1 Corinthians 13:13

_ _ And now — Translate, “But now.” “In this present state” [Henderson]. Or, “now” does not express time, but opposition, as in 1 Corinthians 5:11, “the case being so” [Grotius]; whereas it is the case that the three gifts, “prophecy,” “tongues,” and “knowledge” (cited as specimens of the whole class of gifts) “fail” (1 Corinthians 13:8), there abide permanently only these three — faith, hope, charity. In one sense faith and hope shall be done away, faith being superseded by sight, and hope by actual fruition (Romans 8:24; 2 Corinthians 5:7); and charity, or love, alone never faileth (1 Corinthians 13:8). But in another sense, “faith and hope,” as well as “charity,” ABIDE; namely, after the extraordinary gifts have ceased; for those three are necessary and sufficient for salvation at all times, whereas the extraordinary gifts are not at all so; compare the use of “abide,” 1 Corinthians 3:14. Charity, or love, is connected specially with the Holy Spirit, who is the bond of the loving union between the brethren (Romans 15:30; Colossians 1:8). Faith is towards God. Hope is in behalf of ourselves. Charity is love to God creating in us love towards our neighbor. In an unbeliever there is more or less of the three opposites — unbelief, despair, hatred. Even hereafter faith in the sense of trust in God “abideth”; also “hope,” in relation to ever new joys in prospect, and at the anticipation of ever increasing blessedness, sure never to be disappointed. But love alone in every sense “abideth”; it is therefore “the greatest” of the three, as also because it presupposes “faith,” which without “love” and its consequent “works” is dead (Galatians 5:6; James 2:17, James 2:20).

_ _ but — rather, “and”; as there is not so strong opposition between charity and the other two, faith and hope, which like it also “abide.”