1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” This verse comes at the end of Paul’s famous chapter on love and sums up some of the main themes. Specifically, it emphasizes that faith, hope, and love continue to abide or remain even when spiritual gifts like prophecy and tongues cease. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these key virtues means in context.
Faith
Faith is confident trust and assurance in God and Jesus Christ. Throughout 1 Corinthians, Paul stresses the importance of faith in Jesus and sound doctrine about Him (1 Cor 2:5, 15:1-4, 15:14, 15:17). The previous chapter on spiritual gifts highlights how prophecy, knowledge, and tongues will pass away. But faith remains constant, anchored in the bedrock of the gospel message. Even when spiritual gifts cease, faith in Christ will persist.
This faith is more than just intellectual assent. It is wholehearted reliance on God’s power and promises. Paul says we walk by faith, not sight (2 Cor 5:7). This living faith manifests itself in actions like obedience, endurance, and bearing fruit for God’s kingdom. Faith is a gift of God (Eph 2:8-9) that equips believers to overcome trials and accomplish God’s will. So while specific spiritual gifts may come and go, robust faith in Christ remains essential.
Hope
Hope is eager expectation and desire for the promises of God to be fulfilled. Paul ties it directly to faith, saying “faith is the assurance of things hoped for” (Heb 11:1). Hope is future-oriented, anticipating the coming of Christ’s kingdom. Early Christians rejoiced in hope despite trials because they knew Christ’s return was coming (Rom 5:2, 12:12). Their hope was rooted in God’s proven faithfulness and the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives.
This hope remains because God always keeps His promises. Believers have unshakable hope that Jesus will come back, creation will be renewed, and God’s purposes will be accomplished. No matter what happens, this hope perseveres as an anchor for the soul (Heb 6:19). It motivates and sustains Christians, purifying themselves in anticipation of Jesus’ return (1 John 3:3). Though prophecies and spiritual gifts pass away, the enduring hope Christ implants in believers’ hearts continues.
Love
Love is the greatest virtue because it comes from God and directly connects us to Him. The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 describes love’s supremacy and essential nature at length. Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things (1 Cor 13:7). God displayed His great love by sending Jesus to die for sinners (John 3:16, Rom 5:8). As His followers, we must walk in love by laying down our lives for one another (1 John 3:16).
Though prophecies and tongues cease, love remains. It is the eternal bond in the triune Godhead and the “most excellent way” for Christians (1 Cor 12:31). Jesus called His disciples to radical, sacrificial love – even loving enemies. Unlike gifts that fade, love never ends (1 Cor 13:8). It is the true badge of discipleship and the way believers walk as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). When Christ returns, faith and hope will culminate in perfect love. But until then, love guides the way.
Why These 3 Virtues?
Why does Paul highlight faith, hope, and love as remaining? First, they form a triad of core Christian virtues, described together multiple times in Scripture (Col 1:4-5, 1 Thess 1:3, 5:8; Heb 6:10-12, 10:22-24; 1 Peter 1:21-22). Each one complements and flows into the others. Hope fuels faith, faith roots itself in love, and love overflows with hope.
These virtues also remain essential regardless of a believer’s circumstances. Times of suffering test faith and hope, but God uses trials to purify both (1 Peter 1:6-9, James 1:2-4; Rom 5:3-5). And love empowers believers to serve and bless others, no matter how they are treated in return. Finally, these virtues reflect God’s own character. As believers delight in the Lord, they grow in faith, hope, and love until Christ returns (Ps 37:4).
The Primacy of Love
While faith, hope, and love remain, love stands above the others as the apex of Christian maturity. Why does love take first place? Consider several reasons.
- Love is the greatest because God is love (1 John 4:8). To walk in love is to reflect His very essence.
- Love is the chief virtue and command in Scripture (Mark 12:28-31; Gal 5:14; 1 Tim 1:5). Everything hangs on it.
- Love directs and empowers faith and hope. We believe and endure because God first loved us (1 John 4:19).
- Love outlasts the others. In heaven, faith will become sight and hope will be fulfilled. But love remains (1 Cor 13:13).
- Love is the true mark of following Jesus (John 13:35). It confirms the work of God in believers’ lives (1 John 4:7).
- Finally, love ties all Christian virtues together (Col 3:14) and leads to godly actions (Gal 5:6; 1 Tim 1:5). It is inseparable from living faith.
Without love, even noble acts of faith count for nothing (1 Cor 13:1-3). Love should be believers’ aim (1 Tim 1:5) as they spur each other on to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24). Christ-like love is to be our priority.
Faith Working through Love
While love is preeminent, the three virtues interlock and depend on each other. Galatians 5:6 explains, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” Genuine faith expresses itself in loving actions empowered by God’s Spirit. Faith, hope, and love working together produce Christlike maturity characterized by love.
As an analogy, think of faith and hope as the roots and trunk of a tree. They provide a firm foundation. But the branches, leaves, and fruit – what is visible to the world – represent love. Just as a tree needs strong roots and a trunk to support growth and fruit, faith and hope support love’s growth. In turn, love is the outward demonstration of inward faith and hope.
Pursuing These Virtues
Since faith, hope, and love remain essential, how can believers pursue them? Here are some biblical ways to cultivate these virtues:
- Meditate on God’s Word and characters to strengthen faith and hope (Rom 10:17; Ps 119; Heb 12:1-3).
- Rehearse the gospel and Christ’s promises to fan faith’s flame (Rom 10:9-10; 2 Cor 1:20).
- Set your mind on eternity to nurture hope (Col 3:1-4; Titus 2:13; Rom 8:24-25).
- Abide in Christ daily through prayer and obedience to grow in love (John 15:1-11; 1 John 4:16).
- Imitate godly examples of faith, hope, and love (Heb 6:11-12; 1 Cor 11:1; Eph 5:1-2).
- Endure trials to refine these virtues (Rom 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; 1 Pet 1:6-7).
As we entrust ourselves to God, He produces these virtues within us by His Spirit. They are cultivated in community as believers encourage and admonish one another day by day (Heb 3:12-14; 10:23-25). God desires that our faith, hope, and love would flourish and overflow to others for His glory.
Faith, Hope and Love Remain
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13 about faith, hope, and love remaining are profoundly meaningful. They remind believers that, amidst change and uncertainty, God’s core virtues endure. Troubles may come and spiritual gifts may fade, but faith, hope and love persist by God’s power. And of these three, love is supreme, for “God is love.” By walking in love, believers demonstrate true faith and follow their Lord Jesus Christ.