In this fascinating letter to a multiethnic church, we see some of the everyday problems the early Christians were dealing with. In Paul’s advice on how to handle these problems, we find deep principles that shape his thinking about practical Christian living. These enduring principles—so different from the popular trends of Paul’s time or ours—provide rich guidance for us as we deal with simil…
1Si yo hablase lenguas humanas y angélicas, y no tengo amor, vengo a ser como metal que resuena, o címbalo que retiñe.
2Y si tuviese profecía, y entendiese todos los misterios y toda ciencia, y si tuviese toda la fe, de tal manera que trasladase los montes, y no tengo amor, nada soy.
3Y si repartiese todos mis bienes para dar de comer a los pobres, y si entregase mi cuerpo para ser quemado, y no tengo amor, de nada me sirve.
4El amor es sufrido, es benigno; el amor no tiene envidia, el amor no es jactancioso, no se envanece;
5no hace nada indebido, no busca lo suyo, no se irrita, no guarda rencor;
6no se goza de la injusticia, mas se goza de la verdad.
7Todo lo sufre, todo lo cree, todo lo espera, todo lo soporta.
8El amor nunca deja de ser; pero las profecías se acabarán, y cesarán las lenguas, y la ciencia acabará.
9Porque en parte conocemos, y en parte profetizamos;
10mas cuando venga lo perfecto, entonces lo que es en parte se acabará.
11Cuando yo era niño, hablaba como niño, pensaba como niño, juzgaba como niño; mas cuando ya fui hombre, dejé lo que era de niño.
12Ahora vemos por espejo, oscuramente; mas entonces veremos cara a cara. Ahora conozco en parte; pero entonces conoceré como fui conocido.
13Y ahora permanecen la fe, la esperanza y el amor, estos tres; pero el mayor de ellos es el amor.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
I
Versículo 1
I. 13:1-13 Paul interrupts his discussion of spiritual gifts (resumed in ch 14) to emphasize that lo…
13:1-13 Paul interrupts his discussion of spiritual gifts (resumed in ch 14) to emphasize that love is more important than any spiritual gift (cp. 8:1-3). The most important thing for Christians is to become deeply and consistently loving people.
13:1-3 Spiritual gifts in themselves do not define our worth to God or to the church. In fact, apart from the expression of love, spiritual gifts are of no value.
13:1 all the languages of earth (literally the tongues of men) and of angels: Tongues was the spiritual gift most highly prized by the Corinthians (see also 12:10, 28; 14:1-25, 27). Some may have thought tongues to be the language of angels; in Acts, Luke uses the same term to refer to natural human languages (see Acts 2:4-13).
II
Versículo 2
II. 13:2 If I . . . possessed all knowledge possibly refers to the gift of “special knowledge” (12:8).
13:2 If I . . . possessed all knowledge possibly refers to the gift of “special knowledge” (12:8).
III
Versículo 3
III. 13:3 sacrificed my body, I could boast about it: Some manuscripts read sacrificed my body to be b…
13:3 sacrificed my body, I could boast about it: Some manuscripts read sacrificed my body to be burned; it would have been easy for a copyist to change the text accidentally, because in Greek the two readings differ only by one letter. It is unclear which reading is to be preferred; however, the manuscripts supporting the reading I could boast are generally better. • I would have gained nothing: Even the most impressive sacrificial acts mean nothing if not motivated by love.
IV
Versículo 4
IV. 13:4-7 This description of Christian love emphasizes the willingness to give up one’s own desires…
13:4-7 This description of Christian love emphasizes the willingness to give up one’s own desires for the good of others (see also 8:1–10:33; Rom 5:6-8; 15:3; 2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:4-8).
V
Versículo 5
V. 13:5 It does not demand its own way: Love is not self-centered, not concerned simply with its own…
13:5 It does not demand its own way: Love is not self-centered, not concerned simply with its own interests (see Phil 2:4-8).
VI
Versículo 8
VI. 13:8-13 Love, in contrast to spiritual gifts, will last forever.
13:8-13 Love, in contrast to spiritual gifts, will last forever.
13:8 Love will last forever, because God is love (cp. 1 Jn 4:7-12, 16).
VII
Versículo 9
VII. 13:9 None of the spiritual gifts gives us full understanding; unlike love, they are all limited i…
13:9 None of the spiritual gifts gives us full understanding; unlike love, they are all limited in their benefits.
VIII
Versículo 12
VIII. 13:12 The contrast between now and then is between this age and the coming age. • Now we see thin…
13:12 The contrast between now and then is between this age and the coming age. • Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror: In Paul’s day, mirrors were usually made of polished bronze, so the view was imperfect. Our perception in this life is limited and our understanding is partial and incomplete. • then: When the end comes and Christ establishes his eternal kingdom, we will see everything with perfect clarity. Then the spiritual gifts that give knowledge will be unnecessary.
IX
Versículo 13
IX. 13:13 Faith, hope, and love are more important than spiritual gifts because they last forever (se…
13:13 Faith, hope, and love are more important than spiritual gifts because they last forever (see also Rom 5:1-5; Gal 5:5-6; Col 1:4-5; 1 Thes 1:3; 5:8). Of the three, the greatest . . . is love, because love is the quintessential nature of God himself (see 1 Jn 4:7-12, 16-21). So love should epitomize our relationship with him and others.
Nuevo Testamento
1 Corinthians — Capítulo 13
In this fascinating letter to a multiethnic church, we see some of the everyday problems the early Christians were dealing with. In Paul’s advice on how to handle these problems, we find deep principles that shape his thinking about practical Christian living. These enduring principles—so different from the popular trends of Paul’s time or ours—provide rich guidance for us as we deal with simil…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1Si yo hablase lenguas humanas y angélicas, y no tengo amor, vengo a ser como metal que resuena, o címbalo que retiñe.
2Y si tuviese profecía, y entendiese todos los misterios y toda ciencia, y si tuviese toda la fe, de tal manera que trasladase los montes, y no tengo amor, nada soy.
3Y si repartiese todos mis bienes para dar de comer a los pobres, y si entregase mi cuerpo para ser quemado, y no tengo amor, de nada me sirve.
4El amor es sufrido, es benigno; el amor no tiene envidia, el amor no es jactancioso, no se envanece;
5no hace nada indebido, no busca lo suyo, no se irrita, no guarda rencor;
6no se goza de la injusticia, mas se goza de la verdad.
7Todo lo sufre, todo lo cree, todo lo espera, todo lo soporta.
8El amor nunca deja de ser; pero las profecías se acabarán, y cesarán las lenguas, y la ciencia acabará.
9Porque en parte conocemos, y en parte profetizamos;
10mas cuando venga lo perfecto, entonces lo que es en parte se acabará.
11Cuando yo era niño, hablaba como niño, pensaba como niño, juzgaba como niño; mas cuando ya fui hombre, dejé lo que era de niño.
12Ahora vemos por espejo, oscuramente; mas entonces veremos cara a cara. Ahora conozco en parte; pero entonces conoceré como fui conocido.
13Y ahora permanecen la fe, la esperanza y el amor, estos tres; pero el mayor de ellos es el amor.
TYNDALE OPEN STUDY NOTES
Versículo 1
I. 13:1-13 Paul interrupts his discussion of spiritual gifts (resumed in ch 14) to emphasize that lo…
Versículo 2
II. 13:2 If I . . . possessed all knowledge possibly refers to the gift of “special knowledge” (12:8).
Versículo 3
III. 13:3 sacrificed my body, I could boast about it: Some manuscripts read sacrificed my body to be b…
Versículo 4
IV. 13:4-7 This description of Christian love emphasizes the willingness to give up one’s own desires…
Versículo 5
V. 13:5 It does not demand its own way: Love is not self-centered, not concerned simply with its own…
Versículo 8
VI. 13:8-13 Love, in contrast to spiritual gifts, will last forever.
Versículo 9
VII. 13:9 None of the spiritual gifts gives us full understanding; unlike love, they are all limited i…
Versículo 12
VIII. 13:12 The contrast between now and then is between this age and the coming age. • Now we see thin…
Versículo 13
IX. 13:13 Faith, hope, and love are more important than spiritual gifts because they last forever (se…