Of all the things that Jesus taught, love was the theme of His message. For example, He said: “… Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”  (Matthew 22:37:39 KJV) He also said: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”  (John 13:34 KJV)

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul talks about the various aspects of Love. I have taken the liberty to look up the definitions of these aspects of love to give us a better understand of what love is and what love is not:

Love is longsuffering!

• Longsuffering is patiently enduring wrongs or difficulties; patient endurance.
• Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties.

Love is kind and envieth not!

• Kind is sympathetic, friendly, gentle, tenderhearted, generous, etc.; loving; affectionate.
• Envy is a feeling of discontent and ill will because of another’s advantages, possessions, etc.; resentful dislike of another who has something that one desires. A desire for some advantage, quality, etc. that another has.

Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up!

• Vaunt (eth) is to be boastful about something such as achievements or possessions.
• Puffed up is displaying exaggerated dignity or self-importance; pompous.

Love doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked!

• Unseemly is not in accord with accepted standards of good taste; grossly improper.
• Seek (eth) is to bend one’s efforts toward; aim at.
• Provoked is to be angered, irritated, or annoyed; to stir up (action or feeling), usually negatively.

Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth.

• Rejoice (th) is to make glad; delight. To show joyful satisfaction in an event, especially by merrymaking.
• Iniquity is a wicked act or wicked behavior; that which is morally bad or objectionable.
• Truth is that which is true; statement, etc. that accords with fact or reality.

Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

• Bear (eth) is to support or hold up; to sustain the burden of.
• Believe (th) is to have trust or confidence (in) as being true, real, good, etc.
• Hope (th) is a feeling that what is wanted is likely to happen; desire accompanied by expectation.
• Endure(th) is to put up with; tolerate.

I hope this article gives you a better understanding of what love is.

God bless you!