Love "beareth all things...". The word translated here "beareth" conveys the idea of protection and preservation by holding out against that which threatens. The concepts of forbearance and endurance are similar and are related. In this passage the idea of love now takes on an even more dynamic meaning. We realize that there is a protective attitude on the part of the Christian for others. The same attitude was found in Christ who was willing to come this world and die for the sins of mankind and bear up under the temptations and eventual tortures that took his life. The reason for this was that he was willing to die so that the remission of sins and the fulfillment of God's promise would become a reality. In the same sense we need to guard our lives from sin on behalf of those around us. We must strive to do that which is right in God's sight realizing that there are times when the physical emotions and energies will be strained to a breaking point, but we endure. We also watch over others and do that which will help those who are weak to become stronger, or at least manage their weaknesses so that they do not fall. The writer of Hebrews states this very well when he writes, "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." (Heb 12.12-13).
Love is further manifested in the fact that we realize that those who fall have done so out of weakness and need to be restored, "in the spirit of meekness" because we may also be tempted, at least with the attitude of superiority when confronted with the sins of others (Gal 6.1). In doing this we are "bearing one another's burdens (Gal 6.2) just as Christ bore the burden of all the sins of the entire world on his shoulders to the cross. That does not mean that we should be so loving that we do not seek to correct others when they are wrong. Too many times there are those who believe that "love" means never taking those necessary steps to cause someone to consider and know what state they are really in. Remember that earlier in the book, dealing with the problem of fornication that was in the congregation, Paul instructed the Corinthians to "deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (1 Cor 5.5). This is not something that some like to think about, but, when needed, is an act of love, protecting the other members of the congregation from the influence and consequences of one who is willing to forsake the way of the Lord in exchange for their own desires. As Paul stated, "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump". (1 Cor 5.6). In this there is a sense of loss over a brother or sister who refuses to repent.
Love "believeth all things". On the surface this sounds like a blanket permission to fellowship every doctrine in the world that accepts God without regard to form or practice. The word translated as "believeth" is one which can mean to believe, but can also convey the sense that one has been persuaded of something and has therefore become reliant on that which we believe. It conveys the idea of having confidence in that which we believe. In the sense that Paul uses the word here it may convey that fact that love is first for God, and love for God through his word. This was pointed out in previous articles. In this sense we have confidence or trust in the truthfulness of that which we believe. We accept and practice that which God commands. This process begins with obedience as one submits to the authority of God in complete obedience to his will meeting all of the conditions that the scriptures have outlined as necessary. Once established we may also have confidence and trust in those who are fellowservants of Christ. This is the root of fellowship. Those in Corinth were not united. There were factions among them causing their group to splinter and be at odds with each other. They had taken pride in sin in their midst not allowing themselves to realize the effect this would have later should it be allowed to continue. This statement is not one which endorses the attitude that there are many roads to Heaven. Christ stated that there was only one (John 14.6) and there would be few who found it (Matt 7.14). Once more the point can be made that the concept of love eventually points back to the word of God and our faithfulness to it over all other things in this world. Paul also informs us that there is a singularity to the doctrine which will save us eternally in his writing to the Ephesians. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph 4.4-6). It appears that Paul confines the concept of love in a scriptural sense to the family of saved and faithful believers who continue in faithfulness.
Love "hopeth all things." Simply stated, this refers to the trust that one has in God. We have not seen those things that we hope for (Rom 8.24, Heb 11.1), but we trust that the promises that God has made in his word are true and the he will faithfully reward those that serve him. It is this hope that fuels our faithfulness. That causes us to separate from the world around us in the realization that our home is elsewhere (Col 3.1-3). We trust that we can have that home and we seek to find ways to share that with others in preparation for the time when God shall put an end to all things. In that sense we love God by refusing to compromise his truth. By encouraging and exhorting others. By keeping ourselves unspotted from the world and by watching out for the spiritual welfare of others.
TLC