Love

Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

This chapter shows us three things about Love

In vv 1-3 we are shown the primacy of love…in other words love overshadows everything. Without love our words, our gifts, our knowledge, and even our faith means nothing. These things are worthless without love.

In vv 4-7 we are shown the perfection of love. We are show love in action. There are fifteen characteristics of love in these verses. Each characteristic is a verb in the present tense.

In other words, Love is action, Love is something you do, not something you say.

In vv 8-13 we are shown the permanence of Love.

What I want to focus on tonight is vv 4-7. I want us to look at these fifteen characteristics.

I want us to see that as we go forward in seeking a Vision for Parkersburg Baptist Church that it must contain love. If we go forward in ministry for the sake of ministry, it will mean nothing.

Paul was telling the church at Corinth and he is telling the church today that love must overshadow everything we do in the body of Christ.

He is telling us how to have perfect love in vv 4-7 by giving us these characteristics. He is also telling us at the end of this chapter that the right kind of love, will last forever.

Let’s read vv 4-7 once again.

I want you to notice something about these verses. All of the characteristics are sandwiched between patience.

Suffering long in v4:

Transliterated: makrothumeo ; Pronounced: mak-roth-oo-meh’-o

from the same as 3116 ; TDNT 4:374 ; v

Trans. & freq. in the AV — be patient 3 times , have patience 2 times , have long patience 1 time , bear long 1 time , suffer long 1 time , be longsuffering 1 time , patiently endure 1 time ; 10 occurrences of Greek word in AV

1. to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart

a. to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles

b. to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others

1. to be mild and slow in avenging

2. to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish

At the end of verse 7 ( endureth all things)

Transliterated: hupomeno ; Pronounced: hoop-om-en’-o

from 5259 and 3306 ; TDNT 4:581 ; v

Trans. & freq. in the AV — endure 11 times , take patiently 2 times , tarry behind 1 time , abide 1 time , patient 1 time , suffer 1 time ; 17 occurrences of Greek word in AV

1. to remain

a. to tarry behind

2. to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee

a. to preserve: under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one’s faith in Christ

b. to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments

How many of us need patience? I know I do. If we are going to truly have the love of God in our hearts, we must have patience.

The Characteristics of Love

1. Charity suffereth long (v4). This is talking about patience with people. I find myself at times not having patience with people. If I am to express God’s love in my life, then I must have patience.

2. is kind (v4)…Love must be kind.

Transliterated: agape ; Pronounced: ag-ah’-pay

from 25 ; TDNT 1:21 ; n f

Trans. & freq. in the AV — love 86 times , charity 27 times , dear 1 time , charitably+ 2596 1 time , feast of charity 1 time ; 116 occurrences of Greek word in AV

1. brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence

2. love feasts

If someone is unkind to you do you feel like they love you? I know I don’t. I also know that there is a such thing as tough love, and I also feel that after being given a dose of tough love and responding in the right direction, that you would feel that the person dishing out the tough love was kind, because they had your best interest at heart.

3. charity envieth not (4): When envy is present, love in most cases is not. Envy, jealousy often leads to hatred and anger. To have agape love you can’t be envious.

4. charity vaunteth not itself (4):

Transliterated: perpereuomai ; Pronounced: per-per-yoo’-om-ahee

Trans. & freq. in the AV — vaunt itself 1 time ; 1 occurrence of Greek word in AV

1. to boast one’s self

2. a self display, employing rhetorical embellishments in extolling one’s self excessively

5. is not puffed up (4): in other words, love is not proud. It doesn’t go around telling everybody what it has done. Matthew 6:1-2 "Be careful not to do your ’acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.