1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

The apostle gives us in these verses some of the properties and effects of charity, both to describe and commend it, that we may know whether we have this grace and that if we have not we may fall in love with what is so exceedingly amiable, and not rest till we have obtained it. It is an excellent grace, and has a world of good properties belonging to it. As, I. It is long suffering?makrothymei. It can endure evil, injury, and provocation, without being filled with resentment, indignation, or... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

13 I may speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but if I have not love, I am become no better than echoing brass or a clanging cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all sacred secrets and all knowledge, I may have faith enough to remove mountains, but if I have not love I am nothing. I may dole out all that I have, I may surrender my body that I may be burned, but if I have not love it is no good to me. Love is patient; love is kind; love knows no envy; love... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:4

Charity suffereth long ,.... The apostle, in this and some following verses, enumerates the several properties and characters of the grace of love; and all along represents it as if it was a person, and no doubt designs one who is possessed of it, and in whose heart it is implanted and reigns; such an one is said to "suffer long", or be "patient", as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read; not only under afflictions by the hand of God, which such an one considers as arising from love;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:5

Doth not behave itself unseemly ,.... By using either unbecoming words, or doing indecent actions; for a man unprincipled with this grace will be careful that no filthy and corrupt communication proceed out of his mouth, which may offend pious ears; and that he uses no ridiculous and ludicrous gestures, which may expose himself and grieve the saints; accordingly the Syriac version renders it, "neither does it commit that which is shameful": such an one will not do a little mean despicable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:6

Rejoiceth not in iniquity ,.... Neither in his own, nor in others; but on the contrary is grieved for it; he mourns over his own iniquities, the corruption of his heart, the infirmities of his life, his secret sins, which none know but God and his own soul; he is greatly troubled at the profaneness and immorality of the men of the world, and the sins of professors cut him to the heart: nor does he rejoice in injustice, as the word used here may be rendered, in any unjust action or injury,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:7

Beareth all things ,.... The burdens of fellow Christians, and so fulfils the law of Christ, which is the law of love; the infirmities of weak believers, and the reproaches and persecutions of the world: or "covers all things", as it may be rendered, even a multitude of sins, as charity is said to do, 1 Peter 4:8 not by conniving at them, or suffering them to be upon a brother; but having privately and faithfully reproved for them, and the offender being brought to a sense and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:4

(1.) Charity suffereth long - Μακροθυμει , Has a long mind; to the end of which neither trials, adversities, persecutions, nor provocations, can reach. The love of God, and of our neighbor for God's sake, is patient towards all men: it suffers all the weakness, ignorance, errors, and infirmities of the children of God; and all the malice and wickedness of the children of this world; and all this, not merely for a time, but long, without end; for it is still a mind or disposition, to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:5

(6.) Doth not behave itself unseemly - Ουκ ασχημονει , from α , negative, and σχημα , figure, mien; love never acts out of its place or character; observes due decorum and good manners; is never rude, bearish, or brutish; and is ever willing to become all things to all men, that it may please them for their good to edification. No ill-bred man, or what is termed rude or unmannerly, is a Christian. A man may have a natural bluntness, or be a clown, and yet there be nothing boorish or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:6

(10.) Rejoiceth not in iniquity - Ου χαιρει επι τῃ αδικιᾳ· Rejoiceth not in falsehood, but on the contrary, rejoiceth in the truth: this meaning αδικια has in different parts of the Scriptures. At first view, this character of love seems to say but little in its favor; for who can rejoice in unrighteousness or falsity? But is it not a frequent case that persons, who have received any kind of injury, and have forborne to avenge themselves, but perhaps have left it to God; when evil... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:7

(12.) Beareth all things - Παντα στεγει . This word is also variously interpreted: to endure, bear, sustain, cover, conceal, contain. Bishop Pearce contends that it should be translated covereth all things, and produces several plausible reasons for this translation; the most forcible of which is, that the common translation confounds it with endureth all things, in the same verse. We well know that it is a grand and distinguishing property of love to cover and conceal the fault of... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 13:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 13:7

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