1 Corinthians 13:4

Suffereth long. In vs. 4-7 Paul proceeds to analyze love. He points out seven excellent characteristics of love and eight acts and attitudes that are totally foreign to its nature. In this eulogy he sets forth the superior quality of love in both its positive and its negative aspect. The personification of love in these verses heightens the beauty of the description, for Paul ascribes to love those characteristics that are found in all who truly love. Throughout the paragraph occasional glimpses are seen of the faults in the church at Corinth that were in direct contrast to the excellent qualities of love.

Forbearance, or long-suffering, in a world where impatience and intolerance prevail, is a precious attribute. Love bears long with the faults, failings, and weaknesses of others. It recognizes that all human beings are fallible, and that, therefore, due allowance must be made for manifestations of the outworking of errors that result from man’s inherently sinful nature. Long-suffering is opposed to haste, to passionate expressions and thoughts, and to irritability. This word denotes the state of mind that enables a man to be patiently quiet and to bear long when oppressed, wrongfully accused, and persecuted (see Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; 2 Tim. 4:2; 2 Peter 3:15; cf. Matt. 26:63; 27:12, 14; see on Matt. 5:10-12). He who is long-suffering possesses one of the fruits of the Spirit (see Gal. 5:22).

Is kind. Gr. chresteuomai, “to be gentle,” “to exercise kindness,” “to be considerate and mild.” The word portrays the gracious nature of one who is actuated by the Spirit of God, one who is ever seeking to reveal by word and deed an understanding sympathy for, and appreciation of, the struggles and difficulties of others. The idea of the word is that under all circumstances of life, whether harsh and provoking, painful or sorrowful, love is mild and gentle. Love is the reverse of hatred, which manifests itself in severity, anger, harshness, unkindness, and revenge. A man who really loves another is kind to him, anxious to do him good, gentle and courteous, because he does not wish to hurt his feelings, but seeks to promote his happiness (see 1 Peter 3:8).