The Nugget:
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (KJV, )
1Co 13:3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (ESV, English Standard Version)
1Co 13:3 I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)
1Co 13:3 If I should dole out everything I have for charity, and give my body up to torture in mere boasting pride, but have no love, I get from it no good at all. (Williams NT)
1Co 13:3 And, though I morsel out all my goods, – and though I deliver up my body, that I may boast, and have not, love, I am profited, nothing. (Emphasized Bible by Rotherham)
1Co 13:3 If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast,1 but do not have love, I receive no benefit. (NET Bible)
1Co 13:3 If I give away all that I own and if I hand over my body so I might boast but have not love, I gain nothing. (TLV, Tree of Life Version)
My Comment:
It is very helpful when studying the Bible to read the Bible in more than one translation. I have shared 1 Corinthians 13:3 above in seven different English translations.
Notice that there is a significant variation in these translations for 1 Corinthians 13:3. The basis for the variation is explained in note 1 for this verse given in the Net Bible. The difference arises from a difference in the underlying Greek text as represented in the ancient manuscripts for this verse.
It is also helpful to read the surrounding verses, or context, to understand more about what the verse under study means.
In this case, the kind of love Paul is describing and emphasizing is explained by the sixteen statements Paul makes about love in the following verses, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
These sixteen attributes of genuine love make for a very interesting and practical study.
A very important method of Bible study I have found to be most helpful is the study of the cross references given for the verse I am focused on. Cross references are the links to other passages in the Bible that are in some way related to the verse under study. They are always necessary to consider because the Bible does not always tell everything about a subject it mentions in one place. It is needful to always seek out all that the Bible says about a subject to be sure you have considered all the truths the Bible contains about it.
Here are the cross references I have found for 1 Corinthians 13:3 as given in my Bible study resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, and further expanded here:
1 Corinthians 13:3
though. FS102C, +Mat 5:29.
I bestow. or, give away in doles. Gr. psōmizō (S# G5595). +*1 Cor 12:28 [helps]. +*Mat 6:1, 2, 3, 4; Mat 23:5, Luk 18:22; Luk 18:28; Luk 19:8; Luk 21:3, 4, Jhn 12:43; Jhn 13:26 (sop). Rom 12:8; Rom 12:20 g. Gal 5:26, Php 1:15, 16, 17, 18.
my goods. or, the things belonging. Gr. huparchō (S# G5224). Luk 9:48.
to feed. Pro 25:21. Mat 19:21.
though. FS102C, +Mat 5:29.
I give. or, deliver up. Gr. paradidōmi (S# G3860). *Dan 3:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, *Mat 7:22; *Mat 7:23, Jhn 13:37; Jhn 15:13; Jhn 19:30 g. Act 21:13, Rom 5:7, Php 1:20, 21; +*Php 2:3, 1Jn 3:16.
my body. 2Co 12:15.
have not charity. or, love. 1Co 13:1, 2, 4, 8, 13, Mrk 9:41, *Gal 5:6; *Gal 5:22.
profiteth. 1Co 14:6, Isa 57:12, Jer 7:8, +*Luk 10:42, Jhn 6:63, 1Ti 4:8, Tit 3:9, Heb 4:2; Heb 13:9, Jas 2:14, 15, 16, 17.