1 Corinthians 13:3

Bestow. Gr. psomizo, “to feed by putting bits of food into the mouth,” “to dole out,” “to feed out in morsels”; used in the NT only here and in Rom. 12:20. Here the word may apply to the distribution of goods to the poor in small portions. It was probably customary in Paul’s day for the wealthy to dole out alms to the poor at the gate of their property (see Luke 16:20, 21). Then, too, they probably distributed alms in small portions to many people so that there would be a larger number benefited and ready to praise the donor. Almsgiving was considered to be a great virtue, and was frequently done ostentatiously. Jesus severely reproved this desire for popular acclaim (see on Matt. 6:1-4). To emphasize the vanity of such false charity, Paul pointed out that if all that a man possessed was thus doled out and yet true love was absent from the life, it would all be empty hypocrisy and of no value spiritually. Though such behavior might result in good to others, it could not meet with God’s approval because the requisite character qualifications were lacking.

To be burned. Important textual evidence may also be cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading, “so that I might boast.” With this reading the meaning of the passage is, “though I dole out all my possessions to feed the poor, and though I give over my body, in order that I might boast, it profiteth me nothing.”

The idea of the KJV reading is that martyrdom that is sought for self-glorification has no merit. In Paul’s day it was not customary to put men to death by burning; stoning, crucifixion, or beheading with the sword were the usual methods of execution. The question arises: Why, then, would Paul refer to martyrdom by burning? The answer is: Perhaps because burning represents one of the most painful forms of death. To give one’s body to be burned would represent an extreme form of self-sacrifice. Some have regarded this passage as prophetic of the fearful torture by fire that befell the church in the time of Nero and later. They thus see in the passage a warning against the delusion that merit might be obtained by needlessly seeking martyrdom by fire.

Profiteth me nothing. If the one who suffers martyrdom by fire does not possess the character qualifications represented by “love” (agape), he has no hope of eternal life, and consequently has lost everything. Love, therefore, is more precious and valuable than the gifts of the Spirit that the Corinthians desired to have (vs. 1, 2), or than singular acts of beneficence or self-sacrifice. Nothing can take the place of love. God accepts only the service of love (see John. 14:15, 21, 23; 15:9, 10, 12, 14; 1 John 4:11, 12, 16-21; 5:1-3).