The Character of Love Introduction Eros Sexual love

The Character of Love

Introduction • Eros— Sexual love. Not used in New Testament. Words used in first-century Koine Greek Literature: • Stergein—Natural love. Not used in the New Testament. • Phileo— Friendly love - More nearly represents tender affection. • Agapao—”Love 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.

Introduction • Jesus and His disciples – John 13: 1 • Jesus’ instructions to His disciples – John 13: 31 -35; 15: 9 -12 • Followers of Christ are to have a deep and abiding love for each other – Hebrews 13: 1; 1 Peter 1: 22 • A test of discipleship – 1 John 3: 10, 11, 14 -23; 4: 7, 8, 20 -5: 3

Introduction “I Show you a more excellent way. ” (1 Corinthians 12: 31) • Gifts without love are worthless – (1 -3) • Love’s characteristics prove its superiority – (4 -7; cf. 1 Corinthians 8: 1) • Love’s permanence demonstrates its value over spiritual gifts – (8 -13)

Gifts without love are worthless (1 -3) 1 Corinthians 13: 1 -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. ”

The Character of Love… The Greek word is makrothumia. • Literally, it means being "longtempered" (the opposite of shorttempered). • "Longsuffering is that quality of selfrestraint 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)

The Character of Love… • God has been longsuffering toward man – 2 Peter 3: 9, 15; 1 Timothy 1: 15 -16 • We have all needed others to be longsuffering with us – Colossians 3: 12 -14 • Necessary to maintaining the unity of the Spirit – Ephesians 4: 1 -3 • Necessary for gospel preachers and teachers – 2 Timothy 2: 24 -26; 3: 10 • Not “eternal suffering!” – 1 Peter 3: 20

The Character of Love… The Greek word is χρηστευ ομαι chre steuomai • Thayer: verb - 1) to show one’s 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)

The Character of Love… Kindness Exemplified • The kindness of God – John 3: 16; Romans 5: 8; Ephesians 2: 4 -10. • The kindness of Christ – Matthew 14: 14; Acts 10: 38; Matthew 11: 28 -30 • The kindness expected of us – – Illustrated in the “parable of the good Samaritan” - Luke 10: 25 -37 – Commanded of us - Ephesians 4: 32; 2 Peter 1: 7; 1 John 3: 17 -18; 4: 11

The Character of Love… The Greek word is ζηλο ω “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 one’s self about him; (d) to exert one’s 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.

The Character of Love… The Greek word is ζηλο ω “ze loo ” • Resentment produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others – (of another’s gift) • Causes persecution, bitterness, hatred, and division; is a sign of carnality – Proverbs 14: 30; Matthew 27: 18; 1 Corinthians 3: 3 • Love is not jealous of what others have or have become. When others have happiness, wealth, health, ability, etc. , love rejoices and is delighted.

The Character of Love… The Greek word is περπερευ ομαι perpereuomai Thayer: 1) to boast one’s self 2) a self display, employing rhetorical embellishments in extolling one’s self excessively Vine’s: - <1, 4068, perpereuomai> "to boast or vaunt oneself" (from perperos, "vainglorious, braggart, " not in the NT), is used in 1 Cor. 13: 4, negatively of love.

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 4: 7) – Admitting to another some good deed that you have done, or some ability you possess is not necessarily bragging (John 10: 32) – We should always ask, “Am I telling this about myself to serve, or to be served? ”

The Character of Love… The Greek word is φυσιο ω phusioo Thayer: . . . 2) to inflate, blow up, to cause to swell up 2 a) to puff up, make proud 2 b) to be puffed up, to bear one’s self loftily, be proud Vines: <1, 5448, phusioo> "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 4: 6; 4: 18 -19; 5: 2; 8: 1; 13: 4; Colossians 2: 18.

The Character of Love… • This is the attitude from whence bragging comes. • The word refers to an inflated concept of one’s own importance. – PRIDE is of the world – 1 John 2: 16 – PRIDE will lead to a fall – Proverbs 16: 18 – A danger for young Christians • The Christian is to be humble – Philippians 2: 1 -5; 1 Peter 5: 5

The Character of Love… The Greek word is α σχημονε ω asche moneo Thayer Definition: 1) to act unbecomingly Vines: <A-4, Verb, 807, aschemoneo> "to be unseemly" (a, negative, and schema, "a form"), is used in 1 Corinthians 7: 36, "behave (himself) unseemly, " i. e. , so as to run the risk of bringing the virgin daughter into danger or disgrace, and in 1 Corinthians 13: 5, "doth (not) behave itself unseemly. "

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. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. ” (Romans 12: 10)

The Character of Love… The Greek is ζητε ω ου ε αυτου ou ze tei ta heaute s • 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. ”

The Character of Love… • Our culture’s 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 2: 1 -4; 1 Corinthians 10: 24; Galatians 5: 13 • Selfishness has no place in the heart of a Christian!

The Character of Love… The Greek is παροξυ νω 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: <Verb, 3947, paroxuno> primarily, "to sharpen". . . is used metaphorically, signifying "to rouse to anger, to provoke, ". . . in 1 Corinthians 13: 5, RV, "is not provoked" (the word "easily" in AV, represents no word in the original). See STIR.

The Character of Love… • The term carries with it the idea of being easily irritated or incensed. Ephesians 4: 31, 32; James 1: 19 – 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 2: 14 -17; Ephesians 4: 26

The Character of Love… The Greek is κακο ς kakos Thayer: 1) of a bad nature (a) not such as it ought to be 2) of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting 2 a) base, wrong, wicked 3) troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful Vines: <A-1, Adjective, 2556, kakos> 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; . . .

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 10: 12 – We should seek forgiveness!! Luke 17: 3

The Character of Love… • Love does not rejoice in sinning nor with others as they engage in sin. Does Not Rejoice – Some are happy in sin. in 2 Thessalonians 2: 12 – Sinners and false teachers are Iniquity uncomfortable in the presence of But love. Luke 6: 22; John 7: 7 Rejoices in the • BUT – Love enjoys doing good and being with the righteous. Truth. – 2 John 1: 4; 3 John 1: 3, 4

The Character of Love… O P T I M I S T I C ALL Things

The Character of Love… O P T I M I S T I C To remain steady under trial or To conceal or hide – 1 Pet 4: 8 Believes the best until evidence proves otherwise. Considers all evidence. When evidence is adverse, love still hopes for the best. Loves sticks it out. It doesn’t quit under adverse circumstances.

Conclusion Suffers long Is not provoked, Is kind Thinks no evil; Does not envy Does not parade itself Is not puffed up Does not behave rudely Does not seek its own L O V E Does not rejoice in iniquity, But rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, Believes all things, Hopes all things, Endures all things.

Conclusion 1 John 4: 20 -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. ”

The Character of Love… What would this congregation be like if every member had the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13?