The Character of Love

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The Character of Love
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Introduction
Words used in first-century Koine
Greek Literature

• Eros Sexual love. Not used in New Testament.
• StergeinNatural love. Not used in the New
  Testament.
• Phileo Friendly love - More nearly represents
  tender affection.
• AgapaoLove which is awakened by a sense of
  value in an object which causes one to prize it .
  . . It is a love of esteem and approbation
  (Weust). Act of the will not emotion.

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Introduction

• Jesus and His disciples John 131
• Jesus instructions to His disciples John
  1331-35159-12
• Followers of Christ are to have a deep and
  abiding love for each other Hebrews 131 1
  Peter 122
• A test of discipleship 1 John
  310,11,14-2347,8,20-53

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Introduction
I Show you a more excellent way. (1
Corinthians 1231)

• Gifts without love are worthless (1-3)
• Loves characteristics prove its superiority
  (4-7 cf. 1 Corinthians 81)
• Loves permanence demonstrates its value over
  spiritual gifts (8-13)

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Gifts without love are worthless (1-3)
1 Corinthians 131-3 Though I speak with the
tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,
I have become sounding brass or a clanging
cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed
the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,
but have not love, it profits me nothing.
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The Character of Love

• The Greek word is makrothumia.
• Literally, it means being "long-tempered" (the
  opposite of short-tempered).
• "Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint
  in the face of provocation which does not hastily
  retaliate or promptly punish. It is the opposite
  of anger and is associated with mercy, and is
  used of God." (VINE)

Suffers Long
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The Character of Love

• God has been longsuffering toward man 2 Peter
  39,15 1 Timothy 115-16
• We have all needed others to be longsuffering
  with us Colossians 312-14
• Necessary to maintaining the unity of the Spirit
  Ephesians 41-3
• Necessary for gospel preachers and teachers 2
  Timothy 224-26310
• Not eternal suffering! 1 Peter 320

Suffers Long
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The Character of Love

• The Greek word is ???ste???µa? - chresteuomai -
• Thayer verb - 1) to show ones self mild, to be
  kind, use kindness
• This word describes "the sympathetic kindliness
  or sweetness of temper which puts others at their
  ease, and shrinks from giving pain" (PLUMMER)
• "It is a beautiful word for the expression of a
  beautiful grace" (TRENCH)

Is Kind
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The Character of Love

• Kindness Exemplified
• The kindness of God John 316 Romans 58
  Ephesians 24-10.
• The kindness of Christ Matthew 1414 Acts
  1038 Matthew 1128-30
• The kindness expected of us
• Illustrated in the parable of the good
  Samaritan - Luke 1025-37
• Commanded of us - Ephesians 432 2
  Peter 17 1 John 317-18 411

Is Kind
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The Character of Love

• The Greek word is????? ze loo
• Thayer 1) to burn with zeal (a) to be heated or
  to boil with envy, hatred, anger in a good
  sense, to be zealous in the pursuit of good (b)
  to desire earnestly, pursue (c) to desire one
  earnestly, to strive after, busy ones self about
  him (d) to exert ones self for one (that he may
  not be torn from me) (e) to be the object of the
  zeal of others, to be zealously sought after (f)
  to envy.

Does Not Envy
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The Character of Love

• The Greek word is ????? ze loo
  
• Resentment produced by witnessing or hearing of
  the advantage or prosperity of others (of
  anothers gift)
• Causes persecution, bitterness, hatred, and
  division is a sign of carnality Proverbs1430
  Matthew 2718 1 Corinthians 33
• Love is not jealous of what others have or have
  become. When others have happiness, wealth,
  health, ability, etc., love rejoices and is
  delighted.

Does Not Envy
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The Character of Love

• The Greek word is pe?pe?e??µa? perpereuomai
• Thayer
• 1) to boast ones self
• 2) a self display, employing rhetorical
  embellishments in extolling ones self
  excessively
• Vines - lt1,4068,perpereuomaigt
• "to boast or vaunt oneself" (from perperos,
  "vainglorious, braggart," not in the NT), is used
  in 1Cor.134, negatively of love.

Does Not Parade
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The Character of Love

• The word refers to arrogance of speech.
  Undoubtedly, some of those who had spiritual
  gifts were bragging about them.
• Love does not brag (1 Corinthians 47)
• Admitting to another some good deed that you have
  done, or some ability you possess is not
  necessarily bragging (John 1032)
• We should always ask, Am I telling this about
  myself to serve, or to be served?

Does Not Parade
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The Character of Love

• The Greek word is f?s??? phusioo
• Thayer . . . 2) to inflate, blow up, to cause to
  swell up 2a) to puff up, make proud 2b) to be
  puffed up, to bear ones self loftily, be proud
• Vines lt1,5448,phusioogt
• "to puff up, blow up, inflate" (from phusa,
  "bellows"), is used metaphorically in the NT, in
  the sense of being "puffed" up with pride
  1 Corinthians 46 418-19 52 81 134
  Colossians 218.

Not Puffed Up
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The Character of Love

• This is the attitude from whence bragging comes.
• The word refers to an inflated concept of ones
  own importance.
• PRIDE is of the world 1 John 216
• PRIDE will lead to a fall Proverbs 1618
• A danger for young Christians
• The Christian is to be humble
  Philippians 21-5 1 Peter 55

Not Puffed Up
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The Character of Love

• The Greek word is a?s??µ??e? aschemoneo
• Thayer Definition 1) to act unbecomingly
• Vines ltA-4,Verb, 807,aschemoneogt
• "to be unseemly" (a, negative, and schema, "a
  form"), is used in 1 Corinthians 736, "behave
  (himself) unseemly," i.e., so as to run the risk
  of bringing the virgin daughter into danger or
  disgrace, and in 1 Corinthians 135, "doth (not)
  behave itself unseemly."

Not Rude
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The Character of Love

• The term describes rude actions or words.
• The arrogant man forgets to respect, consider, or
  honor others.
• On the other hand, love always conducts itself
  with proper decorum.

Not Rude
Be kindly affectionate to one another with
brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one
another. (Romans 1210)
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The Character of Love

• The Greek is
  ??te? ??? e?a?t??? ou zetei ta heautes
• Love does not seek its own interest.
• Barnes (love) is not selfish it does not seek
  its own happiness exclusively or mainly it does
  not seek its own happiness to the injury of
  others. This expression is not, however, to be
  pressed as if Paul meant to teach that a man
  should not regard his own welfare at all or have
  no respect to his health, his property, his
  happiness, or his salvation.

Not Selfish
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The Character of Love

• Our cultures view of love is distorted
  fundamentally because it is focused on pleasing
  ourselves.
• The love we MUST have as Christians is NOT
  motivated by selfish ambition, but by genuine
  concern for the well being of others (not mere
  temporary relief). Philippians 21-4 1
  Corinthians 1024 Galatians 513
• Selfishness has no place in the heart of a
  Christian!

Not Selfish
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The Character of Love

• The Greek is pa?????? paroxuno
• Thayer 1) to make sharp, sharpen (a) to
  stimulate, spur on, urge (b) to irritate,
  provoke, arouse to anger (c) to scorn, despise
  (d) provoke, make angry (e) to exasperate, to
  burn with anger
• Vines ltVerb,3947,paroxunogt primarily, "to
  sharpen" . . . is used metaphorically, signifying
  "to rouse to anger, to provoke," . . . in 1
  Corinthians 135, RV, "is not provoked" (the word
  "easily" in AV, represents no word in the
  original). See STIR.

Not Provoked
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The Character of Love

• The term carries with it the idea of being easily
  irritated or incensed.
  Ephesians 431,32 James 119
• There are some people around whom you have to
  walk on eggshells.
• Love does NOT go around with a chip on its
  shoulder.
• Not condemning righteous indignation! John
  214-17 Ephesians 426

Not Provoked
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The Character of Love

• The Greek is ?a??? kakos
• Thayer 1) of a bad nature (a) not such as it
  ought to be 2) of a mode of thinking, feeling,
  acting 2a) base, wrong, wicked 3) troublesome,
  injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful
• Vines ltA-1,Adjective,2556,kakosgt stands for
  "whatever is evil in character, base," . . .
  Kakos is antithetic to kalos, "fair, advisable,
  good in character," and to agathos, "beneficial,
  useful, good in act" hence it denotes what is
  useless, incapable, bad . . .

Thinks No Evil
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The Character of Love

• Love does not dwell on evils it has incurred.
• If one dwells on evil, bitterness and resentment
  are sure fruits.
• There are some who like to keep score of wrongs
  done!
• Bearing a grudge is not in the character of love.
  Proverbs 1012
• We should seek forgiveness!! Luke 173

Thinks No Evil
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The Character of Love

• Love does not rejoice in sinning nor with others
  as they engage in sin.
• Some are happy in sin. 2 Thessalonians 212
• Sinners and false teachers are uncomfortable in
  the presence of love. Luke 622 John 77
• BUT Love enjoys doing good and being with the
  righteous.
• 2 John 14 3 John 13,4

Does Not Rejoice in Iniquity But Rejoices in
the Truth.
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The Character of Love
O PT I M I S T I C
Bears. . .
Believes . . .
ALL Things
Believes. . .
Hopes. . .
Endures. . .
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The Character of Love
O PT I M I S T I C
To remain steady under trial or To conceal or
hide 1 Pet 48
Bears. . .
Believes the best until evidence proves
otherwise. Considers all evidence.
Believes. . .
Hopes. . .
When evidence is adverse, love still hopes for
the best.
Loves sticks it out. It doesnt quit under
adverse circumstances.
Endures. . .
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Conclusion
Is not provoked, Thinks no evil Does not
rejoice in iniquity, But rejoices in the truth
Bears all things, Believes all things, Hopes
all things, Endures all things.
Suffers long Is kind Does not envy Does not
parade itself Is not puffed up Does not behave
rudely Does not seek its own
L O V E
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Conclusion
1 John 420-21 If someone says, I love
God, and hates his brother, he is a liar for he
who does not love his brother whom he has seen,
how can he love God whom he has not seen? And
this commandment we have from Him that he who
loves God must love his brother also.
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The Character of Love
What would this congregation be like if every
member had the kind of love described in 1
Corinthians 13?