The Hymn to Charity

The Corinthians quarreled over the gifts of the Spirit, jealous of the most striking ones, like speaking in tongues, that gift of uttering inspired and unintelligible words. Paul first shows them that they form one body with diverse members, then opens to them a way that surpasses all the gifts, and without which none is worth anything: charity. This word does not here mean almsgiving nor material generosity, but love, the Greek agapè, the love of benevolence and self-gift with which God himself loves.

The way that surpasses them all

The gifts of the Spirit are real and good, but they are given for the one body, not for rivalry. After ordering them to the common good, Paul announces something greater still: “Aspire to the greatest gifts. And I will show you a way that surpasses them all.” 1 Corinthians 12:31 This way is not one gift among others, but what gives them all their worth. Paul carries the contrast to the highest gifts and the heaviest sacrifices: “If I had the gift of prophecy, and understood all mysteries and all knowledge, and had faith in its fullness, the faith that moves mountains, but had not charity, I would be nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 “If I gave away all my goods to feed the hungry, and handed over my body to the flames, but had not charity, it would profit me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3 The greatest works, without the love that animates them, weigh nothing. Without it, the highest gifts are empty: “If I were to speak the tongues of men and of angels, but had not charity, I would be a resounding bronze, a clashing cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1

The face of charity

Paul then describes charity not by definitions, but by what it does and does not do, trait after trait: “Charity is patient, charity is kind; it is not envious, it does not boast, it is not puffed up with pride, it does nothing improper, it does not seek its own interest, it is not irritable, it holds no grudge.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Each of these traits aims at a disorder of Corinth, jealousy, pride, self-seeking; charity is their exact remedy. The portrait ends on what charity loves and on what it bears: “it does not rejoice in injustice, but finds its joy in the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6 “It excuses everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 These four “everythings” speak of a charity that holds firm to the end, without wearying or despairing of anyone.

Charity never passes away

The gifts are for this time, and they will cease when fullness comes. Charity remains, for it is already what will not end. Our present knowledge is but a dawn: “At present we see in a mirror, dimly; but then it will be face to face.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 The mirrors of old were plates of polished metal, giving back only a dim and imperfect image: so is our present knowledge, true but confused, beside the vision of heaven. Three things pass through this passing world and remain, and one crowns them: “these three remain: faith, hope, and charity; but the greatest of the three is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 In heaven, faith will no longer believe without seeing, for it will see God face to face; hope will no longer wait, for it will possess what it awaited; charity alone, which is already the very love of God, will never pass away.