1 CORINTHIANS 13:2 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing — even prophecy, cosmological wisdom, comprehensive gnōsis, and mountain-moving pistis pale to insignificance without love; Paul uses hyperbolic accumulation to show that all great spiritual accomplishments amount to ouden (nothing, zero) apart from love's animating principle.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 13:2
“And if I have the gift of prophecy.” And this gift again with an excellency. For as in that case he mentioned not tongues, but the tongues of all mankind, and as he proceeded, those of angels, and then signified that the gift was nothing without love: so also here he mentions not prophecy alone but the very highest prophecy: in having said, “If I have prophecy,” he added, “and know all mysteries and all knowledge;” expressing this gift also with intensity. Then after this…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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