How is speaking in tongues of men and of angels without love like a noisy gong (1 Corinthians 13:1)?

Love is central to Christianity because God is love (1 John 4:16). According to Jesus, loving God is the greatest command, and loving others is second (Matthew 22:39). The command to love others is what the apostle Paul is referring to in 1 Corinthians 13:1 when he writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (ESV). Specifically, his analogy of a noisy gong conveys that individual speaking ability will produce nothing more than noise if he or she lacks love.

This phrase the tongues of men and angels, is Paul’s poetic way of describing eloquent, stirring speech. He is not referring to tongues in the sense of ecstatic speech. The tongues of men and angels referred to powerful and persuasive speaking ability. Even if a person could speak every language known to mankind, and do so with the eloquence of an angel, he is just a noisemaker if he does not have the love of God motivating and directing him.

In 1 Corinthians 13:1, Paul emphasizes that fluency and persuasiveness cannot compensate for a lack of love for others. Paul reinforces this principle elsewhere, stating, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Love will temper the ego and keep it in check. When a person loves others, he edifies those around him with his words and glorifies God. A person can have poor speaking skills, stumble over his words, and have zero stage presence, yet, if that person truly loves others, he could have an impact greater than that of the most lofty-sounding orator on the planet.

Paul compares an eloquent speaker who does not love others as a “noisy gong.” A gong is a large metallic disc, often positioned vertically, that, when struck with a mallet, creates a deep, resonating sound. Paul also mentions a cymbal, a smaller disc, often positioned horizontally, that, when struck with a stick, produces a high-pitched, piercing ring. Both instruments can produce pleasant sounds in the right context. Yet Paul refers to their chaotic use—when they produce a disorienting, raucous noise—to make his point. Great skill without God’s love is mere racket.

Just as a gong or cymbal, played out of context, creates an overwhelming and meaningless noise, so does eloquent speech without love. Excellent elocution is impressive to most people, but even such a great ability becomes mere noise without love. Jesus also warned against speech that may impress people but is meaningless before God: “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words” (Matthew 6:7).

Possessing the ability to put words together in a pleasing way has no ultimate meaning in God’s plan if that ability is exercised without love. It becomes nothing more than a source of pride for the speaker and offers no benefit to others. God rejected even the songs of worship the Israelites produced when the music came from impure hearts: “Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps” (Amos 5:23).

If the Holy Spirit has truly gifted an eloquent speaker, his or her speech will be marked by love, the first fruit of the Spirit Paul mentions in Galatians 5:22–23. No matter what gifts or talents we have, love for others must come first. Love gives meaning to all the other gifts.