1 Corinthians 13:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Charity suffereth long— The Apostle here proceeds to give us sixteen characters of divine love;—upon which, if the compass of our work allowed, it would be well worth time to expatiate. 1st, Love suffereth long,—is long-suffering or patient towards all men: it suffers all the weakness, ignorance, errors, infirmities, all the forwardness and littleness of faith in the children of God; all the malice and wickedness of the children of the world;—feeding our enemy when he hungers; if he thirst, still giving him drink:thus continually heaping coals of fire, of melting love, upon his head: and in every step endeavouring to overcome evil with good. 2nd, It is kind,— χρηστευεται,— a word not easily translated:—It is soft, mild, benign; it stands at the utmost distance from moroseness, from all harshness, or sourness of spirit; and inspires the sufferer atonce with the most amiable sweetness, and the most fervent and tender affection. Consequently, love; 3rdly, Envieth not:—It is impossible it should; it is directly opposite to that baneful temper; it cannot be that he who has this tender affection to all, who earnestly wishes all temporal and spiritual blessings, all good things in this world and the world to come, to every soul that God has made, should be pained at his bestowing any good gift on any child of man. Ifhe has himself received the same, he does not grieve, but rejoice, that another partakes the common benefit. If he has not, he blesses God that his brother, at least, has, and is therein happier than himself: and the greater his love, the more does he rejoice in the blessings of all mankind; the more is he removed from every kind and degree of envy towards any creature. 4thly, Love vaunteth not itself,— ου περπερευεται,— is not rash or hasty in judging: it will not hastily condemn any one; it does not pass a severe sentence upon a slight or sudden view of things; it first weighs all the evidence, particularly that which is brought in favour of the accused. A true lover of his neighbour is not like the generality of men, who see a little, presume a great deal, and so jump to theconclusion. No: he proceeds with wariness and circumspection, taking heed to everystep, willingly subscribing to that rule of the ancient heathens "I am so far from lightly believing what one man says against another, that I will not easily believe what a man says against himself; I will always allow him second thoughts, and many times counsel too." 5thly, Loveis not puffedup; it does not incline or suffer any man to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but rather to think soberly; yea, it humbles the soul into the dust; it destroys all high conceits engendering pride, and makes us rejoice to be as nothing. They who are kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, cannot but in honour prefer one another. Those who, having the same love, are of one accord, do in lowliness of mind each esteem others better than themselves. See Wesley, Stanhope, Clarke, and Bengelius.