Love Bears All Things

The Word of God states, in 1 Corinthians 13:7, that love “beareth all things” (KJV).  Indeed, this is one of the characteristics that reveals the force and nature of love.  But, what does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this principle with respect to the love between a husband and a wife in the bonds of holy matrimony?

Love Does Not Rejoice in Wrongdoing

Among the many lessons on love that we are able to glean from 1 Corinthians 13 is the maxim that genuine, Christian love “does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in truth” (I Cor 13:6 ESV). Of course, the immediate purpose of this verse (and entire chapter) is to emphasize the priority of love in ministry, fellowship, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. However, these verses also inform us greatly regarding the overall concept of love as it relates to other areas of life. Certainly we can deduce some practical instructions involving the love between a man and woman united in marriage.

Love Thinks No Evil

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 delineates several critical attributes that reveal the force and nature of love. Among these is the sentiment that love thinks no evil. What does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this principle with respect to the love between a husband and wife?

Love is Not Exasperated

According to 1 Corinthians 13:5, one of the characteristics that demonstrates the force and nature of true, biblical love is that it “is not easily provoked” (KJV). Other translations of this verse inform us that love is not touchy, irritable, fretful, resentful, angered, or annoyed. In a word, love is never exasperated. This phrase illustrates the proper attitude that Christians should have towards others when we are filled with God’s love. However, it is also easy to practically apply this lesson of love to marriages – the most important of human relationships according to God’s Word.

Love is Not Self-Seeking

The Bible teaches that one of the prominent characteristics that reveals the force and nature of love is that it “seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthian 13:5, KJV) or “is not self-seeking” (NIV). Essentially this means that those who embody true, biblical love do not insist upon their own way or their own rights. Rather, those who genuinely love neither take any thought for themselves nor pursue their own interests. They are unselfish. In a culture that is overrun with a sense of entitlement and egocentrism, this is a critical lesson to be learned. This is especially the case when it comes to one of the most selfish ventures of our times – marriage.

Love is Not Rude

One of the characteristics that reveals the force and nature of love, according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, is that “love is not rude”. Or, as translated by the King James Version, love “doth not behave itself unseemly”. In essence, the expression means that those who embody true, biblical love do not speak or act in a way that is indecent, offensive, or dishonorable to others. If this is an expected quality regarding the Christian’s relationship with others, in general, it is even more important we reflect this principle in our most important human relationship of all – with our partner in marriage.

Love is Not Proud

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 delineates several critical attributes that reveal the force and nature of love. Among these is the sentiment that love is not proud. What does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this principle with respect to the love between a husband and a wife?

Love Does Not Boast

One of the primary features, according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, that reveals the force and nature of love is the sentiment that love does not boast. The meaning of this expression is multifaceted. The Greek term - variously rendered as boastful, vaunted, vainglorious, conceited, and braggart – appears nowhere else in the Bible and is also rare in ancient literature. There are several explanations regarding the significance of this important principle. Each sheds much light on the role of love in the Christian life and, by extension, the spirit of love in marriage.

Love Does Not Envy

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 delineates several critical attributes that reveal the force and nature of love. Among these features is the truth that love does not envy. What does scripture mean by this statement? What is the practical application of this teaching with respect to the love between a husband and a wife?

Love is Kind

Kindness is a critical attribute that reveals the force and nature of love according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. What does scripture mean when it asserts that “love is kind”? The Greek word rendered “kind” in this verse literally means to “show oneself useful” in the sense of manners or morals. There are two basic concepts contained in this idea. And both shed much light on love between a husband and wife.

Love is Patient

Patience is a critical attribute that reveals the force and nature of love, according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The King James Version states that love “suffereth long”. The Greek word literally means “to hold oneself up against”. This is a figurative saying similar in meaning to the modern phrase “to put up with”. In other words, the Apostle is declaring “love puts up with a lot”. In biblical usage, the term describes long-suffering, forbearance or patience with respect to interactions and relationships with others.

Ancient Insights Into Love

What is love?  Is it an emotion or feeling?  Is it a relationship state or status?  Is it a choice or decision?  The answer is: "Yes"... to all of the above!

While love is certainly multifaceted, there is a great deal of agreement regarding how we experience and express it.  There are three basic components to love: passion, intimacy, and commitment.  [See previous article.]  While this "triangle of love" conceptualization has been confirmed by contemporary social science research it is by no means a novel idea.  The ancient world shared the same basic understanding.