THE DEFINITION OF LOVE

PROCLAMATION

“… And have not charity, I am become as sounding brass … Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”  1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (KJV)

“…  But do not have love, I am nothing … Love is patient, love is kind … it does not envy … boast … dishonor others … it is not self-seeking … it keeps no record of wrongs … It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the Apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  In this chapter Paul wrote to them concerning love.  He began by saying that without love, even the most eloquent of words and speech is just noise. (1 Corinthians 13:1)  He said that if he had the gifts of prophecy, knowledge, and faith, that without love he was nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)  Even if he gave all that he had to the poor, without love it does him no good. (1 Corinthians 13:3)  Then he goes on to describe love by saying what it is, and what it is not. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)  He ends by saying that with respect to the three most important things in the life of a believer, faith, hope, and love, that the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13) 

APPLICATION

The definition of love in the dictionary leaves a lot to be desired.  Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines love as a “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties”.  It also gives eight other definitions, all of which relate to feelings.  In this chapter Paul provides us with descriptions of what love is and what it isn’t, and what love does and doesn’t do.  Love is all-consuming and involves the whole person including the heart, (1 Corinthians 13:1) the mind, (1 Corinthians 13:2) and the will. (1 Corinthians 13:3)  Love is the fruit of The Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)  This love is the agape kind of love, not the brotherly love, “phileo”, or the passion lustful “eros” type of love.  It is the divine love, the love of God.  Without the love of God our gifts and talents are worthless.  The love of God is perfected within us as we keep and obey His Holy Word. (1 John 2:5)  There is no fear in love.  The perfect love of God casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)  God is love. (1 John 4:8)  Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God lives within them. (John 15:10 and 1 John 4:16)  As believers, we are commanded to love one another as Christ loves us. (John 13:34-35 and John 15:17)  Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8)  Nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:39)  His love for us is everlasting. (Jeremiah 31:3 and 2 Thessalonians 2:16)