13:8 Love never ends. One could view this statement as a summary of the previous verse, especially in the light of the comment that love “bears all things.” At the same time, the statement allows Paul to build a contrast between love, which always remains (v. 13), and the spiritual gifts, which will cease.

prophecies . . . tongues . . . knowledge. It is likely that Paul mentions these three items as representative of all the spiritual gifts, which have a temporary, earthly function until the end of the age. Others suggest that Paul mentions these three in particular because they have a revelatory function that came to an end with the completion of the New Testament canon (v. 10 note).