John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. Beareth all things , etc.] The burdens of fellow Christians, and so fulfils the law of Christ, which is the law of love; the infirmities of weak believers, and the reproaches and persecutions of the world: or “covers all things”, as it may be rendered, even a multitude of sins, as charity is said to do, ( 1 Peter 4:8) not by conniving at them, or suffering them to be upon a brother; but having privately and faithfully reproved for them, and the offender being brought to a sense and acknowledgment of them, he freely forgives them as trespasses against him, covers them with the mantle of love, and industriously hides and conceals them from others; believeth all things ; that are to be believed, all that God says in his word, all his truths, and all his promises; and even sometimes in hope against hope, as Abraham did, relying upon the power, faithfulness, and other perfections of God; though such a man will not believe every spirit, every preacher and teacher, nor any but such as agree with the Scriptures of truth, the standard of faith and practice; nor will he believe every word of man, which is the character of a weak and foolish man; indeed, a man of charity or love is willing to believe all the good things reported of men; he is very credulous of such things, and is unwilling to believe ill reports of persons, or any ill of men; unless it is open and glaring, and is well supported, and there is full evidence of it; he is very incredulous in this respect: hopes all things ; that are to be hoped for; hopes for the accomplishment of all the promises of God; hopes for the enjoyment of him in his house and ordinances; hopes for things that are not seen, that are future, difficult, though possible to be enjoyed: hopes for heaven and eternal happiness, for more grace here and glory hereafter; hopes the best of all men, of all professors of religion, even of wicked men, that they may be better and brought to repentance, and of fallen professors, who declare their repentance, and make their acknowledgments; he hopes well of them, that they are sincere, and all is right and will appear so: endureth all things ; that are disagreeable to the flesh; all afflictions, tribulations, temptations, persecutions, and death itself, for the elect’s sake, for the sake of the Gospel, and especially for the sake of Christ Jesus.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 tha 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 ow praise, or honour, or profit, or pleasure. Not that charity destroy all regard to ourselves, or that the charitable man should neglec 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 in 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.
Greek Textus Receptus
παντα 3956 A-APN στεγει 4722 5719 V-PAI-3S παντα 3956 A-APN πιστευει 4100 5719 V-PAI-3S παντα 3956 A-APN ελπιζει 1679 5719 V-PAI-3S παντα 3956 A-APN υπομενει 5278 5719 V-PAI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. Beareth (stegei). See on suffer, ch. ix. 12. It keeps out resentment as the ship keeps out the water, or the roof the rain.Endureth (upomenei). An advance on beareth: patient acquiescence, holding its ground when it can no longer believe nor hope.
"All my days are spent and gone; And ye no more shall lead your wretched life, Caring for me. hard was it, that I know, My children! Yet one word is strong to loose, Although alone, the burden of these toils, For love in larger store ye could not have From any than from him who standeth here." SOPHOCLES, "Oedipus at Colonus," 613-618.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:7 {Beareth all things} (panta stegei). stegw is old verb from stege, roof, already in #1Co 9:12; 1Th 3:1,5 which see. Love covers, protects, forbears (_suffert_, Vulgate). See #1Pe 4:8 "because love covers a multitude of sins" (hoti agape kaluptei feqos hamartiwn), throws a veil over. {Believeth all things} (panta pisteuei). Not gullible, but has faith in men. {Hopeth all things} (panta elpizei). Sees the bright side of things. Does not despair. endureq all qings (panta hupomenei). Perseveres. Carries on like a stout-hearted soldier. If one knows Sir Joshua Reynolds's beautiful painting of the Seven Virtues (the four cardinal virtues of the Stoics--temperance, prudence, fortitude, justice--and the three Christian graces--faith, hope, love), he will find them all exemplified here as marks of love (the queen of them all).
