"Love" -1 Corinthians 13

Описание: What is Love?

The WORD love is used in a lot of ways..

-Greek words for Love-
-Phileo= tender affection. It is sometimes used for brotherly love, hence Philadelphia, city of brotherly love. it carries the idea of cherishing someone above others. (Jesus never used this word in any of His commands for us to love each other.)
-Philanthropos= love for fellow man. Hence "Philanthropy." Kindness
-Eros= Romantic love. Often physical love. The Greeks gave this name to one of their gods, the one the Romans called Cupid. This word is never used in the New Testament. Even when Paul commands husbands and wives to love each other, he didn't use this word. He used the next word..
Agape= This is a characteristic word of Christianity. It is used in the New Testament to describe the attitude of God toward His Son and for the human race generally, and toward those who believe in Jesus. It is this word Jesus used to command His followers to love one another. It is used to express the essential nature of God God is love.

There are 3 main characteristics to this love. Keep in mind that it's source is God (Rom 5:5)
1-It is unconditional. This love is not extended to someone because they are lovely, or loveable, or deserving. It reaches out to all.
2-It is sacrificial. It does whatever is necessary for the good of another.
3-It is unbreakable. It is not fickle, given now, withdrawn the next. It is not sentimental, though it can be emotional. It is exercised in the will as well as in the heart.

David Watson: "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one... Wrap it carefully around the hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it safe in a casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable... the only place outside heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love is- hell."

Keep in mind in this context The Corinthian believers were divided by partiality. They were selfish even in the observance of the Lord's Supper. They were tolerating and even boasting about the presence of an incesutuous man in their fellowship. They valued worldly wisdom over spiritual truth. Yet, they also had among them those who strived for holiness. And the gifts of the Holy Spirit were operating in their midst.

Love is Patient
There are 2 kinds of Patience:
1- endurance of events/circumstances
2-Sometimes translated "long-suffering" and specifically has to do with our endurance of people.

Love is Kind
Pleasant, Serviceable, Good, Gracious.

Love Does Not Envy
Doesn't want what someone else has.

Love Does Not Boast
Literally "puffed up," Inflated (related to the word for bellows).

Love is not Rude
"Rude" here is the same word translated as "unpresentable" in 12:23 and refers to shameful activity resulting in disgrace. Unseemly. Unbecoming.

-Love is not self-seeking"
Love does not necessarily move us to seek justice for ourselves, but it should drive us to move heaven and earth to seek justice for others.

Love is not easily angered
Not easily provoked. Puts up with a lot from people.
Love does not just disguise anger or pretend you're not angry. But it has a long fuse. There are reasons we should be angry. We need to be more angry at some things. "Meek" = to be angry at the right time and not be angry at the wrong time. The Bible does not forbid anger But love helps us to respond righteously to angering and frustrating situations; it helps us communicate anger in the right way.

Love Keeps no Record of Wrongs
Literally "doesn't reckon evil." Love doesn't calculate the evil done to it, Doesn't nurture grudges.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
"Evil" = "wrong."

Love always protects
literally "all things covers quietly",
to protect or preserve something by covering it.
To keep off something that threatens.
To bear up against. To hold up against.

Love always trusts
Literally "believes" (Do you believe in each other? In the possibilities and potentials? enough to stand with each other, even when you disagree?

Love always hopes
Never gives up on someone.

Love always perseveres
Bears up courageously.

Through al these adjectives, Christin love is clearly portrayed as selfless, seeking the good of the other first and foremost.

Love is what God in Christ has shown and done for others in their helpless plight and hopeless estate as sinners, In love we share his outlook and implement his designs; and we treat our neighbors as we know God has treated us.

Love never fails
The kind of love that's talked about in 1 Corinthians is the outgrowth of faith in Christ.

Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 12:23 & 13
Romans 5:5
Galatians 5:6 & 22
1 John 3:23-24, 4:7-8