Insist on its own way
Gormon’s study of Paul’s ethic concludes that love “seeks the good, the advantage, the edification of others. It is characterized by regard for them. Love, according to the apostle, is the dynamic, creative endeavor of finding ways to pursue the welfare of others rather than one’s own interests. It is not self-centered but others-oriented.”
Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians (Pillar NTC; Accordance electronic ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010), 646.
Irritable
Karl Barth reminds us that the neighbour ‘can get dreadfully on my nerves even in the exercise of what he regards as, and what may well be, his particular gifts … Love cannot alter the fact that he gets on my nerves, but … it can rule out … my allowing myself to be “provoked” by him’ (Church Dogmatics, IV, 2 [T. & T. Clark, 1958], p. 834).
Leon Morris, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale NTC 7; IVP/Accordance electronic ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 178.
Resentful
Just as God in Christ does not “reckon our sins against us” (2 Cor. 5:19), so the one who loves does not take notice of the evil done against him/her in the sense that no records are kept, waiting for God or man to settle the score. Here Paul reflects the tradition of Jesus’ word on the cross as found in Luke’s Gospel (23:34), where the Savior extends forgiveness to those crucifying him.
Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987), 639.
Does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth
The person full of Christian love joins in rejoicing on the side of behavior that reflects the gospel—for every victory gained, every forgiveness offered, every act of kindness. Such a person refuses to take delight in evil, either in its more global forms—war, the suppression of the poor—or in those close to home—the fall of a brother or sister, a child’s misdeed. Love absolutely rejects that most pernicious form of rejoicing over evil, gossiping about the misdeeds of others; it is not gladdened when someone else falls. Love stands on the side of the gospel and looks for mercy and justice for all, including those with whom one disagrees.
Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987), 639.
Truth is often connected with the heart of Christianity (cf. Jesus’ words, ‘I am … the truth’, John 14:6; and Paul’s words, ‘as truth is in Jesus’, Eph. 4:21). Truth is set over against unrighteousness a number of times (e.g. 2 Thess. 2:10, 12), and we should probably understand this wide usage here. Love rejoices in the truth of God, in the truth of the gospel (cf. John 8:56).
Leon Morris, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale NTC 7; IVP/Accordance electronic ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 178.
Bears, believes, hopes, endures
Love conceals what is displeasing in another and does not drag it out into the pitiless light of public scrutiny. But it is more likely that it is the latter meaning that is in mind (as in 9:12, ‘put up with’). Love does not give way easily; it endures.
Always trusts points to the quality that is ever ready to allow for circumstances and to see the best in others (cf. Moffatt, ‘always eager to believe the best’). This does not mean that love is gullible, but that it does not think the worst (as is the way of the world). It retains its faith. Love is not deceived by the pretences of any rogue, but it is always ready to give the benefit of the doubt.
Always hopes is the forward look. This is not an unreasoning optimism, which fails to take account of reality. It is rather a refusal to take failure as final. It is the confidence that looks to ultimate triumph by the grace of God.
Always perseveres brings the thought of steadfastness. The verb (hypomenō) denotes not a patient, resigned acquiescence, but an active, positive fortitude. It is the endurance of the soldier who, in the thick of the battle, is undismayed, but continues to lay about him vigorously. Love is not overwhelmed, but manfully plays its part whatever the difficulties.
Leon Morris, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale NTC 7; IVP/Accordance electronic ed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 179 (emphasis added).
