Charity Abides
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. I Corinthians 13:13
I Corinthians chapter 13 is often referred to as the “love” chapter, even though within this chapter the word love is not found in the preserved words of the King James Bible. Even many die-hard defenders of the KJV also change the language here into love, instead of charity; this is done eight times within the chapter. Why has this been done? If God tells us not to “add to or diminish from” His Word (Deuteronomy 4:2), why are the words in this chapter being so casually changed? I would like to challenge those stalwart defenders of the King James Bible, to return in reverence to the pure words of God as He intended to preserve them, and stop yielding to the popular rhetoric of modern times! Let us now look more closely into comparing terms, so we can better understand where the compromise came from, and how it falls short.
The great defense behind this alteration is simple; the word love is a synonym of the term charity. Therefore it must be O.K. to freely switch them, right? As we shall see, it is never acceptable to alter God’s Words! The real truth reflects more greatly upon our own pleasure; we are simply far more comfortable using the term love, than charity!
Without doing an exhaustive search, I suspect that the KJV is the only Bible version to use the word charity in I Corinthians 13; even the New King James Bible has changed this term into love!
A synonym is a word close in meaning to another. While the word love is a synonym to the word charity, they do not convey precisely the same message. And since we are trying to be precise when translating the Bible from Greek into English (due to a reverence for God’s preserved Word), replacing the term charity with love is entirely unacceptable! The King James’ translators sought to convey the real message of each given text; they did not lightly throw around a flat “book” of definitions or their synonyms.
God used 54 scholars in translating the King James Bible. These men had superior expertise in understanding the ancient languages they were authorized to translate. Some were actually so accomplished, that they used these languages (Hebrew—Latin—Greek) as if they were their native language! The process that was used for translation meant that every word of the Bible was approved at least 14 times! This was no work of individual viewpoints. These translators were openly encouraged to discuss their work with other experts outside of the translation committee. They also diligently compared their work, and the manuscripts, with previous Biblical translation work (such as the Geneva Bible). It is simply not possible that a group of such qualified scholars could even be assembled today; it was this group that chose to translate the Greek word agape into charity in I Corinthians 13.
Why should anyone, let alone God’s children, seek to change the reading in I Corinthians 13? It should be abundantly clear that the KJV translators never discriminated against the word love; it is found in some 158 verses in the New Testament. The term charity is found only in the New Testament, appearing in some 24 verses (all verse counts should be considered as close approximates). We therefore can know that it is charity which abides, and it is the greatest among faith, hope, and charity. The evidence ought to be clear, brethren—there is a reason for God to say charity here, and not love! Let’s start looking at some of the differences between these 2 terms, in an attempt to understand the Lord’s wisdom being conveyed here in I Corinthians 13.
Charity here would refer to the supreme love of God; a love that we, as believers, should have because of the presence of His Holy Spirit within us. We can see this supreme love of God in the obedience of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is a love that truly and sincerely cares for the well-being of others (both temporal and eternal) beyond our own comfort and convenience. Charity may be therefore considered a specific type of love; a love which is of the highest caliber.
The term love, when used without qualifying adjectives or adverbs, tends to be rather vague. Love is used as a description of many different circumstances. Please do not think that I am putting down the term love! But to understand what is meant when a person claims to “love” something or someone requires additional information. Very seldom do we use the term love in the sense of God’s supreme love; using the word charity is far more specific in causing us to understand the type of love being spoken of in this chapter.
Think of the many diverse things that the term “love” is applied to. Perhaps some of the highest forms would be love for a spouse, a parent, or for a child. Today many people would describe a romantic relationship as being one of love, though their affections are not charitable. In this age of self-pleasure (II Timothy 3:1-5), most romantic relationships (outside of those truly Christ-centered) are about self gratification more than anything else! Yet still, it is described as love.
Some people say that they love their jobs. Some “love” cars, or certain sports. Some love to eat, or certain kinds of food. Beyond loving objects, some will love activities. There is love for reading, shopping, golf, sewing, or other hobbies. People love surfing the internet, and even going to church. Some love certain holidays, or seasons of the year. We also love our pets, or certain other animals that we find interesting. Many have given their own lives based upon a “love of country”, or freedom. There is almost literally no end to the list of what is supposedly “loved” by mankind. Stop and consider yourself for a moment; what have you claimed to love? Love can be very deceptive as a descriptive term, and very misunderstood in practice.
People are dedicated to many things which they believe they have “love” for; but “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”—Jeremiah 17:9. Perhaps you are beginning to see the wisdom in the use of the term charity in this chapter. It is indeed possible to perform many noble or beneficial acts without having charity (God’s supreme love), but these deeds could still fit well under the heading of love.
Think of the admonishment that God is giving us here, in I Corinthians 13. One could even give their body to be burned, and not have charity! It is a challenge for us to seek a greater infilling of the Holy Spirit, and the transformation that would then naturally follow. In our fight against our naturally sinful nature, this passage bears a great weight in application!
When you therefore substitute the word love, in place of charity, the entire message of this passage is lost. There is not one single person alive who believes they have no love! Everyone thinks that they have love; the word charity identifies the type of love being spoken about here, which is God’s supreme love. Charity abides, not merely “love”—God’s Word is always true. There is precious little of true charity existing in the world today. Those who have a measure of charity, the ones truly saved by faith in Jesus Christ, will readily see their need for much more of this quality.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
Mankind needs every word that God has given us. In I Corinthians 13, God’s Word is charity, and not love! The Bible is plentifully filled with the word love in many other places. Let us stand up in defense of the precious truths God has preserved for us in His Word.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Psalms 12:6,7
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. John 12:48
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Colossians 3:14
WARNING: To avoid Satan’s snares and deceptions, return to the pure Word of God; which is the King James Bible. Revised translations are not small word alterations meant to bring clarity! Major doctrinal changes have occurred, which will tend to bring doubt and destroy your faith. To follow these new “versions” of the truth, is to build your spiritual house upon sand, and become as the ones reflected in Matthew 7:21-23. Please use this entire passage, Matthew 7:21-27.
Satan means to deceive you into sincerely following his alternate “truth.” You are really being set up to fall, and serve the antichrist.
Pray and seek God diligently in this matter; for time is short. See also our Word of God section and the section on A Sure Salvation vs. Eternal Security.