The past several weeks we have been doing an in-depth study into love from 1 Corinthians chapter 13: verses 4 through 8. So far, we have learned that love endures patiently, it is kind, and doesn’t boast or brag; it isn’t rude or angry, doesn’t behave unbecomingly, doesn’t think or focus on itself and instead it worships God, isn’t easily provoked, doesn’t think or dwell on evil; it isn’t glad or sympathizes in injustice or wrongfulness and instead love congratulates, rejoices, and sympathizes with and in truth.
Today, we pick up with verse 7 (remember that verse four started us with the word love, so that verses 4, 5, 6, and 7 are all a list of what love is and isn’t):
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
It sounds really simple, but let’s break down these words.
Firstly, the word beareth comes from the Greek Word stego, which means “to cover with silence, to roof over, to endure, to suffer.” So love is a roof over all things, it endures and covers and suffers with silence.
Second, the word believeth comes from the Greek Word pistevo, which means “to have faith in, to entrust one’s spiritual well-being to Christ. So while love endures and suffers with silence, love also entrusts our spiritual wellbeing to Christ! Because He will help us to endure hardships.
Thirdly, the word hopeth comes from the Greek Word elpizo which means “to expect or confide, to trust.” So while love suffers and endures hardships in silence, we trust our spiritual wellbeings to Christ and trust, confide in Him, and expect all things.
Fourth, the word endureth comes from the Greek Word hupomendo, which means: “to stay under or behind, to remain, to have fortitude, to persevere, to patiently suffer.”
Love is patient and kind; it isn’t rude or envious, and it doesn’t brag or boast. It doesn’t behave unseemly, doesn’t seek its own self and instead seeks God, and it isn’t easily provoked or sharpened into anger. Love doesn’t rejoice, isn’t happy or cheerful in injustice or wrongdoing and instead, it rejoices, sympathizes with gladness, and congratulates in truth. Love is a roof that covers with silence while it entrusts our spiritual wellbeing to Christ, it expects, confides in, and trusts, and it patiently suffers, stays under and behind.
Stay tuned for the final part next week!
