Love Never Fails

by Micky Galloway

I Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love suffereth long, (and) is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth …”

All of the characteristics Paul mentions are ways in which love is demonstrated in our relationships with one another. There were contentions and strife among the Corinthians; there were suspicions and jealousies; there were unkind judging, the manifestations of improper motives, and selfishness; there was envy, pride, and boasting, all of which were inconsistent with the honorable attributes of love. Paul is attempting to correct these things and show them, a “more excellent way.” Paul continues to discuss the attributes of love, agape, a love that seeks the welfare or best interest of the one who is the object of our love.

Love suffers long. This is slowness to anger or passion; patient (Hebrews 10:36; James 5:11), forbearance, and endurance of wrong. Here we see a state of mind which can endure trials when oppression comes.

Love is kind. Kindness denotes good-nature, gentleness, and tender affection. Love is not harsh, sour, or ill-natured. Politeness and courtesy are results of love (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Love envies not. Envy and jealousy are related. To envy is to feel uneasiness, or discontent at the sight of another’s accomplishments; whether it be learning, wealth, beauty, reputation, or success. This was especially true among these Corinthians because they were contending over the respective gifts of each other.

Love vaunteth not itself. It does not thrust itself forward, nor take the higher seats in the synagogue (cf. Luke 14:7-11). Here the thought is expressed of boasting of one’s own excellencies or endowments. No one who loves another is disposed to boast of his own qualities over them. In the context of I Corinthians 13, boasting is of no account in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, or comforting the sick and afflicted or in saving the world.

Is not puffed up. This is an inflated opinion of one’s self (cf. Romans 12:3). This differs only slightly from vaunting one’s self in that it deals with the very feeling itself of pride and self-esteem.

Does not behave itself unseemly. “Things that look right” are important to this individual. Love would cause one to conduct himself properly and honorably, above reproach. How great it would be if all Christians would manifest this one characteristic of love in language, morals, dress, improper allusions and implications.

Seeketh not her own. One who has the proper love for God and for others IS NOT SELFISH. No man is behaving as a Christian who lives for himself alone. We should not seek our own selfish desires and ends, but look to the good and happiness of all. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:2-4).

Is not easily provoked. Love does not take offense readily. It is not easily excited to anger (cf. James 1:19). A consciousness of the presence of God will do much to produce this characteristic.

Thinketh no evil. Does not surmise evil and put the worst construction on the acts of others. Love does not attribute evil motives to others. One who loves as he should will not be malicious or disposed to faultfinding.

Rejoiceth not in iniquity. We ought not rejoice over the faults of others. The Lord said, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11). Wicked men often find pleasure in finding the faults of others and rejoice when others have fallen into sin and have disgraced and ruined themselves.

Rejoiceth in the truth. Here truth stands opposed to iniquity. Do not rejoice in the error of a brother, but rejoice in his virtues. How much better it would be if Christians would restrain themselves from finding faults of others and circulating reports that are malicious.

Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things and endureth all things.

Finally Paul says, “Love never fails” (verse 8). This suggests, by way of contrast, the transitory nature of the spiritual gifts. “Prophecy” shall “be done away.” Katargeo – “To render inactive, idle, useless, ineffective” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary). The best illustration comes from the text itself. Paul said “I have put away (kateérgeeka) childish things” (I Corinthians 13:11). “Tongues” shall “cease.” Paúsontai – “to cease from an activity in which one is engaged” (Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domain). “Knowledge” shall “be done away.” Katargeetheésetai – a translation of the same word that was used in connection with prophecy. “To render inactive, idle, useless, ineffective” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary). It was not necessary for Paul to repeat the whole list for one to understand that all of the spiritual gifts were to cease. But WHEN would they cease?

The writer says, “but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.” What is “that which is perfect”? Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines the word “perfect,” teleios, “brought to its end, finished; lacking nothing necessary to completeness.” W.E. Vine in his dictionary of New Testament words says, “having reached its end, finished, complete, perfect.” Liddell and Scott define the word as “complete, perfect, entire.” Though it is true that Jesus Christ is perfect (Hebrews 4:14-15), that is not the context of I Corinthians 13. The contrast of this context involves things of the same nature. “Knowledge” and “prophecy” provided by the spiritual gifts was “in part” (I Corinthians 13:9). Understanding that these gifts provided only partial revelation indicates that they ceased when the completed revelation“that which is perfect” became a reality.

When this revelation was committed to writing, there remained no further purpose to be fulfilled by these gifts. Therefore, when the completed revelation came, the things that were in part were abolished.

The lesson for the Corinthians is by walking in the love, the “most excellent way,” they should have been able to use these temporary gifts for the benefit of the whole church without being divided over who had what gift while they waited for the day when the completed revelation would be available for all.