1Corinthians 13: 13. Why is Charity greater than Faith or Hope ?

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CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
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#2
My understanding of the word charity is that it is love in action. Faith and hope are His love (grace) working in us, and Charity is paying His love forward, being His hands and feet. 2 Cor 9:8

The other translations using love works perfectly fine for me, because love is an action word.

Lord help us Love, give and serve, in the way that honors You.
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
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#3
If Jesus not die on the cross, it will be no salvation
Die on the cross is a charity/ love in action. Than when Jesus in our heart, He will produce charity through us

That is why john say

1 John 4:20

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

In other word when one say he have faith but don't have love, he is lie, he don't have faith
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,173
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#4
My understanding of the word charity is that it is love in action. Faith and hope are His love (grace) working in us, and Charity is paying His love forward, being His hands and feet. 2 Cor 9:8

The other translations using love works perfectly fine for me, because love is an action word.

Lord help us Love, give and serve, in the way that honors You.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
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#5
To the title. True charity (love from God) will accomplish the rest.
 

wattie

Senior Member
Feb 24, 2009
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New Zealand
#6
Yeah.. faith and hope come out of God's love/charity.

Also tied with charity is unconditional grace. And this is at the cross of Jesus
 
Apr 15, 2017
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#7
"love", does not apply here, Charity does. see KJV.
Charity is love.

It is love in action, and not by words only.

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Charity is greater than faith and hope, for faith and hope are not needed in heaven, but love will go on forever.

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Faith works by love, for everything stems from love.

If a person lacks love, then they lack faith, then they lack grace.

Without love a person cannot be saved.

1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity is not selfish, not arrogant, thinks no evil, and rejoices in the truth to be led of the Spirit and to abstain from sins, and help people with their needs if possible.

1Co 13:2 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.

Paul said he could have all faith, but if he did not have charity he is nothing.

1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Paul said if a person preaches that God blesses them with money for their wants above their needs withdraw yourself from them, having food and clothing be content.

For the love of money is the root of all evil for is neglects the poor and needy, and love is the fulfilling of the law, and that is to care about people's needs the same as your own needs.

Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

James said if they do not have charity then their faith is dead, and a person is justified by works, and not faith alone, for they have to have works of love, charity, for faith to apply in their life.

1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

John said if they do not have charity then the love of God does not dwell in them.

So do not love in word, or in tongue, but in deed and in truth which is charity.

Charity is love, for it is love in action.

And a person cannot love in tongue only but must have love in action, charity, for their love to be valid.

Saying I love you, have a good day, but you do not help people with their needs, and to not have love in action, then your love does not count.

Charity is love, and the only way we can have love that is valid.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,195
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#9
"love", does not apply here, Charity does. see KJV.
If you research the complete etymology of the word, charity, you will find among its true meaning love, the love of God in particular.
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
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#11
"love", does not apply here, Charity does. see KJV.
Charity is evidence of the Holy Spirit. All else, faith and other fruit come from the Spirit.
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6 (KJV 1900)
 

tantalon

Active member
Oct 11, 2019
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#13
There is a DIFFERANCE between LOVE and CHARITY. To love, is to DO the works of righteousness, for example: John 14: 21-24. Another is ist. John 2: 3-6. CHARITY, on the other hand, are the INNER traits, or CHARACTER of holiness, as listed in 1Cor. 13: 4-8. A good example of LOVE, without CHARITY, is shown in verse 3, in which a man lays down his life for another. see John 15: 12,13. Now to answer the question, why is charity greater than hope or faith, it should be obvious that the character of holiness (charity) is of GREATER value than hope or good works.
 
Mar 28, 2016
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#14
Faith and hope are labors of love. .called works of faith . No faith as a labor. . . no work expected .

Two working as one .The law of faith (the unseen)

Loving father working in willing submissions with Son strengthening each others hope perfectly producing a peace that surpasses our finite minds.

We should submit willfully as he does work with us to both will and do the pleasure of the will of the father , not murrurrring

Philippians 2:12-14 King James Version (KJV)
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,537
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#15
My understanding of the word charity is that it is love in action. Faith and hope are His love (grace) working in us, and Charity is paying His love forward, being His hands and feet. 2 Cor 9:8

The other translations using love works perfectly fine for me, because love is an action word.

Lord help us Love, give and serve, in the way that honors You.
Love can be placed towards sinful lusts such as the love of money. Charity cannot. Charity is A brotherly love that only believers can have towards other believers. It is the bond that holds us together.
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#16
There is a DIFFERANCE between LOVE and CHARITY. To love, is to DO the works of righteousness, for example: John 14: 21-24. Another is ist. John 2: 3-6. CHARITY, on the other hand, are the INNER traits, or CHARACTER of holiness, as listed in 1Cor. 13: 4-8. A good example of LOVE, without CHARITY, is shown in verse 3, in which a man lays down his life for another. see John 15: 12,13. Now to answer the question, why is charity greater than hope or faith, it should be obvious that the character of holiness (charity) is of GREATER value than hope or good works.
Love has many attributes as works that work in these bodies of death The first and foremost is the Love of God that works in us.It is long sufferings or patient. setting up the next attribute. Love is kind. Not having the first works it cannot be kind, the next lines of attributes fall off.

And it becomes self control out of control and not the fruit of the Spirit of love. God is love, Not only can he love but is the very essence .In Him there is no darkness .God is Light. His Spirit unseen must do the work of giving light to our path . God is Spirit. The three things that do make him God. His love is kind it therefore has no need to take into account a wrong suffered. He cast our sin in Love as far as east is to west. . .never coming to mind forever more. We must remember we have forgiven, as his love works in us so that we can take the log from our own eye..
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,095
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#17
There is a DIFFERANCE between LOVE and CHARITY. To love, is to DO the works of righteousness, for example: John 14: 21-24. Another is ist. John 2: 3-6. CHARITY, on the other hand, are the INNER traits, or CHARACTER of holiness, as listed in 1Cor. 13: 4-8. A good example of LOVE, without CHARITY, is shown in verse 3, in which a man lays down his life for another. see John 15: 12,13. Now to answer the question, why is charity greater than hope or faith, it should be obvious that the character of holiness (charity) is of GREATER value than hope or good works.
There is a difference between love (as man loves) and charity (as God loves)

Mans love is a love based on conditions. When man loves someone, he expects that love to be returned in kind. Even the strength of a Mothers love is based on how that love is returned to her. As well, there are different types of love in our world.

I love Blueberry Cobbler, but I am NOT very charitable towards it........things such as that.

Gods love (Agape) is a PURE LOVE that DOES NOT require the love to be returned. God loved us while we were yet in our sin and not loving towards Him, or, possibly, even aware of Him. Gods love is pure love that NEVER wanes.............

That is why "charity" Agape love, Gods love is the "greatest of these......"
 

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
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#18
Love can be placed towards sinful lusts such as the love of money. Charity cannot. Charity is A brotherly love that only believers can have towards other believers. It is the bond that holds us together.
Hey John. I hope you and your family are well.

About your point... For me, not the kind of Godly, selfless, love that is synonymous with Charity. God is, after all, Love.

I believe we are getting to the same understanding of the verse, so disputing over the word used, that means the same thing to us both is silly.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#19
Hey John. I hope you and your family are well.

About your point... For me, not the kind of Godly, selfless, love that is synonymous with Charity. God is, after all, Love.

I believe we are getting to the same understanding of the verse, so disputing over the word used, that means the same thing to us both is silly.
Thanks for your thoughts.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#20
There is a DIFFERANCE between LOVE and CHARITY. To love, is to DO the works of righteousness, for example: John 14: 21-24. Another is ist. John 2: 3-6. CHARITY, on the other hand, are the INNER traits, or CHARACTER of holiness, as listed in 1Cor. 13: 4-8. A good example of LOVE, without CHARITY, is shown in verse 3, in which a man lays down his life for another. see John 15: 12,13. Now to answer the question, why is charity greater than hope or faith, it should be obvious that the character of holiness (charity) is of GREATER value than hope or good works.
Which verses support this distinction?