1 Corinthians 13:4-5

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

[4] Charity  suffereth long,  and is kind;  charity  envieth  not;  charity  not  itself,  not  puffed up,  [5] not  behave itself unseemly,  seeketh  not  her own,  not  easily provoked,  thinketh  no  evil; 

What does 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Paul followed the two positive expressions of love with seven verbs that indicate how it does not behave. The first five of these marked the Corinthians, as we have seen. They were envious (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 4:18), boastful (ostentatious; 1 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 8:2; 1 Corinthians 14:37), proud ( 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 4:18-19; 1 Corinthians 5:2; 1 Corinthians 8:1), rude ( 1 Corinthians 7:36; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16) and self-seeking ( 1 Corinthians 10:24; 1 Corinthians 10:33). Their behavior was not loving. Love does not deal with other people in a way that injures their dignity. It does not insist on having its own way, nor does it put its own interests before the needs of others (cf. Philippians 2:4). It is not irritable or touchy, but it absorbs offenses, insults, and inconveniences for the sake of others" welfare. It does not keep a record of offenses received to pay them back (cf. Luke 23:34; Romans 12:17-21; 2 Corinthians 5:19).
"One of the great arts in life is to learn what to forget." [1]
"One of the most miserable men I ever met was a professed Christian who actually kept in a notebook a list of the wrongs he felt others had committed against him. Forgiveness means that we wipe the record clean and never hold things against people ( Ephesians 4:26; Ephesians 4:32)." [2]
In the last two characteristics Paul moved beyond what this letter reveals marked the Corinthians.