102
edits
Changes
added Pauline Definition and Clementine Definition sections
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I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
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== Pauline Definition ==
Henry Drummond referred to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 when he wrote, "As you have seen a man of science take a beam of light and pass it through a crystal prism, as you have seen it come out on the other side of the prism broken up into its component colors—red, and blue, and yellow, and violet, and orange, and all the colors of the rainbow—so Paul passes this thing, Love, through the magnificent prism of his inspired intellect, and it comes out on the other side broken up into its elements."
The Pauline definition in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:
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'''4''' Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, '''5''' Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; '''6''' Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; '''7''' Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (KJV)
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Another version:
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Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (ESV)
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One more:
<blockquote>Love never gives up.
<br>Love cares more for others than for self.
<br>Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
<br>Love doesn’t strut,
<br>Doesn’t have a swelled head,
<br>Doesn’t force itself on others,
<br>Isn’t always “me first,”
<br>Doesn’t fly off the handle,
<br>Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
<br>Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
<br>Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
<br>Puts up with anything,
<br>Trusts God always,
<br>Always looks for the best,
<br>Never looks back,
<br>But keeps going to the end. (The Message)
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== Clementine Definition ==
In the early Christian writer Clement's Epistle to the Corinthians, we read:
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Love unites us to God. Love covers a multitude of sins. Love beareth all things, is long-suffering in all things.There is nothing base, nothing arrogant in love. Love admits of no schisms: love gives rise to no seditions: love does all things in harmony. (John Keith)</blockquote>
Another version:
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Love joineth us unto God; love hideth a multitude of sins; love beareth all things; is long suffering in all things. In love there is nothing illiberal, nothing haughty. Love hath no schism; love maketh not sedition; love doth all things in harmony; (Charles Hoole)
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One more:
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Love unites us with God; love covers a multitude of sins; love endures everything, is long-suffering to the last; there is nothing vulgar, nothing conceited, in love; love creates no schism; love does not quarrel; love preserves perfect harmony. (Quasten and Plumpe)
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== Christian Commentators ==
== Christian Commentators ==
*Barnes & Murphy: There were contentions and strifes among [the Corinthians]; there were of course suspicions, and jealousies, and heart-burnings; there would be unkind judging, the imputation of improper motives, and selfishness; there were envy, and pride, and boasting, all of which were inconsistent with love; and Paul therefore evidently designed to correct these evils, and to produce a different state of things by showing them what would be produced by the exercise of love.
*Barnes & Murphy: There were contentions and strifes among [the Corinthians]; there were of course suspicions, and jealousies, and heart-burnings; there would be unkind judging, the imputation of improper motives, and selfishness; there were envy, and pride, and boasting, all of which were inconsistent with love; and Paul therefore evidently designed to correct these evils, and to produce a different state of things by showing them what would be produced by the exercise of love.
*Joseph Beet: Whereas gifts without love are worthless, love even without gifts retains its value undiminished. No stronger proof of the value of love can be given. ... It is a principle of action prompting us to use our powers and opportunities for the good of others, and to draw them to us that we may share, and thus remove, their sorrow, and that they may share our good. This principle appears, more or less perfect and intelligent, in all true human love. It is the mainspring of the entire activity of God. And so far as it rules our conduct are we like God.
*Joseph Beet: Whereas gifts without love are worthless, love even without gifts retains its value undiminished. No stronger proof of the value of love can be given. ... It is a principle of action prompting us to use our powers and opportunities for the good of others, and to draw them to us that we may share, and thus remove, their sorrow, and that they may share our good. This principle appears, more or less perfect and intelligent, in all true human love. It is the mainspring of the entire activity of God. And so far as it rules our conduct are we like God.