1 Corinthians 13:4-7

What 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 means

Paul does not define love with a single sentence. He describes it in action, with two things it does, then a run of things it does not do, then four things it always does. Charity suffereth long, and is kind: love is patient with people over time and actively good to them.

Then come the negatives. Love envieth not, so it is not jealous of others' good. It vaunteth not itself and is not puffed up, so it does not brag or swell with pride. It doth not behave itself unseemly, meaning it is not rude or shameful. It seeketh not her own, so it does not insist on its own way. It is not easily provoked, and it thinketh no evil, which means it does not keep a running account of wrongs done to it. It rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.

The list ends with four 'all things': love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. This is not gullibility. It describes love that covers and protects, keeps trusting and hoping the best, and does not give up.

Christians have often noticed that the list reads like a portrait of Jesus. Read that way, it shows what love looks like and also how far short we fall, which is part of why the chapter has meant so much to so many.

Background and context

The KJV says charity, from the Latin caritas, used for the Greek word agape. In 1611 charity meant love in its fullest sense, love for God and for others, not only giving to the poor as it usually means today. Modern versions translate the same word as love, which is closer to how English speakers now use the words. The KJV itself says love in other places for the same Greek word, as in 1 John 4:8, God is love.

1 Corinthians was written by Paul, with Sosthenes named alongside him in the first verse, to the church at Corinth, usually dated in the mid-50s AD. The church had many gifts but was divided and proud. Chapter 12 is about spiritual gifts, and it ends with Paul promising to show them a more excellent way. Chapter 13 is that way.

Though the passage is a favourite at weddings, Paul first wrote it to a quarrelling church about how members should treat one another.

Key verses

Cross references

• 1 Corinthians 12:31 The verse just before the chapter: yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
• 1 Corinthians 13:13 Faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
• 1 John 4:7-8 Love is of God, for God is love. Here the KJV uses love for the same Greek word.Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
• John 13:34-35 Jesus gives a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
• Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
• Colossians 3:14 Above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
• 1 Peter 4:8 Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
• Galatians 5:22-23 Love heads the list of the fruit of the Spirit.But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.