Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

CONTEXT: Paul is making it clear to the Corinthian brethren that there is a “more excellent way” (12:31) than the spiritual gifts they had at this time.

More enduring and influential than any miracle, love is the answer to every situation.

This love must become OUR love.

“God is love” (1 John 4:8), and therefore HE is the measuring point by which we understand these verses.

In v. 7, Paul states that love BEARS, BELIEVES, HOPES, AND ENDURES all things.

Considering the specific meanings of these actions of love can help us understand and employ them better in our walk with God.

“Totality” of this passage.

“all things” (STRONGs): each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything

Nothing left out.

Every good thing, every bad thing, EVERY THING.

NIV: “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

YLT: “all things it beareth, all it believeth, all it hopeth, all it endureth.”

Our God is an all-encompassing being.

He is a “TOTAL” God. 2 Cor.

9:8; 1 Chron.

29:11

He DOES all.

NOTHING He does is half-done.

It is all the way or not at all.

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

He IS all.

NO lack in His being.

1 Chronicles 29:11 “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all.”

Since God is all, and Jesus is God, then Jesus is all.

John 1:3 “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

The way we love and trust in God must be TOTAL.

Prov.

3:5-6; Matt.

13:41; 28:30; Mk. 9:23; 10:27

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Matthew 13:41 “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,”

Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Amen.”

Mark 9:23 “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.””

Mark 10:27 “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.””

BEARS all things

stego: to roof over, that is, (figuratively) to cover with silence (endure patiently): - (for-) bear, suffer.

“Bearing” is “covering”. 1 Pet.

4:8; Matt.

5:11-12

1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.””

This is not about God allowing sins to go on unpunished.

He will have ultimate vengeance.

This means that when WE are slighted, accused, insulted, abused, etc., we can bear it because we have God’s love.

God can take any problem we have and lead us safely through it.

HOW does love bear it? 1 Pet.

5:6-7

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Thus, HUMILITY becomes the all-important factor in bearing all things.

If we are HUMBLE, then we can become vessels for God’s love.

The key is understanding that these things are COVERED for us, i.e.

Even if I am slighted, I live my life as if it never happened, and give vengeance to God.

BELIEVES all things

Pisteuō: to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ): - believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.

Thayer’s: “used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul”

How can we believe all things?

Jn. 14:26; 2 Pet.

3:8-15

Because God has given us through His Spirit all things to believe!

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Believing the best about others. 1 Tim.

6:4; Prov.

10:12

This also enables us to believe ALL things of our brothers and sisters.

It reminds us that we cannot immediately go into a cynical way of thinking when we see what others do.

NOT being naive.

God wants us to be wise.

However, consider the contrast of the “evil suspicions” of the false teacher in 1 Timothy 6:4.

If others are sinning, we must rightly point it out, but we are not in the business of making up charges against others without a scriptural basis.

This is part of being PROactive, not REactive, as Christians.

There are times where we must “react”, but our general model of love is one of preparation, thoughtfulness.

Keep in mind, even the proactive Christian must eventually react!

Brothers and sisters with a mindset of hatred will do nothing to prepare for our interactions, never seek to know their fellow Christians, and will as a result jump to conclusions about their fellow Christians before hearing them out for themselves.

Sometimes those who claim the most to know love and grace manifest these actions of hatred.

Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”

HOPES all things

Elpizō: to expect or confide: - (have, thing) hope (-d) (for), trust.

Thayer’s: “to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence”

We hope for our own ultimate reward.

Heb.

4:1-13; 10:35; Col. 3:23-24

Hebrews 10:35 “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.”

Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

We hope for others to join in on that reward.

Matt.

6:10; Lk. 13:6-9

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come.

Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.”

Even if we see someone who doesn’t show any future signs of repentance, it doesn’t mean we cannot hope for their eventual improvement.

This is a hope that should never die, especially if we have the love of God.

ENDURES all things

Hupomenō: to stay under (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: - abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.

“steadfast endurance”

Christians endure like the front lines of an army. 1 Cor.

9:12; 2 Tim.

2:10,24-26

Troubles, crises, problems that occur during our lives are endured through the love of God.

These are deeper attacks upon our being than those we might simply bear or “cover”.

1 Corinthians 9:12 “If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.”

2 Timothy 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

2 Timothy 2:24-26 “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

This endurance doesn’t just persist despite adversity, but works to FORGIVE such adversity!

Luke 23:34 “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

And they divided His garments and cast lots.”