Love is Patient Love is Kind – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
What is the Bible verse "Love is Patient Love is Kind?"
The Bible verse “Love is Patient Love is kind” is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (New International Version):
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
What is God's love?
God’s love is the greatest love of all. The love of God is also called Agape (Ancient Greek ἀγάπη, agapē) is a Greco-Christian term referring to love, “the highest form of love, charity” and “the love of God for man and of man for God.”
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
How does Jesus define love?
It refers to the love of Jesus Christ for humanity, the love of Christians for Christ, and the love of Christians for others. … Towards the end of the Last Supper, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment: “Love one another, as I have loved you … By this shall all men know that you are my disciples.”
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:16 New International Version (NIV)
“Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4–8) is one of the most quoted and well-known Bibles verses about love. It is commonly recited in loving religious services such as weddings and baby christenings.
It is important to understand the context of the scripture to understand its proper application to our modern lives. In the text, Apostle Paul is speaking to the church at Corinth. In his speech, Paul describes the different characteristics of love. Specifically, Paul explains the 15 facets that are important between brothers and sisters for the unification of the church:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 New International Version (NIV)
In this article, we’ll break down the Bible verses and examine each characteristic.
Love Is Patient
Patient love does not ignore the offenses of others. Instead, it acknowledges the shortcomings of those people who offend us and extends tolerance and compassion to them while recognizing their need for love. Patient love is also used to describe God (2 Peter 3:9).
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 New International Version (NIV)
Love Is Kind
Kindness is one of the most important characteristics of genuine love because it is the physical manifestation of love that displayed to others. Kindness is love in action. God encourages his people to be kind to one another and their enemies.
Even at times when correction is necessary, this type of kind love may take the form of a gentle rebuke.
Love Does Not Envy
This kind of love appreciates and celebrates the successes and blessings bestowed upon others. Love does not covet and love is not hateful. Love allows us to be happy for other people. This type of love is never jealous of the success of others.
Love Does Not Boast
Love does not exalt itself over others. Love is not braggadocious. Love is not arrogant. Love recognizes that we are all equal in the sight of God.
Love Is Not Proud
This love is not pompous or prideful. Love recognizes the spiritual dangers of being overly self-confident or disobedient to God. It is not characterized by a sense of self-importance or arrogance.
Love Is Not Rude
Love is expressed through kindness. Kindness and rudeness cannot coexist. Love considers the feelings of others and takes care to not be offensive to them. Love does not seek to offend or embarrass another person. This type of love is respectful of the feelings of others.
Love Is Not Self-Seeking
Love is never selfish. Genuine love for others allows us to place their needs above our own. Expressing fake love for the purpose of self-exaltation is not love at all.
Love Is Not Easily Angered
Love naturally incorporates patience. This type of love is not quick to anger even when others offend us. This love combines patience, understanding, and forgiveness.
Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs
This kind of love forgives and forgets. Even in situations when offenses are repeated and intentional, we realize that love is expressed when we openly forgive those who do us wrong. We don’t keep a tally of the times we are offended, disrespected, or disappointed.
Love Does Not Delight in Evil
Love naturally seeks the good in all situations and circumstances. Love does not find comfort in negative situations or bad company.
Love Always Protects
Love corrects wrongdoings in ways that protect the feelings of others. This love incorporates kindness, patience, and forgiveness.
Love Always Trusts
This love trusts in the good intentions of others even in difficult situations. Love recognizes that even if people have bad intentions, we have faith that God’s love for us will see us through any circumstance. Therefore, we can trust God’s will even when we can’t trust people.
Love Always Hopes
Love is built upon faith. Faith is built upon hope. Just as God is faithful to complete the work he started in us, love extends hope for the best toward others.
Love Always Perseveres
Love is the most powerful human emotion. The strength of love allows us to withstand spiritual attacks, preserving our faith in God.
Love Never Fails
God’s love has never failed us. It is eternal, divine, and will never cease. This reassurance allows us to be the conduit through which God’s love flows to the world.
For further study, compare this Bible verse in several popular Biblical translations:
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 ESV
(English Standard Version)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 NLT
(New Living Translation)
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance … love will last forever! (NLT)
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 NKJV
(New King James Version)
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 KJV
(King James Version)
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth. (KJV)
Love is patient, love is kind in Greek
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