The Greatest of These
A Study of
1 Corinthians 13
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Fifteen
Verbs that tell us what
love does
 Love Suffers Long
 Love is Kind
 Love does not Envy
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Does not parade itself
Form
of the Greek word Perperos
Root word means – “Wind bag”
I Cor. 3:1-7; 14:23-26
Corinthians were spiritual show-offs,
vying with each other
John 12:49 – Jesus glorified His Father
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Is not puffed up
Is not arrogant – RSV, NASV
Is not proud – NIV
Is not conceited – NEB
Is not inflated with pride – Amplified
Does not cherish inflated ideas of its own
importance - Phillips
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Is not puffed up
From
Greek word phusioo
Root word means – “Bellows”
Cor. 4:6-10 – Against one another
1 Cor. 8:1 – Knowledge puffs up
1
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to
the humble.”
James 4:6
Can keep us from obeying God
2 Kings 5:11-13 – Example of Naaman
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to
the humble.”
James 4:6
Can cause us to run risks
1 Cor. 10:11-13 – Thinks he stands
Pride
says, “I can handle it!”
Humility says, “I can fall.”
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to
the humble.”
James 4:6
Can keep us from admitting we are
wrong and from forgiving
Eph. 4:31-32
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Love
Is Not Rude
(Gk: aschemosune = shapeless,
unformed)
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Does not behave itself rudely
Rude behavior represents
thoughtlessness
Rude behavior toward unbelievers
1 Cor. 9:19-23
Rude behavior in our homes
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Love
Is Not Rude
(Gk: aschemosune = shapeless,
unformed)
 Loving
people are concerned in
all circumstances with how their
words and actions affect others.
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Only
 The
Love Can Save Us From:
bitter sneer of envy
 The ridiculous swagger of boasting
 The inner tendency to be so
inflated with our own importance
that we are rude to others,
contemptuous of their feelings
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Love
Does Not Seek Its Own
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love does not seek its own
Does not insist on its own way – RSV
Is never selfish – NEB
Does not pursue selfish advantage –
Phillips
Is not interested only in himself - SEB
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 Love
Does Not Seek Its Own
 God and Christ - Rom. 5:6-8
 Paul - 1 Cor. 9:22; 10:33
 Timothy - Phil 2:19-23
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Christianity demands death of self
16:24-26 – Lose life … will save it
Rom. 6:1-17 – Death mentioned 15 times!
Rom. 12:1-3 – Closely related to renewing
our minds
Matt.
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Does not seek its own
“Selfishness is the great unknown sin. No
selfish person ever thought himself selfish.”
“Every man brings an egg and everyone
wants an omelette, but without breaking his
own egg. That poses a most difficult
situation.”
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“When the satisfaction or the
security of another person becomes
as significant to one as one’s own
satisfaction and security, then the
state of love exists.”
Harry S. Sullivan, Psychiatrist
Properties of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love does not
seek its own