• 1 Corinthians 13:8
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 8 Ἡ The ἀγάπη love οὐδέποτε never πίπτει. is falling. εἴτε Whether δὲ but προφητεῖαι, prophecies, καταργηθήσονται· they will be made ineffective; εἴτε whether γλῶσσαι, tongues, παύσονται· they will cease; εἴτε whether γνῶσις, knowledge, καταργηθήσεται. it will be made ineffective.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:8
    King James Version

    • 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

  • 1 Corinthians Study Notes—Chapter 13
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 13:8

      Love never fails: Love will never come to an end or cease to exist, for “God is love” and he is “the King of eternity.” (1Jo 4:16; 1Ti 1:17) Obedient humans will display such love throughout all eternity. Also, love is never found lacking or wanting. Love is equal to any occasion, to any challenge. It always produces a good result, or outcome.​—1Co 13:13.

      tongues: That is, miraculous speaking in other languages.​—See study notes on Ac 2:4; 1Co 12:10.

      knowledge: That is, the special knowledge that holy spirit imparted to some early Christians. The exact nature of such knowledge is not known. However, copies of God’s Word were not as easily available as they are today, so a person with the gift of knowledge would perhaps recall and grasp the application of a Bible text that he had read before, even though the congregation did not have the scroll available. Special knowledge, like the other miraculous gifts of the spirit, was a temporary provision that served to build up the Christian congregation in its early years.​—See study note on 1Co 12:8.

      it will be done away with: Lit., “it will be made ineffective.” By means of the holy spirit, God granted miraculous abilities to the apostles. They, in turn, could pass these special powers on to others. These abilities included the gift of prophecy, the miraculous ability to speak different languages, and the gift of special knowledge. However, these miraculous powers would pass away when the Christian congregation grew out of its early stage and reached maturity. (1Co 13:9-11) By then they would have served their purpose, having shown that the Christian congregation had God’s favor and backing.