Love is essential to Christian service and becomes recognizable through patience, kindness and commitment to truth.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”Read the surrounding chapter
Time, place & the words behind the text
- Time
- Paul writes during the first century; the letter is commonly dated within the 50s AD.
- Place
- Corinth in Roman Achaia; the letter is associated with Paul’s ministry at Ephesus.
- Setting
- A congregation’s competition over gifts is answered through love, interdependence and intelligible worship.
The noun means love; KJV charity here denotes more than donations. Paul describes its conduct through patient, kind and truthful actions.
Paul’s descriptions of conduct establish the meaning of love here. The noun needs to be interpreted within each passage where it occurs.
Why Paul begins with gifted actions
Paul names speech, knowledge, faith and sacrificial actions at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 13. He then explains that these activities are insufficient without love. The statements address the value and purpose of service, including service that appears spiritually impressive. Readers should ask how an action treats other people, as well as what the action accomplishes.
This is particularly relevant in a church where gifts receive public attention. A person may communicate powerfully while behaving impatiently or harshly. Paul requires the congregation to consider love as essential to its ministry. The instruction reaches both public participation and ordinary relationships among its members. 1
The chapters surrounding the passage
Chapter 12 describes one Spirit giving different gifts and one body with many members. Chapter 14 explains how speech in a gathering should build up the church. Chapter 13 stands within that argument, showing how the members should act toward one another when exercising their gifts.
Paul continues by telling the church to pursue love and desire spiritual gifts. He does not require a choice between them. Earlier parts of the letter describe divisions, boasting and unequal treatment, including problems at the Lord’s supper. Reading those concerns helps explain why his account of love is directed toward a real congregation and its conduct. 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22
Charity in the King James Version
The KJV translates agapē as charity in this chapter. Modern readers often associate charity mainly with donations, but here the word means love. Paul gives its content through a series of descriptions: patience, kindness, freedom from boasting and a refusal to seek only one’s own interests.
The Greek noun should not be used as a shortcut that automatically proves every use of the word has one highly specialized meaning. The chapter’s sentences show what Paul intends. A gift of money accompanied by humiliation can fail this account of love. A considerate act of service may express it without attracting public attention or praise. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23
Love and truth
Verse 6 says that love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth. This qualification is important when interpreting the statements about bearing, believing and hoping. Paul’s description should not be turned into an instruction to disregard evidence or conceal wrongdoing. Love remains committed to what is true and good.
Patience also requires sound judgment. A person can seek restoration while protecting someone from harm and addressing a serious concern. Correction should be truthful and proportionate, without unnecessary humiliation. The chapter challenges both selfish harshness and dishonest reassurance. It asks the congregation to treat people with kindness while taking the moral demands of truth seriously. 1, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21
Practicing gifts with love
Pentecostal churches affirm the present ministry of spiritual gifts. Paul’s teaching supplies a necessary standard for their practice: the person using a gift should seek the good of others. A claim to spiritual authority does not remove the responsibility to be patient, truthful or receptive to correction.
Leaders can explain this standard before disagreements arise. Provide a considerate way for members to ask questions about public contributions. Give instruction when a contribution is confusing or inappropriate. Love does not require pretending that everything has been done well. It guides the manner and purpose of correction, so that people can learn without being treated as disposable. 1
Love in a ministry team
A ministry team can examine how it communicates, shares work and responds to mistakes. Are responsibilities explained clearly? Do volunteers receive the information they need? Can someone ask for help before exhaustion becomes a serious problem? The chapter’s descriptions of patience and kindness apply to these ordinary decisions.
In a multilingual team, allow enough time for understanding rather than interpreting a language difficulty as lack of commitment. Give credit honestly and listen to colleagues with less public visibility. These actions help a ministry serve the people involved. They also provide specific ways to evaluate whether a stated commitment to love is becoming observable in practice. 1
Considering a recent interaction
Choose a conversation or decision from the past week. Read verses 4 to 7 and consider each description in relation to what happened. Were you patient? Did you insist on your preference without listening? Did you state the facts accurately? This exercise should lead to a useful response rather than vague self criticism.
If someone needs an apology, make it specific. If an important concern was avoided, prepare a respectful conversation. Ask another person for help when the situation is complex. Paul’s teaching is meant to guide conduct, including the conduct that follows a mistake. Christians can acknowledge a failure and seek to act differently with God’s help. 1
Love and the Lord’s supper
First Corinthians 11:17 to 34 describes unequal treatment at the Lord’s supper. Some members eat while others are left hungry, and Paul rebukes their disregard for the church. This earlier problem helps explain why the letter later insists on care within one body and service governed by love.
John 13:34 to 35 records Jesus’ command that his disciples love one another as he has loved them. Their conduct will identify them as his followers. This gives a further reason to study Paul’s description as a practical responsibility rather than only a text for ceremonies.
A congregation can assess its shared life through these passages. Consider whether hospitality includes people with fewer resources and whether public ministry is matched by considerate treatment. Love becomes visible when the church’s arrangements acknowledge the people Christ has received. 1
Sources
Numbered references support the claims above. Scripture quotations use the KJV. Sources are considered critically within IndiaPCG’s Pentecostal perspective.
- Holy Bible, King James VersionKing James Bible translators · 1611
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; cross references identified in the article
View the source - Strong's Exhaustive Concordance: Greek dictionaryJames Strong · 1890
G26; historical Strong dictionary entry only, excluding the modern topical lexicon on the host page
View the source - Greek English Lexicon of the New TestamentJoseph Henry Thayer · 1889
Thayer's Greek Lexicon entry corresponding to G26; historical dictionary section only
View the source - Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesJ. J. S. Perowne, general editor; book contributors
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New TestamentHeinrich August Wilhelm Meyer and series contributors
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - The Expositor's Greek TestamentW. Robertson Nicoll, editor; book contributors
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - The Greek Testament: Critical and Exegetical CommentaryHenry Alford
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Gnomon of the New TestamentJohann Albrecht Bengel · 1742
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Commentary for English ReadersCharles J. Ellicott, editor; volume contributors
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - The Pulpit CommentaryH. D. M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell, editors; volume contributors
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and HomileticalJohann Peter Lange, editor; translated and edited by Philip Schaff and contributors
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - The Expositor's BibleW. Robertson Nicoll, editor; book contributors
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Commentary on the BibleAdam Clarke · 1831
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Notes on the BibleAlbert Barnes and volume contributors
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJoseph Benson
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Exposition of the Entire BibleJohn Gill · 1763
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole BibleRobert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown · 1871
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Annotations upon the Holy BibleMatthew Poole and continuators · 1685
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Commentaries on ScriptureJohn Calvin
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Commentary on the Whole Bible: concise digital editionMatthew Henry and posthumous continuators
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Explanatory Notes upon the Old and New TestamentsJohn Wesley · 1765
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Synopsis of the Books of the BibleJohn Nelson Darby
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source - Expositions of Holy ScriptureAlexander Maclaren
1 Corinthians 12:31 to 14:1; primary chapter covered by this linked commentary. Supplementary biblical cross references in the article are supported by source 1. Historical public domain text; an undated displayed edition is not assigned an inferred year.
View the source
Prepared for IndiaPCG using biblical texts, historical commentaries and reference works. The source notes distinguish textual evidence from practical applications.