1. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Summary

1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV)

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

Contents

  1. Love Is Patient
  2. Love Is Kind
  3. Love Does Not Envy
  4. Love Does Not Boast
  5. Love Is Not Arrogant

In 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 Paul describes the most excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31), namely, that of love. He describes love in a personified way, so as to give his readers a picture of the person who lives in love.

The section consists of brief sentences without any conjunctions. Added to that, the repetition of the words not (1 Corinthians 13:4–6) and all (1 Corinthians 13:7) gives to this section its own build-up and intensity. 

Instead of trying to define love, Paul unpacks what love looks like and what it does not look like. To define something by way of its characteristics and its opposites was a common rhetorical strategy. Paul begins by giving two characteristics of love (1 Corinthians 13:4), then lists eight opposites (1 Corinthians 13:4–6), and ends with five more characteristics (1 Corinthians 13:6–7).

Love Is Patient

To be patient is to be willing to bear with offences and unpleasantness for an extended period of time. The Greek word literally refers to being long-tempered.

Love Is Kind

In Galatians 5:22 kindness is also mentioned after patience, both being part of the fruit of the Spirit. Simply put, to be kind is to be useful. A kind person actively seeks the good of others.

Love Does Not Envy

The Bible contains many examples of the destructive effects of envy. We need to look no further than Genesis: think of Cain’s murder of Abel (Genesis 4:3–8), the rivalry between Leah and Rachel (Genesis 30:1–24), and the envy of Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 37:1–36).

Love Does Not Boast

The verb used here refers to the attention-seeking speech and behaviour of a braggart.

Love Is Not Arrogant

The Greek word for arrogant literally refers to being inflated or puffed up. Paul has already warned the Corinthians against spiritual arrogance (1 Corinthians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 4:18–19; 1 Corinthians 5:2). When dealing with the question of sacrificial meat he has also warned them that knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1). Without love, knowledge (and other spiritual gifts) easily leads to arrogance.