1 Corinthians 13:4 kjv
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Corinthians 13:4 nkjv
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
1 Corinthians 13:4 niv
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
1 Corinthians 13:4 esv
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
1 Corinthians 13:4 nlt
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
1 Corinthians 13 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 13:4a | Love is patient... | Prov 19:11 (Patience) |
| 1 Cor 13:4a | Love is patient... | Eph 4:2 (Longsuffering) |
| 1 Cor 13:4a | Love is patient... | Col 3:12 (Bearing with one another) |
| 1 Cor 13:4b | ...and kind. | Gal 5:22 (Kindness in fruit) |
| 1 Cor 13:4b | ...and kind. | 1 Pet 2:3 (Taste the Lord's kindness) |
| 1 Cor 13:4b | ...and kind. | Rom 12:10 (Love in kindness) |
| Ps 34:8 | O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. | (God's goodness reflects kindness) |
| Luke 6:36 | Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. | (Mercy is a form of kindness) |
| Eph 4:32 | And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. | (Direct command for kindness) |
| Col 3:13 | Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. | (Kindness through forgiveness) |
| Prov 15:18 | A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. | (Contrast to impatient anger) |
| Rom 12:14 | Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. | (Demonstrating patience in persecution) |
| Gal 6:9 | And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. | (Endurance in kindness) |
| 2 Tim 2:24 | And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, | (Servant-like patience) |
| 1 Thes 5:14 | Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient unto all men. | (Patience towards all) |
| 2 Pet 3:15 | And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; | (God's longsuffering) |
| John 13:34 | A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. | (Christ's model of love) |
| Phil 2:3-4 | Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in meekness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. | (Humility and other-regard) |
| Heb 12:1 | Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, | (Patience in Christian life) |
| Matt 5:7 | Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. | (Beatitudes reflecting love's characteristics) |
| Prov 29:25 | The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hateth it shall abide in death. | (Fear of Lord leads to righteous conduct) |
| Jer 31:3 | Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. | (God's unfailing lovingkindness) |
1 Corinthians 13 verses
1 Corinthians 13 4 Meaning
Love is patient and kind. This foundational statement in 1 Corinthians 13 describes the fundamental nature of agape love, God's perfect and unconditional love. It is not easily provoked or boastful, but perseveres through difficulties.
1 Corinthians 13 4 Context
1 Corinthians 13 is a "love chapter" placed strategically within Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. The preceding chapter (12) discusses spiritual gifts, highlighting their importance but also the potential for disunity and pride among the Corinthians. Chapter 14 then deals with the proper use of speaking in tongues and prophecy. Chapter 13 serves as a crucial interlude, emphasizing that all gifts, however spectacular, are useless without love as the supreme motivation and guiding principle. Paul is contrasting genuine, selfless love with the spiritual gifts they were so focused on, warning them that even charismatic abilities are meaningless without the underpinning of agape love.
1 Corinthians 13 4 Word analysis
ἀγάπη (agapē): This is the Greek word for "love" used here, specifically referring to unconditional, self-sacrificing love, often contrasted with other Greek words for love like eros (romantic love) or philia (brotherly affection). It denotes a volitional, deliberate love, an act of the will.
μακροθυμεῖ (makrothymeí): This verb translates to "is patient" or "is long-suffering." It describes one who is slow to anger, enduring offenses without immediate retaliation. It implies forbearance and persistence, even in the face of provocation. It is found 13 times in the New Testament.
χρηστεύεται (chrēsteúetai): This verb translates to "is kind" or "is beneficent." It denotes active kindness, a disposition to do good, and treating others with benevolence and generosity. It's an active display of a good heart. This is the passive voice of the verb, implying God works this kindness through the believer.
makrothymeí kai chrēsteúetai: This phrase links patience and kindness together as core components of love. They are not separate qualities but interdependent aspects of a loving disposition. True love patiently endures wrongs and then actively seeks to do good to the offender or others despite the wrong. This duality highlights love's both passive enduring quality and its active doing quality.
1 Corinthians 13 4 Bonus section
The concept of makrothymia (long-suffering) is often used in the Bible to describe God's character towards humanity, underscoring that divine love is not easily provoked by our sin. Jesus embodied this perfectly, as seen in His teachings and actions, such as His prayer on the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). The enduring nature of this love is not a weakness but a profound strength, rooted in God's unchanging purpose and goodness. The linkage of patience and kindness suggests that enduring wrongs without retaliating is naturally accompanied by a desire to act benevolently, a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
1 Corinthians 13 4 Commentary
This verse sets the stage for understanding biblical love. It's not an emotion but a way of being, characterized by patience and active kindness. This love is not reactive; it doesn't lash out when wronged. Instead, it possesses a long fuse, a willingness to absorb hurts and misunderstandings. Following this endurance is a positive action—kindness. Love seeks to benefit others, to act with benevolence. This twofold action, patient endurance and active goodness, defines the essence of Christ-like love, which is the model for all believers.
- Practical example: Seeing a fellow believer make a mistake, love would first refrain from immediate criticism or judgment (patience), and then offer encouragement and help to correct the error (kindness).