Love (1 Co.13) Why does Paul leave his discussion of spiritual gifts (12), discuss love (13), then return to spiritual gifts (14)? –Love is not a digression, but a necessary part of his purpose Some used gifts to show off (10:31) Yielding self to the good of others is not mere forbearance or self-control, but love (v.13)

Without love… …everything else is nothing (1-3) –Greeks worshipped intellect –Romans worshipped power Supernatural gifts and heroic acts mean nothing w/o love KJV: charity The Traits Of Love

1. Suffers long Long-tempered; slow to anger, slow to take offense, to inflict punishment –Of God: 1 Pt.3:20; 2 Pt.3:9, 15 –It is patience of injuries w/o paying back (though he has power). Ja.1:19 It’s easy to be longsuffering when everyone is kind to us – 2 Tim.3:10 –1 K.21:1-2…

2. Is Kind Longsuffering is passive Kindness is active (bestows benefits) It’s one thing to endure offenses, another to show kindness –Kindness of God: Ro.2:5; 11:22 –1 Tim. 1:12-17 Kindness follows God’s example –Pro.31:20, 26 –Ep.4:32

3. Does not envy Love does not envy another’s blessings (Ro.1:29; 13:13) –1 Co.12:31; 14:1, 39 –1 Co.3:1 –2 Co.12:20

4. Does not parade itself Ostentatious boasting is the chief idea; braggart; love does not boast –Origen...esp. of intellectual pride –Cicero, of rhetorical display Corinth Mt.6 1 Co.12:14-17, 21-26

5. Is Not Puffed Up To puff oneself out like a pair of bellows –Logically follows does not parade itself 1 Co.4:6, 18-19; 5:2; 8:1 –“He who subjects himself to his neighbor in love can never be humiliated” (Basil)

6. Does Not Behave Rudely Unmannerly Love has no bad manners; does not act dishonorably; it is tactful; it does nothing that would cause a blush –Philemon A needed lesson: 1 Co.11, 12, 14

7. Does Not Seek Its Own Repeats 10:24, 33 –Corinthians sought their self- interests –Many believe that “finding oneself” is the highest good (self-gain / esteem)

8. Is Not Provoked KJV added easily –We can control our temper Nu.12:1-3 Not only does not fly into a rage, but does not yield to provocation

9. Thinks No Evil Accounting term: keeps no record of wrongs; bears no resentment –Phm.18 –Pro.19:11 Instead of entering an offense in our account book, we pass the sponge over it –1 Co.6:1-8

10. Does Not Rejoice In Iniquity Ro.1:32. Do not sympathize w. evil –Cursing –Gossip –Fall of enemy Lk.19:41

11. Rejoices In Truth Truth makes love rejoice Love is not neutral –Rejoicing in another’s success may be more difficult than bearing wrongs. Ph.1:12-17 –Ph.1:18 Love embraces unpleasant truth, covets correction

12. Bears All Things From “roof” –Love covers, protects, forbears, 1 Pt.4:8 1 Co.9:12, bear, endure

13. Believes All Things Learned, not innate Not gullible, but gives the benefit of the doubt –Love prefers generosity to unjust suspicion (1 Tim.6:4) –Love believes the best Love tries to put good construction on everything, even when it needs great faith to do so

14. Hopes All Things When sight corrects faith and proves the worst, love hopes for the best –Even hardened offenders may change When evils threaten to smother us, hope believes that God will give the victory to good –Love does not despair

15. Endures All Things Faith, Hope, and... Endurance –Loving hope endures to the end w. unshaken confidence in God, esp. in personal wrongs –Mt.18:21-22, –Gn.29:20 When hope is disappointed, love waits for the best