the three. The apostle does not say the most durable, for the duration of all three is absolute. The τούτων might refer to the other two virtues only; μείζων would then have its regular comparative sense: “greater than they two.” But as τούτων necessarily refers to τρία ταῦτα, we must give to μείζων the superlative meaning: “the greatest of the three;” comp. Matt. 18:4. This superiority of charity has been variously explained. Some, like Calvin, say: Greater in virtue of its eternal duration;