Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
True love takes no pleasure in wrongdoing but finds its joy in what is true and right. It is a heavenly, Christlike love, planted by God in the renewed heart, that endures opposition, bears long, and proves itself in kindness, humility, and selfless care for others. To rejoice in truth is to be pure in heart, to think and speak well of others, to sorrow over sin and rejoice when wrongs are confessed and truth triumphs. To refuse iniquity is to refuse delight in faults, suspicion, harsh judgment, and accusation, covering wrongs with forbearance instead of exposing, magnifying, or circulating them. This love is the real test of Christian character and the standard of perfection in Christ, to be lived daily in church, home, and marriage in patience, gentleness, and unity.
Wording and Literary Setting
Love does not delight in unrighteousness but finds its joy together with the truth, and this is precious instruction given through Paul by the Saviour with the utterance of the Holy Spirit. It belongs to the most valuable treatise on etiquette ever penned, words that should be written ineffaceably in the memory of every human being, young or old.
It stands within a contrast between a present imperfect childhood state of knowing in part and prophesying in part and seeing through a glass darkly, and a perfect manhood state of seeing face to face and knowing even as known. In the present state prophecies, tongues, and the gift of knowledge are needed as helps in the church, while in the perfect state those gifts will fail, cease, and vanish away as no longer needed. The love described here is a heavenly grace that never fails, endures forever as the crowning glory of the future immortal condition, and is the greatest of faith, hope, and charity as powers adapted to the eternal state. It is a heavenly attribute that never loses its value and a heavenly principle that is not a response limited only to those who show favor. It acts for others, changes the character, subdues hostility, and brings goodness, unity, and joy.
Together with the rest of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 it uses the figure of the members composing the body to represent the church of God and the relation its members should sustain to one another. Together with 1 Corinthians 12 it should be committed to memory and written in mind and heart, and studied and digested by those brought together in church capacity, so that they will be united understandingly and intelligently in humble obedience. Together with the rest of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 it should have more weight in life while being tried and tested and seeking to be shut in with God so that the wicked one has no power. Love is thus the real test of spiritual experience and power, shown in not taking pleasure in wrongdoing but rejoicing in truth.
With the rest of 1 Corinthians 13 it is living preaching to be printed in small type in every paper issued so that it may preach wherever it goes. It defines true Christlike love as the expression of the obedience of all who love God and keep His commandments, brought into action in the life of every true believer. It is part of instruction that must be brought into daily experience by cultivating faith and love at all times and under all circumstances, by surrendering self to God, and by bringing into life a stronger love for one another, a growing interest in one another, and a strong love for Christ and for one another. That growing love uproots enmity, petty differences, indifference, and coldness and transforms them into Christlike affection. The chapter is a lesson church members must practice strictly, and professing Christians who depart from the Word and do not practice the truth contradict its teaching.
Nature of Heavenly Love
The verse defines true, Christlike, sanctified, heaven-born love that God places high value on, to be read every day for comfort and strength and taken home to the heart as the prevailing sentiment because God is love. That love is of heavenly origin, cannot be quenched by many waters nor drowned by floods, is not extinguished by opposition, bears with dullness of comprehension and grief of spirit and still loves, overcomes little bruises and sensitive feelings when words and actions do not harmonize with feelings and customs, and is tested so its growth may develop. It belongs to those dead to self with life hid with Christ in God, gives abiding peace, does not guard self from mortification and insult, does not take neglects or slights to heart, but is deaf to reproach and blind to scorn and insult. Without this love all other excellent qualifications are worthless and no one can be a laborer together with God.
Love here is fruit growing on the Christian tree, the Bible standard to be reached and exemplified, the evidence of true conversion and the inner work of the Spirit, without which profession is worthless. Even great gifts of tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith and sacrifice profit nothing without it, and liberality and offerings to God can never atone for lack of it, for this character must be brought forth in those who would be accepted as followers of Christ. Faith, hope, and love are the great moral powers of the soul and must be active, or even earnest, zealous ministry will not be accepted of God and cannot do good to the church, since love is the golden chain binding believing hearts to one another and to God in tender affection, compassion, pitying tenderness, mercy, just dealing, humble walking, and shepherd care to nourish and protect. That faith which works by love and purifies the soul produces humility, patience, forbearance, long-suffering, peace, joy, and willing obedience.
The love that takes no pleasure in wrongdoing but takes pleasure in truth was fully embodied without exception in Christ's life in a world full of pride and selfishness. It is the fruit of God's grace that every follower will show in life and reveal in character, replacing selfishness written on the human heart with the image and superscription of Christ. Where it is lacking there must be earnest seeking of God, and by repentance and faith in Jesus the Spirit of Christ described in it can be received so that receivers may indeed be called children of God and not children of the wicked one. That received love purifies the soul, turns the heart from selfish affection and idols, and constrains believers to serve and preach the gospel, with greater faith bringing more of Christ.
The verse expresses the obedience of all who love God and keep His commandments, brought into action in the life of every true believer. This love is a living principle in a renewed heart, shown in selfless care for others, distinguishing character and conduct from the world's, and without it no one can be like Christ. It must govern life while self is hidden in Christ, with truth guiding every worker. Love is better than envy while self-sacrifice is nobler and safer than selfishness, enabling work together with God in patience, kindness, and forbearance.
This love is a precious plant of heavenly birth, evergreen, immortal and eternal when nourished and watered continually by the dews of heaven, living only where Christ reigns and unable to be originated by the unconverted heart. It increases and strengthens by every loving act, making even the smallest work wholly fruitful because God measures by how much love one works with rather than how much one does. It is meek and quiet, calm and considerate of others, happy in temper, not made irritable by sickness nor disturbed by weather or circumstances, and does nothing else but good. It does not show itself in gloomy words and actions like a cloudy sky or a funeral procession, but in sweet joy, in words of love and tenderness and charity, in comely manners and looks full of hope, courage, and serenity, and in words and actions full of good fruits that glorify the Father, prove one has been with Jesus, awaken desire for a better life, and strengthen and comfort struggling souls. In teaching truth it patiently and calmly waits for those who cannot see as quickly to weigh evidence, without urging too strongly, condemning, dividing interest, becoming discouraged and restless, or manifesting censure, bearing down, and rash denunciatory zeal, but works quietly to melt and transform where argument, authority, and force fail.
Truth in operation is ever pure, ever kind, breathing a heavenly fragrance unmingled and unmixed with selfishness. It is without envy, pride, unseemliness, selfishness, provocation or evil thinking, bearing, believing, hoping and enduring all things, showing itself in meekness of wisdom, mercy, good fruits, impartiality, absence of hypocrisy, tender compassion, forgiveness and peacemaking, with love, patience and long forbearance belonging to its principles. To claim belief in truth while spirit, words and deportment represent Satan, surmise evil, credit hearsay, and show criticism, impatience, unforgiveness, harsh judgment and denunciation is lying against the truth.
The truth rejoiced in elevates the receiver, refines taste, and sanctifies judgment, producing a refined, courteous disposition, holy character, comely manners, and words without guile in everyone who has the Spirit of Christ. It is lived out in the little things that make up the happiness of life through conscientious performance of daily duties rather than dependence on splendid talents. It appears in the kind look, the lowly spirit, the contented disposition, and an unaffected, sincere interest in the welfare of others, with willingness to be pleased without determination to have one's own way and without stubborn, selfish unwillingness to be happy. It refuses to imagine slights about position, to count oneself a neglected martyr, and to nurse unhappiness whose blame lies with self, knowing that kindness and amiability of temper exalt more than smartness joined to an ungenial disposition, and that heart-healthfulness even strengthens health of body.
Rejoicing in Truth
To rejoice in the truth is to be true and pure and holy in heart, letting sympathy and love enter, thinking well and speaking well of brothers and sisters, refusing to be puffed up or to think evil, and believing and hoping not evil and false reports but all that is pure and good and of good report. It is the fruit that builds up rather than accusing and tearing down, taking no pleasure in wrongdoing, in evil spoken against others, in slander and dwelling on faults, but delighting in truth with compassion and kindness. It resists suspicion and jealousy and instead recognizes the good qualities in one another.
A heart filled with this love feels deeply and is grieved when sin and errors and weaknesses are found among followers, taking no joy in wrongdoing. It rejoices when truth triumphs, when the cloud or shadow that darkened another's fair fame and good name is removed, and when sins are confessed and wrongs are corrected.
Rejoicing in the truth is a strong and steady belief in the truth, broad and comprehensive, taking in the whole plan of salvation with its purposes of love and mercy. When that belief takes possession of the life it casts out all enmity and petty differences, transforms indifference and coldness into Christlike affection, and must be brought into daily experience by a crucified and surrendered self. It requires right use of speech to bless and strengthen hearers, and the deeper the love for Christ becomes the deeper the love for one another becomes, so that discourtesy, drawing apart, and lack of sympathy cannot coexist with it.
Rejoicing in the truth is seen in cheerfulness and joyfulness in daily Christian life and duty, and in talking of the truth and the blessed hope, seeking to establish and build up a brother in the most holy faith and guarding one another's interests. It is shown by proclaiming the message with power from love for souls, speaking of a Saviour's love from a warm and throbbing heart, visiting the sick and suffering, doing practical good, and reaching hearts opened thereby. It is cultivated daily by seeing in fellow men the purchase of the blood of Christ, by guarded words that need no repentance, by refusing any word detrimental to friend or brother as the enemy's work, by kindly reminding such a speaker that it is forbidden, and by emptying the heart of defilement so Christ may dwell within, with mildness, gentleness, long-suffering, patience, forbearance, bearing and enduring all things. It stands opposite a love for controversy, and ministers must present it in life with patience, meekness, forbearance and long-suffering as more essential than preaching alone. It is also the happiness and freedom and new light felt when one breaks from rigid faith and superstition, is cut to the heart with mourning over sinfulness and frail hope, and then finds the Bible intensely interesting, too interesting to lay down, and so plain as to bring nearness to God.
The love that rejoices in truth does so rather than in jealousy or suspicion, making no envious comparisons between persons but comparing Christ's loveliness with its own imperfect character. True love does not discern mistakes in order to condemn but overlooks them, and this is tested in courtship by whether a man respects and honors his mother, recognizes obligation to her, and is mindful of her wishes and happiness, for failure there foretells failure toward a wife. After the novelty of marriage is over it remains patient with mistakes instead of becoming critical, overbearing and dictatorial, and it needs culture as a plant needs culture.
The love that delights in truth must be believed and obeyed, so those who believe the truth must not separate into factions, since division bears false witness to the truth and fails to testify to its power. Sympathy with Christ's mission of love and mercy removes jealousy, fault-finding, envy, dissension and strife, and unites workers in the purpose of saving souls, cherishing no evil.
True love rejoicing in truth is a plant of heavenly origin that is pure and holy and reasonable and not blind, taking God into all its plans and living in harmony with the Spirit. In steps toward marriage it appears in modesty, simplicity, sincerity, morality and religion characterizing all conduct, with grace shown in every action and with continued interest in prayer and religious service rather than absorption in each other's society to the neglect of them. The opposite is the passion of the natural heart, which is headstrong, rash, unreasonable, defiant of all restraint, and makes its chosen object an idol.
Rejecting Iniquity and Accusation
Love takes no delight in evil, in faults and stains upon brethren, in surmising evil, crediting hearsay, criticism, impatience, unforgiveness, harsh judgment and denunciation, and it finds no joy in wrong, censure, bearing down, or a rash denunciatory spirit. It does not magnify trifles, handle over supposed defects, demerit others, speak evil, attribute wrong motives, or find pleasure in finding, accusing, or exaggerating wrongs, but rejoices in truth rather than iniquity with compassion and pity instead of fault-finding, jealousy, or hatred. Faultfinding, chronic grumbling, restlessness, irritation, dissatisfaction, mortified pride, self-esteem, and magnifying others' faults belong to an unconverted heart schooled for hindrance, while a heart broken and transformed stops criticism and reveals a tender spirit that attributes good motives, strengthens brethren with words of peace, upholds feeble hands and knees, makes straight paths for healing, and bears, believes, hopes, and endures.
Genuine love for souls for whom Christ died does not magnify a small indiscretion or direct wrong into a large unpardonable offense, does not make capital of misdoings, and never exposes errors and weakness publicly, as before a whole school, unless positive necessity requires it. With forbearance and kindly consideration that suffers long and is kind, especially toward those most in need, it covers wrongs so they do not prey on the offender and drive the mind to desperation or stir wrong feelings in others. It refuses to spread abroad another's errors, failures, and sins or to publish confidence entrusted in seeking sympathy, for harsh severity hurries stumbling souls toward the precipice while only love, sympathy, forbearance, and longsuffering rescue and bear proper fruit.
Applied to one thought to be at fault, love forbids telling someone else, circulating reports, engaging in surmisings, and listening to accusation or reproach, which is cruel work. It requires going privately, tenderly, and respectfully as one would wish to be treated, telling the mistake and danger and giving opportunity to explain, since reports may be false and difficulties may be adjusted by simple explanation. This is due because all share the same sinful nature, are liable to err, and are imperfect, and because Christ died to forgive and save rather than condemn; so instead of withdrawing sympathy over a supposed mistake or being swayed by suggestions against a brother, love thinks the best, stays loyal and true, puts away variance, discord, emulation, and strife, and talks the matter over fairly in brotherly love.
While revenge delights in evil, charity takes no joy in a brother's fault, fall, trespasses, or punishment and does not cherish harshness, severity, resentment, revenge, envy, evil surmising, coldness, indifference, or contempt, nor exaggerate words or actions into grievous intentional offenses. Applied to an erring brother it requires rebuking when he trespasses and forgiving when he repents, treating him and his errors as one wishes God to treat one's own offenses, in dependence on a sin-pardoning Saviour, since harshness and severity toward the erring is the spirit of Satan. To rejoice in iniquity is to cultivate the worst traits of censuring, backbiting, falsehood, suspicion, envy, and jealousy, using the tongue to persecute, accuse, and murder the character of one loaded with responsibilities and fighting battles almost alone, adding influence to the cry to crucify him and showing a cold, heartless, Satanic side loving a poison atmosphere. To rejoice in truth is the opposite practice of kindness and love with a tender, pitiful spirit dwelling on and speaking of good traits, while those who watch for evil by taking in doubt, envy, and prejudice are corrupted by it, and though some deceived may return after terrible struggle with scars, many remain crippled, doubting, and in crisis found on the enemy's side.
Those who rejoice in iniquity do not want a knowledge of the truth but greedily feed on pleasing fables and falsehoods from wolves in sheep's clothing, then infuse that wicked opposition into others who do not want God's way. They act toward commandment-keeping people as the Jews acted toward Christ when they refused truths He unfolded from Old Testament prophecies, greedily receiving scandal, reproach, and hired false witnesses and distorting every word and action to make Him appear criminal. Ministers who join people in transgression and smooth their consciences are rejoicing in iniquity rather than in truth, while genuine love for Christ leads to obedience to all God's law and deep repentance when broken, with disobedience exposed at judgment according to responsibility. True love meets sin with the strongest denunciation, giving no indulgence to falsehood or impurity and earnestly rebuking whatever dishonors God in rich, responsible, or lowly, yet never with a rough, coarse, uncourteous, stormy spirit, because a calm, kind, forbearing, tender, self-forgetful spirit does rough work better.
Bible charity is love in active exercise, not sentimentalism; it does not ally with evil or cover evil with false charity, does not heal hurt slightly by saying peace when there is no peace, and does not combine to call sin holiness and truth, for that is counterfeit. True mercy therefore does not climb onto the judgment seat to condemn others and magnify faults as offenses against God, work that pleases the adversary and stops when Christ's Spirit is in the heart, but guards associates from contamination, does good whether appreciated or not, and raises the moral tone through heart religion. Love does not suspect others, think evil, or stand ready to blame and accuse, which is offensive to God and shows a heart not right, unsoftened and unsubdued; where it is missing God's people become weak and institutions burdened. Suspicion must be put out of the heart, refusing to judge that workers turn sympathy against another or seek to build self, refusing to dwell on being unappreciated or desire vindication, imputing no selfish motives, breaking reliance on self-sufficiency, and training the tongue to speak pleasant words and any truthful good reportable of another.
Love forbids letting self seek supremacy, vaunt itself, and impose its own will while calling it God's will, with a critical, distrustful spirit destroying love and confidence through harsh rules over details, in which professors act as sinners unable to discern their spirit. Instead love is humble, forbearing, merciful, and forgiving, acting from principle rather than self-interest, in harmony with truth, reshaping character and passions, refusing sharp criticism and harsh condemnation, looking at best not worst features, and bearing long with neglect, forgetfulness, ingratitude, and disobedience in tender thoughtfulness as the fulfilling of the law. Christians are called to treat one another with tenderness, offer helping and strengthening words, guard one another's interests even when mistakes are made, and practice kindness, gentleness, mutual courtesy and affection, doing to others as one would be done by, so members become consecrated vessels representing Christ and find happiness. This love is not expressed through controversy or harsh thoughtless words but conquers by patient forbearance, for a word of love does more to subdue hasty temper and wilful disposition than heaping faultfinding and censure.
This love from God in the heart is proved by gentle speech, with no evil thinking, no being easily disturbed or provoked, and no free rein to passion, staying yoked with Christ under the Holy Spirit's restraint and refusing hot, fiery words when heated, speaking only what Christ can approve. It takes no pleasure in harsh, uncourteous speech that wounds feelings and refuses to excuse such cruelty as plain honesty or virtue, which is wicked, shameful, born of Satan and to be rebuked, while bold preaching of Christ remains tender, kind, and thoughtful. A cold nature needs this change to recommend truth and be loved and not merely respected and feared.
Standard of Christian Perfection
The verse gives the specifications of the possibilities and heights that may be reached in and through Christ, the standard of perfection in Him attainable through His merits for all for whom He died. Christ displays this character through His apostle as the example to be followed. Beholding Christ changes character from glory to glory and lifts the eye above common things, while coming short comes from being content to look at earthly rather than heavenly things.
It is a message from God to those who claim to be His servants, especially responsible men in publishing institutions and the publishing office and everyone connected with that work. It requires humility and the softening, subduing power of God to come into the life, becoming learners in the school of Christ so the Spirit can work. It calls for unfaltering, steadfast integrity and truth under the eye of God in order to walk humbly with God.
The charity it describes must govern church assemblies and all plans and decisions made in them. When Jesus is remembered as present in the midst and the elevating, controlling influence of the Spirit pervades the meeting, this charity is manifested together with the wisdom from above that cannot err, finding no joy in wrong but joy in what is right and true. In decisions about God's work and sacred matters this love requires truth and integrity, puts self aside, and keeps judgment fair rather than biased.
It is for church members to study and apply for the continual humbling of individual self and for taking self critically in hand. The work of self-examination it begins has as its very first step to deny self and take up one's own cross of self-denial, self-humiliation, and self-sacrifice instead of laying it on someone else to carry. This charity is to be cultivated fervently among believers and lived daily by encouraging peace, thinking healthful thoughts, and fighting the good fight of faith with steady purpose without failing or being discouraged. Living it requires periods of rest and quietude of mind and obtaining every possible advantage, so that sunlight is brought into life to bless others as well as self.
When self is dead and life is hidden with Christ, people no longer live to guard self from mortification and insult, do not take neglects and slights to heart, and do not resent reproach, but are deaf to reproach and blind to scorn and insult. This selfless love preserves peace and gives a constant and abiding peace that does not depend on circumstances, worldly goods, or earthly friends, the opposite of the love of self that destroys peace. Manifested in the home it makes the inmates happy, provokes no quarrel, gives back no angry answer, soothes the irritated temper, and diffuses a gentleness felt by all. Because iniquity was widespread and sinners were perishing, Whitefield and the Wesleys had no time to dispute, and meekness, mutual forbearance, and charity reconciled their differences.
Living Love Daily
In God's workers this love appears as unity in sympathy and kindness, with tender compassion for those needing help, for those out of the way, and for those committing sins of ignorance. It puts far away every selfish consideration and all oppressive injury that bruises others, refusing an unfeeling spirit without compassion or tenderness, refusing to hurt and condemn, and seeking instead to restore. Those in responsible positions show it by being subdued, converted and sanctified through obedience to the truth, cultivating patience, brotherly kindness and forbearance as faithful stewards. It is the charity Christ commands when He tells followers to love one another as He loved them, taking no pleasure in wrongdoing and taking pleasure in what is true and right, together with longsuffering, kindness, humility, unselfishness, good behavior, and patient restoration of one overtaken in fault in meekness.
It belongs to the call to repent and return to the love once shown to one another. It is among the Christian graces to be cultivated, alongside patience and kindness. Its truth-seeking character is the opposite of a heart ruled by bitterness, wrath, envy, jealousy and evil suspicion, showing the need for such a heart to be purified. Pure love is directed toward good and works to overcome evil, and its power lies in doing good and nothing else. Love is active: it grows through exercise, overlooks small mistakes, and does not hastily mark minor faults. It can reform character and guide family conduct, accomplishing what force or money cannot, and it is more than passion or impulse, being spiritualized in words and actions with sanctified tenderness, patience, kindness and freedom from impatience and fretfulness.
In marriage this love is shown through forbearance, unselfishness, kindness, patience, consideration and courtesy rather than attempts to control one another. It considers a spouse's happiness, seeks their company, and shows steady kindness and attention rather than pursuing one's own pleasure while leaving them lonely. A husband as houseband binding the family together and as priest accountable for it must exercise suffering, kind, tender and pitiful love, showing pity when his wife errs with the patience shown toward his own errors and sins instead of being hardhearted, unsympathetic, faultfinding and exacting. Without being entirely renewed in heart, mind and spirit, dying to self and becoming a new man in Christ, he cannot carry his home and church spirit into heaven. Teachers must have Christ's love and gentleness abounding in the heart, leading them to do their best to impart blessings, to carry students over knowledge with deep earnest desire to help them, to come close to them, and to avoid a harsh, domineering mastery. Love in ministers, teachers and parents takes no pleasure in wrong dealing with youth such as impatience, harsh and injudicious management, and maintaining dignity and supremacy at the cost of influence, which warps minds and may lose those bought with God's Son, but delights in Christ's self-denial, universal kindness and long-suffering, entering the work with fear, self-control, valuing every soul by the infinite price of redemption.
In family life this love belongs to an atmosphere of cheerfulness, courtesy and affection cultivated and expressed in words and actions. It is shown in daily life through consideration, tenderness, thoughtfulness and unselfish care, especially in the home, which blesses others and is acceptable to God. The love that rejoices in truth rules the heart and is communicated to associate workers in united labor, bearing patiently with the less experienced and taking them alongside to teach them how to work. It receives help through any channel God sends, refuses to make a groove for brethren or dictate how each must labor, never closes the heart by sharp words and unkind criticism, and constantly learns while doing its own irreplaceable work.
True love takes no pleasure in wrongdoing but finds its joy in what is true and right. It is a heavenly, Christlike love, planted by God in the renewed heart, that endures opposition, bears long, and proves itself in kindness, humility, and selfless care for others. To rejoice in truth is to be pure in heart, to think and speak well of others, to sorrow over sin and rejoice when wrongs are confessed and truth triumphs. To refuse iniquity is to refuse delight in faults, suspicion, harsh judgment, and accusation, covering wrongs with forbearance instead of exposing, magnifying, or circulating them. This love is the real test of Christian character and the standard of perfection in Christ, to be lived daily in church, home, and marriage in patience, gentleness, and unity.
Wording and Literary Setting
Love does not delight in unrighteousness but finds its joy together with the truth, and this is precious instruction given through Paul by the Saviour with the utterance of the Holy Spirit. It belongs to the most valuable treatise on etiquette ever penned, words that should be written ineffaceably in the memory of every human being, young or old.
It stands within a contrast between a present imperfect childhood state of knowing in part and prophesying in part and seeing through a glass darkly, and a perfect manhood state of seeing face to face and knowing even as known. In the present state prophecies, tongues, and the gift of knowledge are needed as helps in the church, while in the perfect state those gifts will fail, cease, and vanish away as no longer needed. The love described here is a heavenly grace that never fails, endures forever as the crowning glory of the future immortal condition, and is the greatest of faith, hope, and charity as powers adapted to the eternal state. It is a heavenly attribute that never loses its value and a heavenly principle that is not a response limited only to those who show favor. It acts for others, changes the character, subdues hostility, and brings goodness, unity, and joy.
Together with the rest of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 it uses the figure of the members composing the body to represent the church of God and the relation its members should sustain to one another. Together with 1 Corinthians 12 it should be committed to memory and written in mind and heart, and studied and digested by those brought together in church capacity, so that they will be united understandingly and intelligently in humble obedience. Together with the rest of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 it should have more weight in life while being tried and tested and seeking to be shut in with God so that the wicked one has no power. Love is thus the real test of spiritual experience and power, shown in not taking pleasure in wrongdoing but rejoicing in truth.
With the rest of 1 Corinthians 13 it is living preaching to be printed in small type in every paper issued so that it may preach wherever it goes. It defines true Christlike love as the expression of the obedience of all who love God and keep His commandments, brought into action in the life of every true believer. It is part of instruction that must be brought into daily experience by cultivating faith and love at all times and under all circumstances, by surrendering self to God, and by bringing into life a stronger love for one another, a growing interest in one another, and a strong love for Christ and for one another. That growing love uproots enmity, petty differences, indifference, and coldness and transforms them into Christlike affection. The chapter is a lesson church members must practice strictly, and professing Christians who depart from the Word and do not practice the truth contradict its teaching.
Nature of Heavenly Love
The verse defines true, Christlike, sanctified, heaven-born love that God places high value on, to be read every day for comfort and strength and taken home to the heart as the prevailing sentiment because God is love. That love is of heavenly origin, cannot be quenched by many waters nor drowned by floods, is not extinguished by opposition, bears with dullness of comprehension and grief of spirit and still loves, overcomes little bruises and sensitive feelings when words and actions do not harmonize with feelings and customs, and is tested so its growth may develop. It belongs to those dead to self with life hid with Christ in God, gives abiding peace, does not guard self from mortification and insult, does not take neglects or slights to heart, but is deaf to reproach and blind to scorn and insult. Without this love all other excellent qualifications are worthless and no one can be a laborer together with God.
Love here is fruit growing on the Christian tree, the Bible standard to be reached and exemplified, the evidence of true conversion and the inner work of the Spirit, without which profession is worthless. Even great gifts of tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith and sacrifice profit nothing without it, and liberality and offerings to God can never atone for lack of it, for this character must be brought forth in those who would be accepted as followers of Christ. Faith, hope, and love are the great moral powers of the soul and must be active, or even earnest, zealous ministry will not be accepted of God and cannot do good to the church, since love is the golden chain binding believing hearts to one another and to God in tender affection, compassion, pitying tenderness, mercy, just dealing, humble walking, and shepherd care to nourish and protect. That faith which works by love and purifies the soul produces humility, patience, forbearance, long-suffering, peace, joy, and willing obedience.
The love that takes no pleasure in wrongdoing but takes pleasure in truth was fully embodied without exception in Christ's life in a world full of pride and selfishness. It is the fruit of God's grace that every follower will show in life and reveal in character, replacing selfishness written on the human heart with the image and superscription of Christ. Where it is lacking there must be earnest seeking of God, and by repentance and faith in Jesus the Spirit of Christ described in it can be received so that receivers may indeed be called children of God and not children of the wicked one. That received love purifies the soul, turns the heart from selfish affection and idols, and constrains believers to serve and preach the gospel, with greater faith bringing more of Christ.
The verse expresses the obedience of all who love God and keep His commandments, brought into action in the life of every true believer. This love is a living principle in a renewed heart, shown in selfless care for others, distinguishing character and conduct from the world's, and without it no one can be like Christ. It must govern life while self is hidden in Christ, with truth guiding every worker. Love is better than envy while self-sacrifice is nobler and safer than selfishness, enabling work together with God in patience, kindness, and forbearance.
This love is a precious plant of heavenly birth, evergreen, immortal and eternal when nourished and watered continually by the dews of heaven, living only where Christ reigns and unable to be originated by the unconverted heart. It increases and strengthens by every loving act, making even the smallest work wholly fruitful because God measures by how much love one works with rather than how much one does. It is meek and quiet, calm and considerate of others, happy in temper, not made irritable by sickness nor disturbed by weather or circumstances, and does nothing else but good. It does not show itself in gloomy words and actions like a cloudy sky or a funeral procession, but in sweet joy, in words of love and tenderness and charity, in comely manners and looks full of hope, courage, and serenity, and in words and actions full of good fruits that glorify the Father, prove one has been with Jesus, awaken desire for a better life, and strengthen and comfort struggling souls. In teaching truth it patiently and calmly waits for those who cannot see as quickly to weigh evidence, without urging too strongly, condemning, dividing interest, becoming discouraged and restless, or manifesting censure, bearing down, and rash denunciatory zeal, but works quietly to melt and transform where argument, authority, and force fail.
Truth in operation is ever pure, ever kind, breathing a heavenly fragrance unmingled and unmixed with selfishness. It is without envy, pride, unseemliness, selfishness, provocation or evil thinking, bearing, believing, hoping and enduring all things, showing itself in meekness of wisdom, mercy, good fruits, impartiality, absence of hypocrisy, tender compassion, forgiveness and peacemaking, with love, patience and long forbearance belonging to its principles. To claim belief in truth while spirit, words and deportment represent Satan, surmise evil, credit hearsay, and show criticism, impatience, unforgiveness, harsh judgment and denunciation is lying against the truth.
The truth rejoiced in elevates the receiver, refines taste, and sanctifies judgment, producing a refined, courteous disposition, holy character, comely manners, and words without guile in everyone who has the Spirit of Christ. It is lived out in the little things that make up the happiness of life through conscientious performance of daily duties rather than dependence on splendid talents. It appears in the kind look, the lowly spirit, the contented disposition, and an unaffected, sincere interest in the welfare of others, with willingness to be pleased without determination to have one's own way and without stubborn, selfish unwillingness to be happy. It refuses to imagine slights about position, to count oneself a neglected martyr, and to nurse unhappiness whose blame lies with self, knowing that kindness and amiability of temper exalt more than smartness joined to an ungenial disposition, and that heart-healthfulness even strengthens health of body.
Rejoicing in Truth
To rejoice in the truth is to be true and pure and holy in heart, letting sympathy and love enter, thinking well and speaking well of brothers and sisters, refusing to be puffed up or to think evil, and believing and hoping not evil and false reports but all that is pure and good and of good report. It is the fruit that builds up rather than accusing and tearing down, taking no pleasure in wrongdoing, in evil spoken against others, in slander and dwelling on faults, but delighting in truth with compassion and kindness. It resists suspicion and jealousy and instead recognizes the good qualities in one another.
A heart filled with this love feels deeply and is grieved when sin and errors and weaknesses are found among followers, taking no joy in wrongdoing. It rejoices when truth triumphs, when the cloud or shadow that darkened another's fair fame and good name is removed, and when sins are confessed and wrongs are corrected.
Rejoicing in the truth is a strong and steady belief in the truth, broad and comprehensive, taking in the whole plan of salvation with its purposes of love and mercy. When that belief takes possession of the life it casts out all enmity and petty differences, transforms indifference and coldness into Christlike affection, and must be brought into daily experience by a crucified and surrendered self. It requires right use of speech to bless and strengthen hearers, and the deeper the love for Christ becomes the deeper the love for one another becomes, so that discourtesy, drawing apart, and lack of sympathy cannot coexist with it.
Rejoicing in the truth is seen in cheerfulness and joyfulness in daily Christian life and duty, and in talking of the truth and the blessed hope, seeking to establish and build up a brother in the most holy faith and guarding one another's interests. It is shown by proclaiming the message with power from love for souls, speaking of a Saviour's love from a warm and throbbing heart, visiting the sick and suffering, doing practical good, and reaching hearts opened thereby. It is cultivated daily by seeing in fellow men the purchase of the blood of Christ, by guarded words that need no repentance, by refusing any word detrimental to friend or brother as the enemy's work, by kindly reminding such a speaker that it is forbidden, and by emptying the heart of defilement so Christ may dwell within, with mildness, gentleness, long-suffering, patience, forbearance, bearing and enduring all things. It stands opposite a love for controversy, and ministers must present it in life with patience, meekness, forbearance and long-suffering as more essential than preaching alone. It is also the happiness and freedom and new light felt when one breaks from rigid faith and superstition, is cut to the heart with mourning over sinfulness and frail hope, and then finds the Bible intensely interesting, too interesting to lay down, and so plain as to bring nearness to God.
The love that rejoices in truth does so rather than in jealousy or suspicion, making no envious comparisons between persons but comparing Christ's loveliness with its own imperfect character. True love does not discern mistakes in order to condemn but overlooks them, and this is tested in courtship by whether a man respects and honors his mother, recognizes obligation to her, and is mindful of her wishes and happiness, for failure there foretells failure toward a wife. After the novelty of marriage is over it remains patient with mistakes instead of becoming critical, overbearing and dictatorial, and it needs culture as a plant needs culture.
The love that delights in truth must be believed and obeyed, so those who believe the truth must not separate into factions, since division bears false witness to the truth and fails to testify to its power. Sympathy with Christ's mission of love and mercy removes jealousy, fault-finding, envy, dissension and strife, and unites workers in the purpose of saving souls, cherishing no evil.
True love rejoicing in truth is a plant of heavenly origin that is pure and holy and reasonable and not blind, taking God into all its plans and living in harmony with the Spirit. In steps toward marriage it appears in modesty, simplicity, sincerity, morality and religion characterizing all conduct, with grace shown in every action and with continued interest in prayer and religious service rather than absorption in each other's society to the neglect of them. The opposite is the passion of the natural heart, which is headstrong, rash, unreasonable, defiant of all restraint, and makes its chosen object an idol.
Rejecting Iniquity and Accusation
Love takes no delight in evil, in faults and stains upon brethren, in surmising evil, crediting hearsay, criticism, impatience, unforgiveness, harsh judgment and denunciation, and it finds no joy in wrong, censure, bearing down, or a rash denunciatory spirit. It does not magnify trifles, handle over supposed defects, demerit others, speak evil, attribute wrong motives, or find pleasure in finding, accusing, or exaggerating wrongs, but rejoices in truth rather than iniquity with compassion and pity instead of fault-finding, jealousy, or hatred. Faultfinding, chronic grumbling, restlessness, irritation, dissatisfaction, mortified pride, self-esteem, and magnifying others' faults belong to an unconverted heart schooled for hindrance, while a heart broken and transformed stops criticism and reveals a tender spirit that attributes good motives, strengthens brethren with words of peace, upholds feeble hands and knees, makes straight paths for healing, and bears, believes, hopes, and endures.
Genuine love for souls for whom Christ died does not magnify a small indiscretion or direct wrong into a large unpardonable offense, does not make capital of misdoings, and never exposes errors and weakness publicly, as before a whole school, unless positive necessity requires it. With forbearance and kindly consideration that suffers long and is kind, especially toward those most in need, it covers wrongs so they do not prey on the offender and drive the mind to desperation or stir wrong feelings in others. It refuses to spread abroad another's errors, failures, and sins or to publish confidence entrusted in seeking sympathy, for harsh severity hurries stumbling souls toward the precipice while only love, sympathy, forbearance, and longsuffering rescue and bear proper fruit.
Applied to one thought to be at fault, love forbids telling someone else, circulating reports, engaging in surmisings, and listening to accusation or reproach, which is cruel work. It requires going privately, tenderly, and respectfully as one would wish to be treated, telling the mistake and danger and giving opportunity to explain, since reports may be false and difficulties may be adjusted by simple explanation. This is due because all share the same sinful nature, are liable to err, and are imperfect, and because Christ died to forgive and save rather than condemn; so instead of withdrawing sympathy over a supposed mistake or being swayed by suggestions against a brother, love thinks the best, stays loyal and true, puts away variance, discord, emulation, and strife, and talks the matter over fairly in brotherly love.
While revenge delights in evil, charity takes no joy in a brother's fault, fall, trespasses, or punishment and does not cherish harshness, severity, resentment, revenge, envy, evil surmising, coldness, indifference, or contempt, nor exaggerate words or actions into grievous intentional offenses. Applied to an erring brother it requires rebuking when he trespasses and forgiving when he repents, treating him and his errors as one wishes God to treat one's own offenses, in dependence on a sin-pardoning Saviour, since harshness and severity toward the erring is the spirit of Satan. To rejoice in iniquity is to cultivate the worst traits of censuring, backbiting, falsehood, suspicion, envy, and jealousy, using the tongue to persecute, accuse, and murder the character of one loaded with responsibilities and fighting battles almost alone, adding influence to the cry to crucify him and showing a cold, heartless, Satanic side loving a poison atmosphere. To rejoice in truth is the opposite practice of kindness and love with a tender, pitiful spirit dwelling on and speaking of good traits, while those who watch for evil by taking in doubt, envy, and prejudice are corrupted by it, and though some deceived may return after terrible struggle with scars, many remain crippled, doubting, and in crisis found on the enemy's side.
Those who rejoice in iniquity do not want a knowledge of the truth but greedily feed on pleasing fables and falsehoods from wolves in sheep's clothing, then infuse that wicked opposition into others who do not want God's way. They act toward commandment-keeping people as the Jews acted toward Christ when they refused truths He unfolded from Old Testament prophecies, greedily receiving scandal, reproach, and hired false witnesses and distorting every word and action to make Him appear criminal. Ministers who join people in transgression and smooth their consciences are rejoicing in iniquity rather than in truth, while genuine love for Christ leads to obedience to all God's law and deep repentance when broken, with disobedience exposed at judgment according to responsibility. True love meets sin with the strongest denunciation, giving no indulgence to falsehood or impurity and earnestly rebuking whatever dishonors God in rich, responsible, or lowly, yet never with a rough, coarse, uncourteous, stormy spirit, because a calm, kind, forbearing, tender, self-forgetful spirit does rough work better.
Bible charity is love in active exercise, not sentimentalism; it does not ally with evil or cover evil with false charity, does not heal hurt slightly by saying peace when there is no peace, and does not combine to call sin holiness and truth, for that is counterfeit. True mercy therefore does not climb onto the judgment seat to condemn others and magnify faults as offenses against God, work that pleases the adversary and stops when Christ's Spirit is in the heart, but guards associates from contamination, does good whether appreciated or not, and raises the moral tone through heart religion. Love does not suspect others, think evil, or stand ready to blame and accuse, which is offensive to God and shows a heart not right, unsoftened and unsubdued; where it is missing God's people become weak and institutions burdened. Suspicion must be put out of the heart, refusing to judge that workers turn sympathy against another or seek to build self, refusing to dwell on being unappreciated or desire vindication, imputing no selfish motives, breaking reliance on self-sufficiency, and training the tongue to speak pleasant words and any truthful good reportable of another.
Love forbids letting self seek supremacy, vaunt itself, and impose its own will while calling it God's will, with a critical, distrustful spirit destroying love and confidence through harsh rules over details, in which professors act as sinners unable to discern their spirit. Instead love is humble, forbearing, merciful, and forgiving, acting from principle rather than self-interest, in harmony with truth, reshaping character and passions, refusing sharp criticism and harsh condemnation, looking at best not worst features, and bearing long with neglect, forgetfulness, ingratitude, and disobedience in tender thoughtfulness as the fulfilling of the law. Christians are called to treat one another with tenderness, offer helping and strengthening words, guard one another's interests even when mistakes are made, and practice kindness, gentleness, mutual courtesy and affection, doing to others as one would be done by, so members become consecrated vessels representing Christ and find happiness. This love is not expressed through controversy or harsh thoughtless words but conquers by patient forbearance, for a word of love does more to subdue hasty temper and wilful disposition than heaping faultfinding and censure.
This love from God in the heart is proved by gentle speech, with no evil thinking, no being easily disturbed or provoked, and no free rein to passion, staying yoked with Christ under the Holy Spirit's restraint and refusing hot, fiery words when heated, speaking only what Christ can approve. It takes no pleasure in harsh, uncourteous speech that wounds feelings and refuses to excuse such cruelty as plain honesty or virtue, which is wicked, shameful, born of Satan and to be rebuked, while bold preaching of Christ remains tender, kind, and thoughtful. A cold nature needs this change to recommend truth and be loved and not merely respected and feared.
Standard of Christian Perfection
The verse gives the specifications of the possibilities and heights that may be reached in and through Christ, the standard of perfection in Him attainable through His merits for all for whom He died. Christ displays this character through His apostle as the example to be followed. Beholding Christ changes character from glory to glory and lifts the eye above common things, while coming short comes from being content to look at earthly rather than heavenly things.
It is a message from God to those who claim to be His servants, especially responsible men in publishing institutions and the publishing office and everyone connected with that work. It requires humility and the softening, subduing power of God to come into the life, becoming learners in the school of Christ so the Spirit can work. It calls for unfaltering, steadfast integrity and truth under the eye of God in order to walk humbly with God.
The charity it describes must govern church assemblies and all plans and decisions made in them. When Jesus is remembered as present in the midst and the elevating, controlling influence of the Spirit pervades the meeting, this charity is manifested together with the wisdom from above that cannot err, finding no joy in wrong but joy in what is right and true. In decisions about God's work and sacred matters this love requires truth and integrity, puts self aside, and keeps judgment fair rather than biased.
It is for church members to study and apply for the continual humbling of individual self and for taking self critically in hand. The work of self-examination it begins has as its very first step to deny self and take up one's own cross of self-denial, self-humiliation, and self-sacrifice instead of laying it on someone else to carry. This charity is to be cultivated fervently among believers and lived daily by encouraging peace, thinking healthful thoughts, and fighting the good fight of faith with steady purpose without failing or being discouraged. Living it requires periods of rest and quietude of mind and obtaining every possible advantage, so that sunlight is brought into life to bless others as well as self.
When self is dead and life is hidden with Christ, people no longer live to guard self from mortification and insult, do not take neglects and slights to heart, and do not resent reproach, but are deaf to reproach and blind to scorn and insult. This selfless love preserves peace and gives a constant and abiding peace that does not depend on circumstances, worldly goods, or earthly friends, the opposite of the love of self that destroys peace. Manifested in the home it makes the inmates happy, provokes no quarrel, gives back no angry answer, soothes the irritated temper, and diffuses a gentleness felt by all. Because iniquity was widespread and sinners were perishing, Whitefield and the Wesleys had no time to dispute, and meekness, mutual forbearance, and charity reconciled their differences.
Living Love Daily
In God's workers this love appears as unity in sympathy and kindness, with tender compassion for those needing help, for those out of the way, and for those committing sins of ignorance. It puts far away every selfish consideration and all oppressive injury that bruises others, refusing an unfeeling spirit without compassion or tenderness, refusing to hurt and condemn, and seeking instead to restore. Those in responsible positions show it by being subdued, converted and sanctified through obedience to the truth, cultivating patience, brotherly kindness and forbearance as faithful stewards. It is the charity Christ commands when He tells followers to love one another as He loved them, taking no pleasure in wrongdoing and taking pleasure in what is true and right, together with longsuffering, kindness, humility, unselfishness, good behavior, and patient restoration of one overtaken in fault in meekness.
It belongs to the call to repent and return to the love once shown to one another. It is among the Christian graces to be cultivated, alongside patience and kindness. Its truth-seeking character is the opposite of a heart ruled by bitterness, wrath, envy, jealousy and evil suspicion, showing the need for such a heart to be purified. Pure love is directed toward good and works to overcome evil, and its power lies in doing good and nothing else. Love is active: it grows through exercise, overlooks small mistakes, and does not hastily mark minor faults. It can reform character and guide family conduct, accomplishing what force or money cannot, and it is more than passion or impulse, being spiritualized in words and actions with sanctified tenderness, patience, kindness and freedom from impatience and fretfulness.
In marriage this love is shown through forbearance, unselfishness, kindness, patience, consideration and courtesy rather than attempts to control one another. It considers a spouse's happiness, seeks their company, and shows steady kindness and attention rather than pursuing one's own pleasure while leaving them lonely. A husband as houseband binding the family together and as priest accountable for it must exercise suffering, kind, tender and pitiful love, showing pity when his wife errs with the patience shown toward his own errors and sins instead of being hardhearted, unsympathetic, faultfinding and exacting. Without being entirely renewed in heart, mind and spirit, dying to self and becoming a new man in Christ, he cannot carry his home and church spirit into heaven. Teachers must have Christ's love and gentleness abounding in the heart, leading them to do their best to impart blessings, to carry students over knowledge with deep earnest desire to help them, to come close to them, and to avoid a harsh, domineering mastery. Love in ministers, teachers and parents takes no pleasure in wrong dealing with youth such as impatience, harsh and injudicious management, and maintaining dignity and supremacy at the cost of influence, which warps minds and may lose those bought with God's Son, but delights in Christ's self-denial, universal kindness and long-suffering, entering the work with fear, self-control, valuing every soul by the infinite price of redemption.
In family life this love belongs to an atmosphere of cheerfulness, courtesy and affection cultivated and expressed in words and actions. It is shown in daily life through consideration, tenderness, thoughtfulness and unselfish care, especially in the home, which blesses others and is acceptable to God. The love that rejoices in truth rules the heart and is communicated to associate workers in united labor, bearing patiently with the less experienced and taking them alongside to teach them how to work. It receives help through any channel God sends, refuses to make a groove for brethren or dictate how each must labor, never closes the heart by sharp words and unkind criticism, and constantly learns while doing its own irreplaceable work.