13:21 Corinthians 13:2

Though a person could foretell the future, explain the deep counsels of God, understand all mysteries and knowledge, speak with the tongues of men and angels, and exercise faith strong enough to remove mountains, all of it amounts to nothing and is worthless without charity.RH Jul 21, 1904+4 That charity is Christlike love to God and to fellow men, heaven-born, pure, sacred and humble, showing itself in tender compassion, mercy and self-denying relief of need.Lt 29, 1903, par. 1–3+4 Without such love there is no credit before God, no true discipleship and no salvation, for mere assent to truth and increase of knowledge without a changed heart leaves a person nothing.5T 168.1–2+4 Prophecy, tongues, knowledge and even great faith belong to the present imperfect condition and shall pass away, while love endures forever and stands greatest among abiding faith, hope and love.PP xix.1–xx.1+1 Therefore love must be daily cultivated by crucifying self and surrendering to God, uniting believers in sympathy, making their work fruitful in winning souls, and expressing itself in active mercy to the suffering and poor.Ms 22, 1897, par. 9–10+4

Charity in the verse is love to God and to fellow men, true Christlike love which all who are children of God must cherish and by which it is decided whether one is a disciple of Christ.Lt 11, 1880, par. 6–10+3 Mere good impulses arising from impulse uncontrolled by reason and principle are a deception and are not this love.Lt 24a, 1882, par. 5–6 Profession without love to God and love for brethren is not worth a straw, and lack of love, tender forgiveness, brotherly kindness and forbearance toward one another shows the need for true conversion and the inner work of the Spirit in the soul.Lt 11, 1880, par. 6–10 The verse stands as the voice of God against going contrary to love by seeing, hearing and understanding perversely, putting the worst construction on words and actions, judging motives, magnifying little things and supposed slights and injuries, and letting good fade from memory while thought and memory come under Satan's control.Lt 24a, 1882, par. 5–6

This love is of heavenly birth, heaven-born and sanctified, and without it every other qualification is of no value and worthless.Lt 29, 1903, par. 1–3+1 It is pure, sanctified, sacred and humble love, which comes from being divested of selfishness, loving God supremely and neighbors as self.Ms 22, 1897, par. 9–10 It is the tender compassion of Jesus that workers for God must manifest, especially those in responsible positions and connected with institutions, requiring union in bonds of sympathy and kindness, putting far away every selfish consideration, and cultivating patience, brotherly kindness, forbearance and compassion for those out of the way and committing sins of ignorance.Ms 42, 1901, par. 26–29 It is the tender mercy of God put into exercise toward men and women who need compassion, richly bestowed and deposited to make people stewards of the same in ministering to others.ST Sep 12, 1895 It is self-denying love that relieves want rather than spending on selfish display, feeding the hungry, housing the outcast poor, clothing the naked, loosing wickedness, undoing heavy burdens, freeing the oppressed and breaking every yoke, which is God's instruction and remedy for chronic maladies of the spiritual life reaching the physical and mental powers, more useful than drugs.Ms 49, 1895, par. 7–9

The gifts listed mean the power to explain and make known the deep counsels of God as revealed in His Word, to understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and to have all faith as seen in miraculous manifestations and power to work miracles such as removing mountains.Lt 11, 1880, par. 6–10+1 Understanding all mysteries includes understanding the human system and tracing disease to its cause, and all knowledge is joined with even having the tongues of men and angels.Lt 30, 1870, par. 23–25 Such knowledge and ability is of no special account without further qualifications, namely power from God realized only by making God the trust and consecrating self with devotion to the given work.Lt 30, 1870, par. 23–25 Christ must be in the knowledge, and His wisdom must be seen instead of human wisdom, and only then can one be a light in the rooms of the sick and carry faith, peace and hope to those sick in heart and body so they gain physical and spiritual strength.Lt 30, 1870, par. 23–25

The verse belongs to the chapter that defines true, Christlike love, which is an expression of obedience by those who love God and keep His commandments, and its teaching is put into practice in the life of every true believer.RH Jun 24, 1902 It is a lesson of utmost importance for all church members to practice strictly, showing that Christian claims and professions must be lived out in accordance with God's Word.Ms 177, 1903, par. 11–13 Part of the subjects in 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 are to be committed to memory and written in mind and heart, with the figure of the members composing the body representing the church of God and the relation its members should sustain to one another.Ms 82, 1898, par. 31–33 The one grand necessity it enforces for church members is to walk humbly with God in the path of obedience, pressing whether professed people of God brought together in church capacity study and digest this chapter or ignore it, and to be united understandingly and intelligently.Ms 82, 1898, par. 31–33

Even the gift of prophecy, understanding of all mysteries, all knowledge, and faith with power to remove mountains and work miracles amount to nothing and are worthless without Christlike love for God and for fellow men.RH Jul 21, 1904+4 Prophecy, understanding, knowledge, and even faith powerful enough to move mountains have no value apart from love, and love is more important and greater than these gifts and abilities.RH Jun 6, 1907+3 Faith without love is worthless.5T 168.1–2+3

Great spiritual gifts, power, and high profession give a person no credit and no real value apart from love, and profession without love to God and love for brethren is not worth a straw.5T 168.1–2+3 The power to explain and make known the deep counsels of God as revealed in His Word, to understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and to have all faith as seen in miraculous manifestations such as removing mountains, is nothing with no virtue in it if one does not have love to God and man and the grace of love.Lt 11, 1880, par. 6–10+1 Knowing the truth, understanding even its hidden mysteries, and possessing great faith or religious devotion cannot meet God's demands without love and charity.AA 318.1–2+1

Impressive spiritual ability and miraculous power do not make a person Christ's disciple when love is absent.5T 168.1–2+2 Whether love for God and for fellow men cherished in the heart is present decides discipleship, so that no matter how high the profession, if the heart is not imbued with love the person is nothing.ST Jan 21, 1913+2 Love among Christian brethren, practiced in daily life and joined to humility and freedom from selfishness, is an essential mark of Jesus' followers, and without it every claim to be Christian is vain.ST Jan 21, 1913+1 Lack of love, tender forgiveness, brotherly kindness, and forbearance toward one another shows the need for true conversion to God and the inner work of the Spirit in the soul.Lt 11, 1880, par. 6–10

Love is essential and is the real test of spiritual power, so that spiritual abilities and faith do not make a person anything in its absence.RH Aug 3, 1916+2 This love is patient and kind, does not envy or boast, is not proud or rude, does not seek its own way, is not easily provoked, and does not think evil.RH Aug 3, 1916 The love Christ enjoins is so essential that life without it is worse than not living.Ms 115, 1908, par. 69+2

Prophecy with understanding of all mysteries, all knowledge, and mountain-moving faith belong to the present imperfect condition, and without charity they do not make a person what he should be.PP xix.1–xx.1+1 Prophecies shall be done away, tongues shall cease, and knowledge shall be done away when they are no longer needed upon reaching perfect knowledge in the eternal state, while charity endures forever.PP xix.1–xx.1+1 Among abiding faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest.PP xix.1–xx.1+1

God values the love, faithfulness, and spirit of Christ behind a deed more than its size, duration, or amount.ST Oct 21, 1875+1 A small duty done sincerely and without self-interest is more pleasing than a great work corrupted by selfishness, pride, self-glorification, self-seeking, and rivalry.COL 402.2–4 However long the experience and however abundant the labor, without true humility and the love that suffers long and is kind a life is as nothing, for pride, self-complacency, and absence of love destroy efficiency.COL 402.2–4+1 Only work wrought in simplicity and Christlike humility is approved, and favor bestowed on every unselfish work is itself success and the only true success.Lt 23, 1890, par. 45

Without genuine love there is no power to help, no connection with heaven, and no blessing and uplifting influence felt in a skeptical world, because no one can give to others what he does not possess. Such loveless profession is like salt that has lost its savor, entirely worthless, testifying that claimed truth has no sanctifying power and, so far as that influence goes, making the word of God of no effect. Faith, hope, and love are the great moral powers of the soul, and if they are inactive even earnest and zealous labor is not accepted and cannot do good.TBC1872 12.1–13.1 The purest devotion is shown in earnest desire and effort to win souls, exercised with pitying tenderness, compassion, and tears for weak, erring, and backslidden souls whose infinite worth is measured only by the price paid at Calvary, binding hearts to one another in willing bonds of friendship, tenderness, and faithful constancy and binding the soul to God.TBC1872 12.1–13.1

Love is the power that makes action fruitful, coming from God, growing through action, and working to overcome and transform evil, so that even a small act done from pure love bears fruit.ST Oct 21, 1875 Brotherhood depends on this Christlike, unselfish love, and without it nothing can be done toward fulfilling the divine purpose and all effort is without avail.ST Mar 12, 1902 By it glory is proclaimed to God with peace and good will toward men, and order and harmony are established in the world while a sense of brotherhood is awakened from age to age.ST Mar 12, 1902

A man may increase in knowledge and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and may even have faith able to remove mountains, yet without charity he is nothing and is not saved.Lt 152, 1901, par. 7–9+3 Merely assenting to the truth, grasping every hidden thing and possessing complete knowledge without a change of heart, does not bring salvation.Lt 136, 1902, par. 8–10+3 Even the fullest learning and insight into hidden things amount to nothing without that inward change.Lt 217, 1905, par. 3

True conversion, when truth is received into the heart, works like leaven through every part of the being.Lt 152, 1901, par. 7–9+2 It transforms the entire being, changes the heart, develops all the powers, brings the whole life into conformity to the Spirit of Christ, and fills the man with desire to serve Christ.Lt 152, 1901, par. 7–9+2

Value in God's sight does not come from position or profession, but from being good and doing good.Lt 152, 1901, par. 7–9+3 Ability is one thing and right and just action is another, for without a humbled heart renewed in the spirit of the mind a person is not acceptable to God and will never be an overcomer.Lt 217, 1905, par. 3 Even possessing all knowledge, understanding the human system and tracing disease to its cause, and even having the tongues of men and angels, is of no special account unless Christ is in the knowledge and His wisdom is seen instead of human wisdom, with power from God realized only by making God the trust and consecrating self with devotion to the given work, so that one becomes a light in the rooms of the sick and carries faith, peace and hope to those sick in heart and body unto physical and spiritual strength.Lt 30, 1870, par. 23–25 Knowledge without the love of God and without Christ in it does not prepare for heaven or make one acceptable and overcoming.Lt 30, 1870, par. 23–25+1

Wherever there is union with Christ there is love, and love must be the abiding principle of life and work, so that whatever other qualifications a person possesses profit nothing without it.Ms 13a, 1891, par. 46–49 Love for Jesus necessarily means love for brethren, shown in speaking right words in love and kindness that bring harmony of feeling and sentiment and reflect blessing on the speaker, in desiring brethren to be more holy and righteous, and in putting forth earnest endeavor to uplift, ennoble and elevate them in Christian character.Ms 13a, 1891, par. 46–49 Professing a knowledge of the truth, preaching the Word, and understanding all mysteries is nothing without fulfilling the two vital principles of love to God supremely and love to neighbor as self, upon which hang all the law and the prophets.18MR 1.7–2.1 Those who fail in this love shall eat of the fruit of their own doings and be filled with their own devices, and cherishing suspicion and imagining evil proves failure to carry out this law and brings the imagined evils upon oneself, for God will not be trifled with and His word is to be cherished and obeyed.18MR 1.7–2.1

Love is to be cultivated daily and brought into practical experience by crucifying self and surrendering self to God, so that strong, pure, genuine faith keeps strong love for the Saviour alive and a strong love for Christ and for one another grows in the heart.10MR 142.3–143.3+2 Spurious faith that leads only to confidence in self and criticism of others quenches every spark of such love, while fervent charity is steady purpose in the fight of faith, with peace, periods of rest and quietness of mind, and healthful thoughts that bring sunlight to bless others as well as self.10MR 142.3–143.3+1 Speech is to be used only to bless, help and strengthen brethren, speaking good and right words in love and kindness that bring harmony of feeling, reflect blessing on the speaker, and reveal the same unceasing tenderness shown to His people, with earnest endeavor to uplift, ennoble and elevate them in Christian character and desire that they be more holy and righteous.Ms 141, 1902, par. 18–19+2 This requires a broad and comprehensive belief in the truth that takes in the whole plan of salvation with its purpose of love and mercy, and love must be the abiding principle of life and work, for wherever there is union with Christ there is love and whatever other qualifications are possessed profit nothing without it.10MR 142.3–143.3+2

Those who believe the truth must refuse to separate into factions, for unity is the witness to the power of the truth.Ms 59, 1902, par. 39 Instead they are to unite in sympathy and service, jealously guarding one another's interests even though mistakes are made, coming together for counsel to help and strengthen rather than standing apart to criticize and condemn.Ms 141, 1902, par. 18–19 Love is to grow into stronger love for one another and growing interest in one another, casting out from the heart all enmity and petty differences and transforming indifference and coldness into Christlike affection, since it is impossible to love Christ while acting discourteously toward brethren, drawing apart and showing no love or sympathy, and the deeper the love for Christ the deeper the love for one another.10MR 142.3–143.3+2

Only love makes workers successful in winning souls, for gifts alone, ability alone and the choicest endowments cannot take its place.Ms 22, 1897, par. 9–10+1 Talk, Pharisaism and self-praise never win souls, and talk, Pharisaism, self-praise, eloquence, knowledge of truth, rare talents and ability alone never win souls to Christ.Ms 22, 1897, par. 9–10+1 Eloquence, extended knowledge of the truth, outward devotion and rare talents become fragrant like an opened box of ointment only when mingled with pure, sanctified, sacred, humble love that loves God supremely and neighbors as self and is divested of selfishness, such love as was expressed in Christ's life-work for those for whom He died, like Mary's broken box filling the whole house with fragrance.Ms 22, 1897, par. 9–10+1 Love manifested by God's workers does a work that can scarcely be comprehended, and those who do not cherish and cultivate this love cannot be successful missionaries, for if faith, hope and love are inactive even earnest and zealous ministerial labor is not accepted and cannot do the church good.TBC1872 12.1–13.1+1 The purest and most elevated devotion is shown in earnest desire and effort to win souls, through pitying tenderness, compassion and tears for weak, erring and backslidden souls whose infinite worth is measured only by the price paid at Calvary, binding believing hearts to one another in willing bonds of friendship, tenderness and faithful constancy and binding the soul to God as a golden chain, by which men and women come nearer and nearer to the standard of perfect holiness.TBC1872 12.1–13.1

Claiming to believe the truth while surmising evil, being impatient and unforgiving, crediting hearsay, criticizing brethren, entertaining harsh severe judgments and manifesting a harsh denunciatory spirit is to lack charity and to lie against the truth.15MR 177.2–179.2+1 Such a course represents the attributes of Satan and denies Christ, for truth is ever pure, ever kind, breathing a heavenly fragrance unmingled with selfishness, and love, patience and long forbearance accord with its principles.15MR 177.2–179.2+1 Mere good impulses arising from impulse uncontrolled by reason and principle are a deception and are not true Christlike love, which suffers long and is kind, envies not, vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, behaves not unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, rejoices not in iniquity but rejoices in the truth, and bears, believes, hopes and endures all things.Lt 24a, 1882, par. 5–6+2 Going contrary to love is seeing, hearing and understanding perversely, putting the worst construction on words and actions, judging motives, magnifying little things and supposed slights and injuries, letting good fade from memory while thought and memory come under Satan's control, and showing bitter envying and strife in spirit, words and deportment, with cherishing suspicion and imagining evil proving failure to fulfill the two vital principles of supreme love to God and love to neighbor as self on which hang all the law and the prophets, bringing the imagined evils upon oneself and eating the fruit of one's own doings.Lt 24a, 1882, par. 5–6+2

God's workers must be subdued, converted and sanctified by obedience to the truth so that instead of destroying they seek to restore, especially those in responsible positions and connected with institutions including publishing institutions, who need humility and the softening, subduing power of God in their lives to become learners in the school of Christ so the Spirit can work with them.Ms 42, 1901, par. 26–29+2 They must manifest the tender compassion of Jesus by being united in bonds of sympathy and kindness, putting far away every selfish consideration, and cultivating patience, brotherly kindness, forbearance and compassion for those out of the way and committing sins of ignorance.Ms 42, 1901, par. 26–29 Any spirit leading to acts of oppression, harshness, hurting, bruising and condemning those who should be treated with Christian love and tenderness is an offense to God and comes from Satan.Ms 42, 1901, par. 26–29 Fitness to teach is shown not by profession or discourses alone but by spirit and action in meekness of wisdom, learning facts from the accused, speaking with mild circumspect kindness, tender compassion, forgiving courtesy, piety, equity and purity, seeking peace with brethren without partiality and without hypocrisy.15MR 177.2–179.2

The verse begins the work of self-examination, to be studied and applied by church members for the continuous humbling of individual self and for taking self critically in hand.Lt 354, 1905, par. 14 Each person is to deny self and bear his own cross of self-denial and self-humiliation and self-sacrifice, not lay his cross on someone else to carry, with this teaching given more weight in life while being tried and tested in seeking to be shut in with God so the wicked one has no power.Lt 354, 1905, par. 14+1 All gifts are of no value unless controlled by a softened, subduing spirit of selfless love that purifies the soul, drives out pride and idols and reflects Christ's character, for great activity or impressive spiritual abilities do not prove genuine religion without it.RH Mar 11, 1902+1 Love for self is not essential, but love for brethren is essential for daily happiness in this life and in the life to come, bearing fruit in loving what God loves because God loves it, with Christian religion requiring Christian practice as a revelation of the love of God.Ms 121, 1906, par. 4

Love must shape daily conduct and how people treat others, for knowledge of truth and even sacrifice for its sake cannot meet God's demands when love is absent.4T 133.3–4 It is the tender mercy of God put into exercise toward men and women who need compassion, richly bestowed and deposited to make people stewards of the same in ministering His love to others, with suffering humanity and the poor always present demanding that mercy be actively exercised in scattering blessings, speaking kindly words and giving practical help to relieve necessity.ST Sep 12, 1895 It is self-denying love that relieves want rather than spending on selfish display, feeding the hungry, housing the outcast poor, clothing the naked, loosing wickedness, undoing heavy burdens, freeing the oppressed and breaking every yoke, which is God's instruction and remedy for chronic maladies of the spiritual life that reach the physical and mental powers, more useful than drugs.Ms 49, 1895, par. 7–9 Loud talk, large assertions, noise and shouting without the love of Christ are nothing, concealing lack of true spiritual power and passing only as assumption without the signature of the divine, whereas truth that sanctifies mind and heart is always simple and expressed in simple language, carrying heavenly grace from genuine simplicity and bearing fruit of genuine heavenly origin as Christ the great Teacher worked in most natural simplicity, meeting people where they were to distinguish the real from the false.Ms 24, 1885, par. 18

However long the experience and however abundant the labor, if life is not graced with true humility and the love that suffers long and is kind, a person is as nothing before God.Lt 23, 1890, par. 45 Even abundant labor is nothing without love for others and humility before God, and strong faith, consistent zeal, fervent prayer and faithful incessant warnings against wrong are utterly powerless for good unless they proceed from heartfelt piety, while religion that shines out in good works emits a clear, sure, safe light to be taught in home and church because Christians are responsible for the salvation of other souls.COL 402.2–4+1 God values the love, faithfulness and spirit of Christ shown in the work, not its duration or amount, and a small duty done sincerely and without self-interest is more pleasing than a great work corrupted by selfishness, for when selfishness and rivalry are put away and gratitude and love fill the life Christ abides in the soul and the worker serves with God.COL 402.2–4 Work for Christ done to serve self and want the glory for self is worthless and soon grows weary, since all glory is to be given to God, and a life without love is worse than failure, measured by absence of waymarks of love and compassion, for God will not work with a harsh, stubborn, loveless man who spoils the pattern Christ wants shown to the world; every worker in every line is to forget self in saving souls and bring Christ's goodness, benevolence and love into the effort, since only work wrought in simplicity and Christlike humility is approved of heaven and its favor on every unselfish work is itself success and the only true success.Lt 23, 1890, par. 45+1