The Greatest of These
A Study of
1 Corinthians 13
Major Divisions of 1 Cor. 13
 Prominence
of Love - 13:1-3
 Properties of Love - 13:4-7
 Permanence of Love - 13:8-12
 Preeminence of Love - 13:13
Prominence of Love
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
A loveless
Produces
person
nothing of value (1)
Is himself of no value (2)
Receives nothing of value (3)
God’s Portrait of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Suffers long
Is kind
Does not parade itself
Does not behave rudely
Is not provoked
Does not rejoice in iniquity
Bears all things
Hopes all things
Does not envy
Is not puffed up
Does not seek its own
Thinks no evil
Rejoices in the truth
Believes all things
Endures all things
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Love Suffers Long
(Gk: macros = long, thumos = temper)
 God
- Rom. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9
 Christ - Luke 23:34
 Stephen - Acts 7:60
 Eph. 4:1-3; Col. 3:12-13
 2 Tim. 4:2
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Love
is Kind
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Longsuffering says, “I’ll take anything from
my enemies.”
Kindness says, “I’ll give anything to my
enemies to meet their needs.”
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Kindness: From Greek root word chrestos
Same word used in Matt. 11:30
Useful to others, anything that helps
Giving itself away to help another
Synonym for grace
Virtue of giving or acting for the good
of another in an unselfish manner
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Love
is Kind
(Gk: chrestos = fit for use, useful)
 God - Tit. 3:4-5
 Should distinguish from gentleness
 Heb. 12:5-7
 Prov. 19:18; 22:6,15; 23:13-14
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
What would kindness do?
Toward guests in our assemblies
Toward people with whom we do business
Toward the sick and those who have
suffered loss
Toward a brother or sister living immorally
or drifting away from God
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
What would kindness do?
Toward a spouse in the midst of conflict
Toward a child on a daily basis
Toward a child who repeatedly ignores a
parent’s orders
Toward a brother or sister who is spreading
false doctrine
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Love
is Not Envious
(Gk: zelos from root = to boil)
 James 3:14-16
 Cain & Abel – Gen. 4:1-8
 Joseph’s brothers – Gen. 37:1f
 Song of Solomon 8:6
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love Conquers Envy!
1 Samuel 20:1-42 – Jonathan & David
When love sees someone powerful,
successful, prosperous, popular, rich,
beautiful, or gifted it is glad and
rejoices for them.
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love suffers long
and is kind
Love does not envy