4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
4 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head,
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
3 Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
3 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
(Read Philippians 2:1-4)
Here are further exhortations to Christian duties; to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, according to the example of the Lord Jesus. Kindness is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family. Several motives to brotherly love are mentioned. If you expect or experience the benefit of God's compassions to yourselves, be compassionate one to another. It is the joy of ministers to see people like-minded. Christ came to humble us, let there not be among us a spirit of pride. We must be severe upon our own faults, and quick in observing our own defects, but ready to make favourable allowances for others. We must kindly care for others, but not be busy-bodies in other men's matters. Neither inward nor outward peace can be enjoyed, without lowliness of mind.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:4
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
(Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Some of the effects of charity are stated, that we may know whether we have this grace; and that if we have not, we may not rest till we have it. This love is a clear proof of regeneration, and is a touchstone of our professed faith in Christ. In this beautiful description of the nature and effects of love, it is meant to show the Corinthians that their conduct had, in many respects, been a contrast to it. Charity is an utter enemy to selfishness; it does not desire or seek its own praise, or honour, or profit, or pleasure. Not that charity destroys all regard to ourselves, or that the charitable man should neglect himself and all his interests. But charity never seeks its own to the hurt of others, or to neglect others. It ever prefers the welfare of others to its private advantage. How good-natured and amiable is Christian charity! How excellent would Christianity appear to the world, if those who profess it were more under this Divine principle, and paid due regard to the command on which its blessed Author laid the chief stress! Let us ask whether this Divine love dwells in our hearts. Has this principle guided us into becoming behaviour to all men? Are we willing to lay aside selfish objects and aims? Here is a call to watchfulness, diligence, and prayer.