Jesus called Peter to love and service. In 1 Cor 13, Paul declares that love precedes Christian acts of service. More specifically, in verses 1 – 3, Paul reveals that love is the foundation for Christian acts of service. In this context, Paul formulates the necessity of love. Paul continues to expound upon love in verses 4-7, where he identifies the character of love. The first two characteristics of love are patience and kind.
The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG) defines patience as “to bear up under provocation without compliant, be patient, forbearing”. In addition, the Thayer’s Greek lexicon defines the term as “to be patient in bearing offences and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging; to be long-suffering, slow to anger, slow to punish; hence spoken of God deferring the punishment of sin”. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT) identifies the usage of patience in relation to the Pauline letters as long-suffering of Christians. The TDNT first identifies God’s patience in his relationship with the Christian community. This community requires forbearance, patience, and pardon for their sins. God demonstrates these qualities in a non-destroyable, long lasting relationship with Christians. This relationship is manifested in Christ who pardons the community of their sins. In the New International Commentary on the New Testament: The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NINCT), Fee contends as God practices forbearance, while patiently waiting for Christians’ pardon of sins through Christ, Christians practice forbearance as the practical application of God’s actions. The International Bible Encyclopedia denotes that when a person reflects God’s patience, he or she refuses to dismiss the righteousness of God or the unrighteous, the idle, the faint-hearted, and the weak. In essence, people who demonstrate God’s patience embody or embrace God’s righteousness. They do not ignore those who are unrighteous, the idle, the faint-hearted, or the weak. Instead they endure long-suffering with them, not disregarding their current circumstances or state. In this act of patience, Christians imitate God’s patience demonstrated through his Son on the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice provided us the ability to have our sins pardon.
Continue Reading: Love Pt. IV
