Learning About Love 1 Cor 13

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love’s Necessity One can quickly see the importance the Bible places on love Re: spouses Eph 5:25 Titus 2:4 Re: children Titus 2:4 Re: enemies Mt 5:43-44 Re: brethren Jn 13: : Jn 2:9-11 3: :20 – 5:1 Love’s Necessity One can quickly see the importance the Bible places on love Re: spouses Eph 5:25 Titus 2:4 Re: children Titus 2:4 Re: enemies Mt 5:43-44 Re: brethren Jn 13: : Jn 2:9-11 3: :20 – 5:1

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love’s Necessity With such an “importance,” Biblical love virtually cries out for a definition It must be properly understood & practiced Love’s Necessity With such an “importance,” Biblical love virtually cries out for a definition It must be properly understood & practiced

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love must be the motivation behind all actions vv. 1-3 For the sake of the gospel For the sake of other people Actions without love are only empty…“hollow” Man may not know love is absent, but God will certainly know Love Depicted & Defined Love must be the motivation behind all actions vv. 1-3 For the sake of the gospel For the sake of other people Actions without love are only empty…“hollow” Man may not know love is absent, but God will certainly know

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Technically, God does not “define” love There is no abstract or theoretical definition to learn or memorize The N.T. “describes” love instead of “defining” it “Love” in this text = agape All 15 “properties” are in verb form vv. 4-8a Love Depicted & Defined Technically, God does not “define” love There is no abstract or theoretical definition to learn or memorize The N.T. “describes” love instead of “defining” it “Love” in this text = agape All 15 “properties” are in verb form vv. 4-8a

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …does not act unbecomingly To be deformed, disgraceful Conduct that is “socially ugly”…rude & crass Behavior that demeans others Opposite of “comeliness” cp. 1 Cor 12:23-24 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …does not act unbecomingly To be deformed, disgraceful Conduct that is “socially ugly”…rude & crass Behavior that demeans others Opposite of “comeliness” cp. 1 Cor 12:23-24

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …does not seek its own To strive or aim for something To only show concern for “what is mine” (worldly conduct… “personal rights, etc.”) cp. 1 Cor 10:23-24 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …does not seek its own To strive or aim for something To only show concern for “what is mine” (worldly conduct… “personal rights, etc.”) cp. 1 Cor 10:23-24

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …is not provoked To stimulate, spur on To irritate, rouse to anger To go around with a “chip on one’s shoulder” cp. Acts 17:16 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …is not provoked To stimulate, spur on To irritate, rouse to anger To go around with a “chip on one’s shoulder” cp. Acts 17:16

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …does not act take into account a wrong suffered To calculate, count, reckon that which is either Divinely or humanly wrong To “keep score” of past offenses Arguments are either hysterical or “historical” cp. Rom 4:3, 22 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …does not act take into account a wrong suffered To calculate, count, reckon that which is either Divinely or humanly wrong To “keep score” of past offenses Arguments are either hysterical or “historical” cp. Rom 4:3, 22

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth To not be glad re: sinful behavior, “exploits” To not take part in another’s sin (i.e. gossip) To take part & be glad in another’s joy cp. Lk 15:6, 9 1 Cor 12:26 Love Depicted & Defined Love… …does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth To not be glad re: sinful behavior, “exploits” To not take part in another’s sin (i.e. gossip) To take part & be glad in another’s joy cp. Lk 15:6, 9 1 Cor 12:26

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… … bears all things To cover with silence; keep secret; hide; conceal Love will warn, rebuke, even discipline…but it will always try to protect & guard Love will do what it can to “cover” 1 Pet 4:8 Prov 10:12 Love Depicted & Defined Love… … bears all things To cover with silence; keep secret; hide; conceal Love will warn, rebuke, even discipline…but it will always try to protect & guard Love will do what it can to “cover” 1 Pet 4:8 Prov 10:12

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… … believes all things Instead of suspicion & cynicism, love believes the best about a situation or someone Not gullibility cp. 1 Jn 4:1 When no evidence to the contrary is known, love believes and expects the best Love Depicted & Defined Love… … believes all things Instead of suspicion & cynicism, love believes the best about a situation or someone Not gullibility cp. 1 Jn 4:1 When no evidence to the contrary is known, love believes and expects the best

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… … hopes all things If sin has been “covered”…if evidence is against that which was believed…love still hopes It continues to trust with confidence Present failure is not accepted as final cp. 1 Cor 16:13-14, 24 Love Depicted & Defined Love… … hopes all things If sin has been “covered”…if evidence is against that which was believed…love still hopes It continues to trust with confidence Present failure is not accepted as final cp. 1 Cor 16:13-14, 24

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… … endures all things To remain; abide (not recede or flee); to persevere If sin has been “covered”…if evidence is against that which was believed…if what was hoped for did not materialize…love still endures cp. Heb 12:2 Jas 1:12 Love Depicted & Defined Love… … endures all things To remain; abide (not recede or flee); to persevere If sin has been “covered”…if evidence is against that which was believed…if what was hoped for did not materialize…love still endures cp. Heb 12:2 Jas 1:12

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Love Depicted & Defined Love… … never fails It never perishes from its position It never ceases to exist cp. to other “necessary” things (faith, hope, spiritual gifts) cp. 1 Pet 1:24 Love Depicted & Defined Love… … never fails It never perishes from its position It never ceases to exist cp. to other “necessary” things (faith, hope, spiritual gifts) cp. 1 Pet 1:24

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Some Concluding Thoughts… Each of us have someone to love A spouse…child/children…enemies…brethren Is your love like what has been described? All of us can “love better” It is our “badge of discipleship” Jn 13:34-35 Some Concluding Thoughts… Each of us have someone to love A spouse…child/children…enemies…brethren Is your love like what has been described? All of us can “love better” It is our “badge of discipleship” Jn 13:34-35

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13 Some Concluding Thoughts… If our actions do not match what this passage teaches, then all the “I Love You’s” we can say will be meaningless 1 Jn 3:18 Some Concluding Thoughts… If our actions do not match what this passage teaches, then all the “I Love You’s” we can say will be meaningless 1 Jn 3:18 “…let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Learning About Love 1 Cor 13