1Cor 13:4-7 | RWP | e4.org | Verses picture the character or conduct of love in marvellous rhapsody. Suffereth long ( μακροθυμε ). Late Koine word (Plutarch) from μακρος , long, θυμος , passion, ardour. Cf. . Is kind ( χρηστευετα ). From χρηστος (useful, gracious, kind) and that from χραομα , to use. Not found elsewhere save in Clement of Rome and Eusebius. "Perhaps of Paul's coining" (Findlay). Perhaps a vernacular word ready for Paul. Gentle in behaviour. Envieth not ( ου ζηλο ). Present active indicative of ζηλοω (contraction οει=ο , same as subjunctive and optative forms). Bad sense of ζηλος from ζεω , to boil, good sense in . Love is neither jealous nor envious (both ideas). Vaunteth not itself ( ου περπερευετα ). From περπερος , vainglorious, braggart (Polybius, Epictetus) like Latin perperus . Only here in N.T. and earliest known example. It means play the braggart. Marcus Anton. V. 5 uses it with αρεσκευομα , to play the toady. Is not puffed up ( ου φυσιουτα ). Present direct middle indicative of φυσιοω from φυσις (late form for φυσαω, φυσιαω from φυσα , bellows), to puff oneself out like a pair of bellows. This form in Herodas and Menander. Is not arrogant. See on .

‏ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Verses 4-7 picture the character or conduct of love in marvellous rhapsody.

Suffereth long ( μακροθυμε ). Late Koine word (Plutarch) from μακρος, long, θυμος, passion, ardour. Cf. Jas 5:7f.

Is kind ( χρηστευετα ). From χρηστος (useful, gracious, kind) and that from χραομα, to use. Not found elsewhere save in Clement of Rome and Eusebius. "Perhaps of Paul's coining" (Findlay). Perhaps a vernacular word ready for Paul. Gentle in behaviour.

Envieth not ( ου ζηλο ). Present active indicative of ζηλοω (contraction οει=ο, same as subjunctive and optative forms). Bad sense of ζηλος from ζεω, to boil, good sense in 12:31. Love is neither jealous nor envious (both ideas).

Vaunteth not itself ( ου περπερευετα ). From περπερος, vainglorious, braggart (Polybius, Epictetus) like Latin perperus. Only here in N.T. and earliest known example. It means play the braggart. Marcus Anton. V. 5 uses it with αρεσκευομα, to play the toady.

Is not puffed up ( ου φυσιουτα ). Present direct middle indicative of φυσιοω from φυσις (late form for φυσαω, φυσιαω from φυσα, bellows), to puff oneself out like a pair of bellows. This form in Herodas and Menander. Is not arrogant. See on 4:6.

Doth not behave itself unseemly ( ουκ ασχημονε ). Old verb from ασχημων (12:23). In N.T. only here and 7:36. Not indecent.

Seeketh not its own ( ου ζητε τα εαυτης ). Its own interests (10:24, 33).

Is not provoked ( ου παροξυνετα ). Old word. In N.T. only here and Ac 17:16 which see. Irritation or sharpness of spirit. And yet Paul felt it in Athens (exasperation) and he and Barnabas had παροξυσμος (paroxysm) in Antioch (15:39). See good sense of παροξυσμος in Heb 10:24.

Taketh not account of evil ( ου λογιζετα το κακον ). Old verb from λογος, to count up, to take account of as in a ledger or note-book, "the evil" ( το κακον ) done to love with a view to settling the account.

Rejoiceth not in unrighteousness ( ου χαιρε ). See Ro 1:32 for this depth of degradation. There are people as low as that whose real joy is in the triumph of evil.

But rejoiceth with the truth ( συνχαιρε δε τη αληθεια ). Associative instrumental case after συν- in composition. Truth personified as opposed to unrighteousness (2Th 2:12; Ro 2:8). Love is on the side of the angels. Paul returns here to the positive side of the picture (verse 4) after the remarkable negatives.

Beareth all things ( παντα στεγε ). Στεγω is old verb from στεγη, roof, already in 1Co 9:12; 1Th 3:1, 5 which see. Love covers, protects, forbears (suffert, Vulgate). See 1Pe 4:8 "because love covers a multitude of sins" ( οτ αγαπη καλυπτε φηθος αμαρτιων ), throws a veil over.

Believeth all things ( παντα πιστευε ). Not gullible, but has faith in men.

Hopeth all things ( παντα ελπιζε ). Sees the bright side of things. Does not despair. Ενδυρεθ αλλ θινγς ( παντα υπομενε ). Perseveres. Carries on like a stout-hearted soldier. If one knows Sir Joshua Reynolds's beautiful painting of the Seven Virtues (the four cardinal virtues of the Stoics--temperance, prudence, fortitude, justice--and the three Christian graces--faith, hope, love), he will find them all exemplified here as marks of love (the queen of them all).