
tais
with the
to the
ART DAT F PL
γλώσσαις
glossais
tongues
to/for tongues
N DAT F PL
τῶν
ton
of the
the
ART GEN M PL
ἀνθρώπων
anthropon
men
of human beings
N GEN M PL
λαλῶ
lalo
I speak
I am speaking
V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG
καὶ
kai
and
and
CONJ
τῶν
ton-2
of the
the
ART GEN M PL
ἀγγέλων
aggelon
angels
messenger
N GEN M PL
ἀγάπην
agapen
love
self-giving love
N ACC F SG
δὲ
de
but
now
CONJ
μὴ
me
not
not (contingently)
ADV
ἔχω
echo
have
I have
V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG
γέγονα
gegona
I have become
I have become
V PRF ACT IND 1P SG
χαλκὸς
chalkos
brass
copper/bronze
N NOM M SG
ἠχῶν
echon
sounding
having
V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG
ἢ
e
or
or
CONJ
κύμβαλον
kumbalon
cymbal
arched metal cymbal
N NOM N SG
ἀλαλάζον
alalazon
clanging
shouting loudly
V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG
and
and
if
if
I have
I have
prophecy
inspired proclamation
and
and
I know
I may know
the
the (neuter plural)
mysteries
hidden sacred secrets
all
all things
and
and
all
every
the
the (feminine singular)
knowledge
knowledge
and
and
if
if
I have
I have
all
every
the
the (feminine singular)
faith
trust
so that
so that
mountains
mountains
to remove
to transfer
love
self-giving love
but
now
not
not (contingently)
I have
I have
nothing
not even one thing
I am
I am
Verse 2
καὶ
kai
and
and
CONJ
ἐὰν
ean
if
if
CONJ.S
ἔχω
echo
I have
I have
V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG
προφητείαν
propheteian
prophecy
inspired proclamation
N ACC F SG
καὶ
kai-2
and
and
CONJ
εἰδῶ
eido
I know
I may know
V PRF ACT SUBJ 1P SG
τὰ
ta
the
the (neuter plural)
ART ACC N PL
μυστήρια
musteria
mysteries
hidden sacred secrets
N ACC N PL
πάντα
panta
all
all things
QUAN ACC N PL
καὶ
kai-3
and
and
CONJ
πᾶσαν
pasan
all
every
QUAN ACC F SG
τὴν
ten
the
the (feminine singular)
ART ACC F SG
γνῶσιν
gnosin
knowledge
knowledge
N ACC F SG
καὶ
kai-4
and
and
CONJ
ἐὰν
ean-2
if
if
CONJ.S
ἔχω
echo-2
I have
I have
V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG
πᾶσαν
pasan-2
all
every
QUAN ACC F SG
τὴν
ten-2
the
the (feminine singular)
ART ACC F SG
πίστιν
pistin
faith
trust
N ACC F SG
ὥστε
oste
so that
so that
CONJ.S
ὄρη
ore
mountains
mountains
N ACC N PL
μεθιστάναι
methistanai
to remove
to transfer
V PRS ACT INF
ἀγάπην
agapen
love
self-giving love
N ACC F SG
δὲ
de
but
now
CONJ
μὴ
me
not
not (contingently)
ADV
ἔχω
echo-3
I have
I have
V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG
οὐθέν
outhen
nothing
not even one thing
PRO.I NOM N SG
εἰμι
eimi
I am
I am
V PRS ACT IND 1P SG
and if
even if
I give away to feed
I may give morsels
all
all things
the
the (neuter plural)
possessions
existing things
my
of me
and
and
if
if
I give over
he might hand over
the
to the
body
body
my
of me
so that
in order that
I may boast
I may boast
love
self-giving love
but
now
not
not (contingently)
I have
I have
nothing
not even one thing
I am profited
I was being benefited
Verse 3
κἂν
kan
and if
even if
CONJ.S
ψωμίσω
psomiso
I give away to feed
I may give morsels
V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG
πάντα
panta
all
all things
PRO.I ACC N PL
τὰ
ta
the
the (neuter plural)
PRO.D ACC N PL
ὑπάρχοντά
uparchonta
possessions
existing things
V PRS ACT PTCP ACC N PL
μου
mou
my
of me
PRO.P 1P GEN SG
καὶ
kai
and
and
CONJ
ἐὰν
ean
if
if
CONJ.S
παραδῶ
parado
I give over
he might hand over
V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG
τὸ
to
the
to the
ART ACC N SG
σῶμά
soma
body
body
N ACC N SG
μου
mou-2
my
of me
PRO.P 1P GEN SG
ἵνα
ina
so that
in order that
CONJ.S
καυχήσωμαι
kauchesomai
I may boast
I may boast
V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG
ἀγάπην
agapen
love
self-giving love
N ACC F SG
δὲ
de
but
now
CONJ
μὴ
me
not
not (contingently)
ADV
ἔχω
echo
I have
I have
V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG
οὐδὲν
ouden
nothing
not even one thing
PRO.I ACC N SG
ὠφελοῦμαι
opheloumai
I am profited
I was being benefited
V PRS PASS IND 1P SG
the
the
love
self-giving love
is patient
is long-spirited
is kind
acts kindly
the
the
love
self-giving love
not
not
envieth
zealously desires
the
the
love
self-giving love
not
not
vaunteth not itself
is showing itself off
not
not
is puffed up
was being puffed up
Verse 4
ἡ
e
the
the
ART NOM F SG
ἀγάπη
agape
love
self-giving love
N NOM F SG
μακροθυμεῖ
makrothumei
is patient
is long-spirited
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
χρηστεύεται
chresteuetai
is kind
acts kindly
V PRS MID IND 3P SG
ἡ
e-2
the
the
ART NOM F SG
ἀγάπη
agape-2
love
self-giving love
N NOM F SG
οὐ
ou
not
not
ADV
ζηλοῖ
zeloi
envieth
zealously desires
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
ἡ
e-3
the
the
ART NOM F SG
ἀγάπη
agape-3
love
self-giving love
N NOM F SG
οὐ
ou-2
not
not
ADV
περπερεύεται
perpereuetai
vaunteth not itself
is showing itself off
V PRS MID IND 3P SG
οὐ
ou-3
not
not
ADV
φυσιοῦται
phusioutai
is puffed up
was being puffed up
V PRS PASS IND 3P SG
does not
not
act unbecomingly
behaves indecently
not
not
seek
he/she seeks
the
the (neuter plural)
own
of herself
not
not
is provoked
is being provoked
not
not
take into account
is reckoned
the
to the
wrong
bad thing
Verse 5
οὐκ
ouk
does not
not
ADV
ἀσχημονεῖ
aschemonei
act unbecomingly
behaves indecently
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
οὐ
ou
not
not
ADV
ζητεῖ
zetei
seek
he/she seeks
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
τὰ
ta
the
the (neuter plural)
PRO.D ACC N PL
ἑαυτῆς
eautes
own
of herself
PRO.X 3P GEN F SG
οὐ
ou-2
not
not
ADV
παροξύνεται
paroxunetai
is provoked
is being provoked
V PRS PASS IND 3P SG
οὐ
ou-3
not
not
ADV
λογίζεται
logizetai
take into account
is reckoned
V PRS MID IND 3P SG
τὸ
to
the
to the
ART ACC N SG
κακόν
kakon
wrong
bad thing
ADJ.S ACC N SG
not
not
rejoices
he/she/it rejoices
in
upon, over
the
to the
unrighteousness
injustice
rejoices
rejoices together with
but
now
the
to the
truth
in truth
Verse 6
οὐ
ou
not
not
PART
χαίρει
chairei
rejoices
he/she/it rejoices
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
ἐπὶ
epi
in
upon, over
PREP DAT
τῇ
te
the
to the
ART DAT F SG
ἀδικίᾳ
adikia
unrighteousness
injustice
N DAT F SG
συνχαίρει
sunchairei
rejoices
rejoices together with
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
δὲ
de
but
now
CONJ.C
τῇ
te-2
the
to the
ART DAT F SG
ἀληθείᾳ
aletheia
truth
in truth
N DAT F SG
all things
all things
bears
covers over
all things
all things
believes
he/she trusts
all things
all things
hopes
he/she hopes
all things
all things
endures
endures steadfastly
Verse 7
πάντα
panta
all things
all things
PRO.I ACC N PL
στέγει
stegei
bears
covers over
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
πάντα
panta-2
all things
all things
PRO.I ACC N PL
πιστεύει
pisteuei
believes
he/she trusts
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
πάντα
panta-3
all things
all things
PRO.I ACC N PL
ἐλπίζει
elpizei
hopes
he/she hopes
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
πάντα
panta-4
all things
all things
PRO.I ACC N PL
ὑπομένει
upomenei
endures
endures steadfastly
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
the
the
love
self-giving love
never
never at any time
fails
falls
if
whether
but
now
prophecies
inspired proclamations
they will be done away
they will be nullified
if
whether
tongues
tongues
they will cease
they will desist
if
whether
knowledge
knowing
it will be done away
it will be rendered inoperative
Verse 8
ἡ
e
the
the
ART NOM F SG
ἀγάπη
agape
love
self-giving love
N NOM F SG
οὐδέποτε
oudepote
never
never at any time
ADV
πίπτει
piptei
fails
falls
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
εἴτε
eite
if
whether
PART
δὲ
de
but
now
CONJ
προφητεῖαι
propheteiai
prophecies
inspired proclamations
N NOM F PL
καταργηθήσονται
katargethesontai
they will be done away
they will be nullified
V FUT PASS IND 3P PL
εἴτε
eite-2
if
whether
CONJ.C
γλῶσσαι
glossai
tongues
tongues
N NOM F PL
παύσονται
pausontai
they will cease
they will desist
V FUT MID IND 3P PL
εἴτε
eite-3
if
whether
CONJ.C
γνῶσις
gnosis
knowledge
knowing
N NOM F SG
καταργηθήσεται
katargethesetai
it will be done away
it will be rendered inoperative
V FUT PASS IND 3P SG
in
out of
part
of a portion
for
for
we know
we come to know
and
and
in
out of
part
of a portion
we prophesy
we are proclaiming as prophets
Verse 9
ἐκ
ek
in
out of
PREP GEN
μέρους
merous
part
of a portion
N GEN N SG
γὰρ
gar
for
for
CONJ
γινώσκομεν
ginoskomen
we know
we come to know
V PRS ACT IND 1P PL
καὶ
kai
and
and
CONJ
ἐκ
ek-2
in
out of
PREP GEN
μέρους
merous-2
part
of a portion
N GEN N SG
προφητεύομεν
propheteuomen
we prophesy
we are proclaiming as prophets
V PRS ACT IND 1P PL
when
whenever
but
now
comes
he/she/it may come
the
to the
perfect
the complete state
that
to the
in
out of
part
of a portion
will be done away
it will be rendered inoperative
Verse 10
ὅταν
otan
when
whenever
CONJ.S
δὲ
de
but
now
CONJ
ἔλθῃ
elthe
comes
he/she/it may come
V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG
τὸ
to
the
to the
ART NOM N SG
τέλειον
teleion
perfect
the complete state
ADJ.S NOM N SG
τὸ
to-2
that
to the
PRO.D NOM N SG
ἐκ
ek
in
out of
PREP GEN
μέρους
merous
part
of a portion
N GEN N SG
καταργηθήσεται
katargethesetai
will be done away
it will be rendered inoperative
V FUT PASS IND 3P SG
When
when
I was
I was
a child
speechless infant
I spoke
they were speaking
like
as
a child
speechless infant
I thought
I was being minded
like
as
a child
speechless infant
I reasoned
I was reckoning to myself
like
as
a child
speechless infant
when
when
I became
I have become
a man
an adult man
I put away
I have rendered inoperative
the
the (neuter plural)
of the
of the
child
of an infant
Verse 11
ὅτε
ote
When
when
CONJ.S
ἤμην
emen
I was
I was
V IMPF MID IND 1P SG
νήπιος
nepios
a child
speechless infant
ADJ.P NOM M SG
ἐλάλουν
elaloun
I spoke
they were speaking
V IMPF ACT IND 1P SG
ὡς
os
like
as
CONJ.S
νήπιος
nepios-2
a child
speechless infant
ADJ.S NOM M SG
ἐφρόνουν
ephronoun
I thought
I was being minded
V IMPF ACT IND 1P SG
ὡς
os-2
like
as
CONJ.S
νήπιος
nepios-3
a child
speechless infant
ADJ.S NOM M SG
ἐλογιζόμην
elogizomen
I reasoned
I was reckoning to myself
V IMPF MID IND 1P SG
ὡς
os-3
like
as
CONJ.S
νήπιος
nepios-4
a child
speechless infant
ADJ.S NOM M SG
ὅτε
ote-2
when
when
CONJ.S
γέγονα
gegona
I became
I have become
V PRF ACT IND 1P SG
ἀνήρ
aner
a man
an adult man
N NOM M SG
κατήργηκα
katergeka
I put away
I have rendered inoperative
V PRF ACT IND 1P SG
τὰ
ta
the
the (neuter plural)
PRO.D ACC N PL
τοῦ
tou
of the
of the
ART GEN M SG
νηπίου
nepiou
child
of an infant
ADJ.S GEN M SG
we see
we see
for
for
now
right now
through
through
a mirror
of a mirror
in
in
dimly
in a riddle
then
at that time
but
now
face
face
to
toward
face
face
now
right now
I know
I am coming to know
in
out of
part
of a portion
then
at that time
but
now
I will know fully
I will fully know
as
just as
also
and
I have been fully known
I was fully known
Verse 12
βλέπομεν
blepomen
we see
we see
V PRS ACT IND 1P PL
γὰρ
gar
for
for
CONJ
ἄρτι
arti
now
right now
ADV
δι’
di
through
through
PREP GEN
ἐσόπτρου
esoptrou
a mirror
of a mirror
N GEN N SG
ἐν
en
in
in
PREP DAT
αἰνίγματι
ainigmati
dimly
in a riddle
N DAT N SG
τότε
tote
then
at that time
ADV
δὲ
de
but
now
CONJ
πρόσωπον
prosopon
face
face
N ACC N SG
πρὸς
pros
to
toward
PREP ACC
πρόσωπον
prosopon-2
face
face
N ACC N SG
ἄρτι
arti-2
now
right now
ADV
γινώσκω
ginosko
I know
I am coming to know
V PRS ACT IND 1P SG
ἐκ
ek
in
out of
PREP GEN
μέρους
merous
part
of a portion
N GEN N SG
τότε
tote-2
then
at that time
ADV
δὲ
de-2
but
now
CONJ
ἐπιγνώσομαι
epignosomai
I will know fully
I will fully know
V FUT MID IND 1P SG
καθὼς
kathos
as
just as
ADV
καὶ
kai
also
and
ADV
ἐπεγνώσθην
epegnosthen
I have been fully known
I was fully known
V AOR PASS IND 1P SG
now
right now
but
now
remains
he/she/it remains
faith
trustful confidence
hope
hopeful expectation
love
self-giving love
the
the (neuter plural)
three
three
these
these
greatest
the greater one
but
now
of these
of these
the
the
love
self-giving love
Verse 13
νυνὶ
nuni
now
right now
ADV
δὲ
de
but
now
CONJ
μένει
menei
remains
he/she/it remains
V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
πίστις
pistis
faith
trustful confidence
N NOM F SG
ἐλπίς
elpis
hope
hopeful expectation
N NOM F SG
ἀγάπη
agape
love
self-giving love
N NOM F SG
τὰ
ta
the
the (neuter plural)
ART NOM N PL
τρία
tria
three
three
ADJ.S NOM N PL
ταῦτα
tauta
these
these
DET NOM N PL
μείζων
meizon
greatest
the greater one
ADJ.P NOM F SG
δὲ
de-2
but
now
CONJ
τούτων
touton
of these
of these
PRO.D GEN N PL
ἡ
e
the
the
ART NOM F SG
ἀγάπη
agape-2
love
self-giving love
N NOM F SG