"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
— 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
The Bible verse people look up as faith, hope and love is 1 Corinthians 13:13. Paul names three that remain, then says the greatest of these is love. This page is that verse and a plain reading. The longer meaning page for the same sentence is 1 Corinthians 13:13. The phrase page is The greatest of these is love. The verse-number page is 1 Corinthians 13:13 meaning. The claim just before it, that love never fails, is Love never fails Bible verse.
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The verse
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
The ESV says the three "abide." Remain and abide translate the same Greek verb: they stay. They are not in the list of things that cease.
What faith, hope and love means here
"These three" looks back at the chapter. Verses 4–7 have shown what love is. Verse 8 has said love never fails while prophecies, tongues, and knowledge pass away. Verse 13 gathers what Paul still wants named after that contrast: faith, hope, and love, with love called the greatest.
Faith trusts what is not yet seen. Hope waits for what has not yet arrived. When seeing becomes face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12), faith and hope have done their work. Love is not retired by sight. The God we will see is the God who is love, and love is what that day is for. That is why Paul can keep all three and still call love the greatest.
Love and Faith and Love and Hope follow the other two words through Scripture. Agape love is the word for love in this chapter. This page stays with the verse people ask for. For the other passages that name all three, see Bible verses about faith, hope and love together.
How this closes the love chapter
Paul has already said gifts without love are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1). He has defined love as patient and kind (Love is patient Bible verse; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). He has said love never fails while partial gifts pass (1 Corinthians 13:8). Verse 13 is the close: three remain, and love is greatest. The whole chapter is 1 Corinthians 13.
Questions people ask
What Bible verse says faith, hope and love?
1 Corinthians 13:13 says, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." That is the faith, hope and love Bible verse.
Why is the greatest of these love?
Because faith and hope belong to the "now" of not yet seeing, and love is not retired when sight comes. Paul does not belittle faith or hope. He refuses to let the church treat love as optional next to them.
Are faith, hope and love only for weddings?
No. Paul wrote the chapter to a church. Couples quote verse 13 because a marriage needs all three, but the first audience was the congregation in Corinth.
How does this verse relate to love never fails?
Verse 8 says love does not fall while gifts pass. Verse 13 says faith, hope, and love remain, and love is the greatest of those three. Read Love never fails Bible verse for verse 8.
Where should I read next?
For the longer reading of this sentence, go to 1 Corinthians 13:13. For the chapter, go to 1 Corinthians 13. For a daily verse, go to Bible verse of the day.
