1 Corinthians 13:4 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Suffereth long - under provocations of evil from others. The negative side of love. Is kind - the positive; good to others. Compare the future of the "wisdom from above" (James 3:17).

Envieth The Greek х zeeloi (G2206)] includes jealousy. It is the same as 1 Corinthians 12:31, "covet earnestly."

Vaunteth not - ostentatiously, even of gifts which it really possesses х perpereuetai (G4068): from Latin perperam: whereas alazoneuein (G213) is to boast of gifts which one does not really posses (Romans 1:30)]: a rebuke of those at Corinth who used the tongues for mere display.

Not puffed up - with party zeal, as some at Corinth were (1 Corinthians 4:6).

1 Corinthians 13:4

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vauntetha not itself, is not puffed up,