1 Corinthians 13:4-8a WEL Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn’t brag about itself, is not haughty, 5 Doesn’t behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn’t easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, 6 Doesn’t rejoice in injustice, but rejoices with the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, calmly endures all things. 8 Love never falls away,
The actions of love are in public and private. These definitions of love are character traits of God.
Questions
C11 Rejoices with the truth
D1 Most do not like the truth if it exposes them. John 3:20-21 NRSV For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.
D2 Any lie will do for many people, if they gain power and money without accountability. Isaiah 59:4 NLT No one cares about being fair and honest. The people’s lawsuits are based on lies. They conceive evil deeds and then give birth to sin.
C12 Bears all things
D1 This is the idea of never gives up (NRSV), keeps out resentment (Vincent), puts up with, protects (NIV), covers the faults of others rather than delighting in them (Expositor’s Bible Commentary), keeps private things private (doesn’t gossip or betray secrets). Of course, if someone is in danger, we do not keep secrets because we love that person. Remember the Lord Jesus said to Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39 NLT).
D2 Verses
E1 Love must not tell secrets. Proverbs 11:13 NLT A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.
E2 Not even in arguments. Proverbs 25:9 NLT When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret.
E3 Ecclesiastes 3:7 NLT A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
C13 Believes all things
D1 This does mean to be gullible. It means reasonable. For example, if one comes and reveals to you that they have been abused or molested. We believe them.
D2 This idea is seen in judging people. We may be misunderstanding their actions. We need to examine this.
D3 True love does not accept public appearances, actions, speech as the highest thing to believe. What people do in private is more revealing. We are not to be gullible.
D4 Someone may have great credentials, following, books, etc. but that does not mean they are more believable than others.
D5 We must believe, but we must be a little skeptical. Acts 17:11 NLT And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. [Emphasis is mine. They searched. They did not exercise blind faith].
C14 Hopes all things
D1 Hope is defined by Websters 1913: To desire with expectation or with belief in the possibility or prospect of obtaining; to look forward to as a thing desirable, with the expectation of obtaining it; to cherish hopes of.
D2 Remember these are character traits of God. God has this character trait of hope.
D3 Hope has an element of patience. Romans 8:25 CSB Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
D4 Hope depends on another’s trustworthiness. Hebrews 10:23 NET And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.
C15 Calmly endures all things
D1 Precept Austin comment on this attribute: To reiterate, this attribute of love means the believer endures patiently and triumphantly and is not passively putting up with the deluge of difficulties. Obviously a love that supernaturally endures like this can only be carried out by a believer who is filled with and strengthened by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16-note; Ephesians 5:18-note). The suffering which the apostles and early Christians had to endure for the sake of the gospel is eloquent testimony of their authentic, fervent love for God.
D2 This is why God does not give up on our failures.
D3 2 Timothy 2:10 NIV Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
D4 James 1:12 NLT God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
D5 We are not to calmly endure sinful and bad attitudes, as well as what is unreasonable, foolish, proven to fail, etc.
C16 Never extinguishes
D1 Never comes to an end, is never replaced by anything else [Source is NIV Study Bible Notes]
D2 Love is superior to all other attributes or achievements because it never fails (13:8a). Of the familiar Christian triad—faith, hope, and love—which comprehends Christian existence as a whole for the present, love is the greatest (v.13), for it lasts forever. When the future age comes in its fullness, faith and hope will give way to sight (see Romans 4:14-22; 8:24-25). Then will remain only love, intimate, personal relationship with God (v.12). [Source is Asbury Bible Commentary]
D3 If we love the Lord Jesus as we must, we will obey His rules (John 14:15 and 1 John 2:5). If we do not love Him as we must, then Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth (2 Peter 3:17 NET).
D4 Psalm 6:4 NIV Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
B2 How can we find strength to live this way?
Again, we learn about God character traits from Scripture. Think deeply about these things.
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