Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin (continued)
Chapter
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1. Et adhuc excellentiorem viam vobis demonstro. Si linguis hominum loquar et Angelorum, caritatem autem non habeam, factus sum tympanum sonans, aut cymbalum tinniens.
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.
2. Et si habeam prophetiam, et noverim mysteria omnia omnemque scientiam, et si habeam omnem fidem, adeo ut montes loco dimoveam, caritatem autem non habeam, nihil sum.
3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
3. Et si insumam in alimoniam omnes facultates meas, et si tradam corpus meum ut comburar, caritatem autem non habeam, nihil mihi prodest.
The division of the Chapter being so absurd, I could not refrain from changing it, especially as I could not conveniently interpret it otherwise. For what purpose did it serve to connect with what goes before a detached sentence, which agrees so well with what comes after — nay more, is thereby rendered complete? It is likely, that it happened through a mistake on the part of the transcribers. However it may be as to this, after having commanded that regard should be had chiefly to edification, he now declares that he will show them something of greater importance — that everything be regulated according to the rule of love. This, then, is the most excellent way, when love is the regulating principle of all our actions. And, in the outset, he proceeds upon this — that all excellencies 774 are of no value without love; for nothing is so excellent or estimable as not to be vitiated in the sight of God, if love 775 is wanting. Nor does he teach anything here but
774"Quelles qu'elles soyent;" — "Whatever they are." 775Penn, in his Annotations, gives the following account of the term charity, as made use of in our English translation — "If the Latin version had not rendered {αγαπη}, in this place, by `charitas,' instead of `amor --- love,' we should not have found the word `charity' in our English version. But Wiclif, who only knew the Latin Scripture, adopted from it that word, and rendered, `and I have not