The words and now may either indicate time, now^ during the present state ; or they may be inferential, now^ i. e. since things are so, rebus sic stantibus. In the latter case, the sense is, 'Since these extraordinary gifts are to pass away, faith, hope, and love abide.' The former are temporary, the latter are permanent. The only objection to this interpreta- tion arises from the apostle's speaking of faith and hope abid- ing in a future state, whereas elsewhere, Rom. 8, 24. 2 Cor. 5, 7, and Heb. 11, 1, faith and hope seem to be rej^resented as pertaining only to our present state of existence, and as being hereafter merged, the one in sight, and the other in fruition. This apparent inconsistency arises from the comprehensiveness of the terms. The state of mind indicated by faith and hope as now exercised, will not continue in the future life ; but the state of mind, so to speak, of the saints in heaven, may be de- signated by these same terms, because confidence and expecta- tion will continue for ever. Faith in one form, ceases when merged in sight ; but in another form it continues ; and the same is true of hope. Or perhaps the same idea may be more correctly expressed by saying that some exercises of faith and hope are peculiar to the present state, while others will never cease. Certain it is that there will always be room even in heaven for confidence in God, and for hope of the ever ad- vancing and enlarging blessedness of the redeemed.
If, however, (wvl 8e), but note, be taken, as is commonly done, as relating to time, the meaning is, ' Now, i. e. so long as we continue in this world, there remain faith, hope and love.' These are the three great permanent Christian graces, \s opposed to the mere temporary gifts of prophecy, miracles, and tongues. But this does not seem to be consistent with what precedes. The contrast is not between the more or less permanent gifts pertaining to our present state ; but between what belongs exclusively to the present, and what is to con- tinue for ever. In v. 8 it is said of love, as a ground or reason of its pre-eminence, that it never fails; and here the same idea is expressed by saying, it abides. ' To abide,' therefore, must mean, that it continues for ever. The same permanence is attributed to faith, hope, and love. They are all contrasted with the temporary gifts, and they are all said to abide. The one is to continue as long as the others. The former interpre- tation is, therefore, to be preferred.
The greatest of these is love. In what sense is love greater than faith ? Some say, because it includes, or is the root of