love, sometimes faith [by itself] denoting by synecdoche the whole of Christianity, 1 Thess. iii. 6, 5. In a wicked man we find infidelity, hatred, despair. — ruvru, these) Heb. Dn, i.e. are , viz. greater than prophecies, etc. — greater) the greatest, of these , of the three. He not only prefers love to prophecy, but even to such things as excel prophecy. Love is of more advantage to our neighbour, than faith and hope by themselves : comp, greater , xiv. 5. And God is not called faith or hope absolutely, whereas He is called love.
1. A/wxsrs, follow after) This word implies more than ^XoDre, emulously desire , here, and in ver. 12, 39, xii. 31. — i^aXkov, rather) in preference to tongues. Paul here does not now any longer speak expressly of knowledge , for it, in respect of the other gifts, coincides with prophecy , ver. 6.
2. T u> ©gw, to God) alone, who understands all tongues. — uzovsij hears) i.e. understands. — vpari, in spirit) ver. 14. — /uvffrrjpiu, mysteries) which others may rather admire, than learn. The article is not added.
3. Oixodo/xiiv, edification ) Two principal species are added to this genus £ crapaxA'/jcvs, exhortation , takes away sluggishness ; trapa/Avd/a, consolation takes away sadness.
4. ‘E uvrbv, himself) understanding the meaning of what the tongue speaks. — ixxXqriav, the church) the whole congregation.
5. rAw<r<ra/s, with tongues) The Corinthians chiefly cultivated this gift ; and Paul does not consider them as doing wrong, but he reduces it to order : see ver. 12. — greater) more useful, ver. 6. — disp^veUi) bia elegantly expresses the position of the interpreter between him, who speaks in an unknown tongue, and the hearer. If the very same person, who speaks in an unknown tongue, also acts as interpreter, then the very same person in a manner comes in between himself and the hearer ; according to the different point of view in which he is regarded.