1 Corinthians 13:2
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Cross-reference
First Corinthians 13:3 extends the same logic: even extreme sacrifice like giving all or being burned counts for nothing without love.
First Corinthians 13:1 parallels this verse exactly — tongues without love become a noisy gong, just as prophecy and faith without love are nothing.
1 Corinthians 14:6-9 illustrates that unintelligible speech is useless, paralleling 13:2's argument that gifts without love are meaningless noise.
1 Corinthians 14:1 commands to 'pursue love' (the theme of ch13) and desire gifts, reinforcing that love is the foundation for using gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:28 includes prophecy and faith among church offices and gifts — the same gifts 13:2 says profit nothing without love.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 lists the spiritual gifts (wisdom, knowledge, faith, prophecy) that Paul says are worthless without love in 13:2.
1 Corinthians 12:9 lists faith as a spiritual gift — the same context as 1 Cor 13:2's 'all faith' to move mountains.
In 1 Corinthians 12:10, Paul lists the very spiritual gifts (prophecy, knowledge, faith) that he then says are worthless without love here.
In 1 Corinthians 8:1, Paul contrasts knowledge that puffs up with love that builds up — directly reinforcing that knowledge without love is worthless.
1 Corinthians 4:1 calls Paul a steward of God's mysteries — the very 'mysteries' that 13:2 says even full knowledge of is worthless without love.
First John 4:20 warns that claiming to love God while hating a brother is a lie — reinforcing Paul's point that love must accompany spiritual professions.
Matthew 7:22 describes people who prophesied and did miracles in Jesus' name but are rejected — exactly the scenario of gifts without love.
First John 4:8 declares that God is love and those without love do not know God — directly aligning with Paul's statement that faith without love is nothing.
In Luke 17:6, Jesus teaches that tiny faith can uproot a tree — directly echoing the mountain-moving faith Paul mentions, highlighting faith's potential even when small.
Matthew 21:21 has Jesus again teaching mountain-moving faith — Paul alludes to this dominical saying in 1 Cor 13:2.
Matthew 17:20 records Jesus saying faith can move a mountain — Paul's phrase 'faith to remove mountains' directly echoes this teaching.
Matthew 7:23 pronounces judgment on those who had gifts but were not known by Jesus — the consequence of missing love that 13:2 warns about.
Luke 10:20 contrasts rejoicing in power over spirits with salvation — similar to prioritizing love over miraculous gifts.
In 2 Corinthians 8:7, Paul lists faith, speech, knowledge, and love — the same qualities he says here are worthless without love.
In James 2:14, faith without works is dead — similarly, Paul says faith without love is nothing. Both stress that genuine faith must be accompanied by action.
In James 2:18, deeds demonstrate faith — Paul argues that even great faith is worthless without love, so love is the essential proof of true faith.
Galatians 5:22 lists love as the first fruit of the Spirit — showing love is the primary evidence of spiritual life, complementing Paul's declaration that faith without love is nothing.
In Galatians 6:3, Paul warns that thinking yourself something when you are not is self-deception — reinforcing that without love, gifts make me nothing.
Ephesians 3:4 speaks of Paul's insight into the mystery of Christ, directly echoing the 'understanding all mysteries' from 1 Cor 13:2.
Matthew 13:11 says disciples are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom — a gift that 13:2 says is nothing if not accompanied by love.
In Romans 16:25, Paul calls the gospel a mystery long hidden — this reveals the content of the 'all mysteries' in 1 Cor 13:2.
Romans 11:25 reveals a specific mystery about Israel — part of the 'all mysteries' Paul says even full understanding of is empty without love.
Colossians 1:26 reveals the mystery hidden for ages and now disclosed to saints — defining the 'mysteries' in 1 Cor 13:2.