1 Corinthians 13:1 (DRB)

Passage

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:3 And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "speak", "tongues", "angels", "charity", "become", "sounding", "brass", and "tinkling". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "speak" and "tongues", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The next verse adds "And if I should have prophecy and...", so "speak" and "tongues" should be read forward into that movement. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "speak" and "tongues" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.