1 . E uv, if) All the gifts [ although they may be , in the highest degree , delightful , extensive , and useful . — V. g.] ought to be estimated, exercised, and elevated, according to love and its standard. The apostle introduces into the discussion of the
1 The margin of the second edition, with the Gnomon, is more favourable to the fuller reading, than the larger edition and the Germ. Ver. — E. B.
All the oldest MSS. and Versions read yevy yT^mouv only. Hilary 967 alone has “ genera linguarum vel loquendi vel interpretandi.” — Ed.
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gifts a more efficacious discussion respecting love. So in Dis- putations, we must always return to those points, which give a higher degree of grace. — rctTg) all. — yXuxjaoug, tongues ) A grada- tion : with the tongues , ver. 1 : prophecy , ver. 2 : faith , ver. 2 : I shall have bestowed , ver. 3. — XaXw, I speak) The tenor of love causes, that, whereas he just before used the expression, to you , he should now however speak in the first person singular. He does not except even himself in the condition supposed [viz., Though I speak, etc., and have not charity, etc.] — xa/ ruv dy- y'sXuv , and of angels) Angels excel men, and the tongue or tongues of the former excel those of the latter. Moreover, they use their tongues at least to address men : Luke i. and ii. — aya<njv, love) by which the salvation of our neighbour is* sought. — W have not) in the very use of the gifts, and in the rest
of the life. Many indeed have prophecy and other gifts, without charity and its fruits, ver. 4 ; Matt. vii. 22, wffiich are called gifts , not so much in respect of themselves, as of others. — ysyova) I have become , for want of love. The language becomes severe [obtinet dnoro/j,/ av]. — ^aXxog, brass) Brass , for example a piece of money of that metal requires less of the skill of the artist, than a cymbal, for instance, of silver. He may be compared to the one who speaks with the tongues of men without love ; to the other, who speaks without love with the tongues of angels. — rijfiv — «XaXa£oi/, sounding — tinkling) with any sound whatever, mournful or joyful, without life and feeling. The lan- guage varies, I am nothing ; it profiteth me nothing , ver. 2, 3. Without love, tongues are a mere sound : prophecy, knowledge, faith, are not what they are [seem to be]: Matt. vii. 22, 15; 1 Cor. viii. 1, 2 ; James ii. 14, 8 ; every such sacrifice [gift exercised without love] is without [the heavenly] reward ,* how- ever much such a man may please himself, and think that he is something, and promise to himself a great recompense. With love, the good things which are the antitheses to these defects, are understood,
2. Mvarhpia, mysteries) Rom. xi. 25, note. He does not add wisdom , which is nothing without love. — rriv yvuoiv , and all knowledge) This is construed with g/Sw, I understand , as
1 Comp. Matt. vi. 2. — Ed.
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