Love is patient love is kind bible verse

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Love is patient love is kind bible verse

Love is patient love is kind bible verse

The Architecture of Agape: 65 Bible Verses on Patient and Kind Love

 

The phrase “Love is patient, love is kind” is not just a poetic sentiment for weddings; it is the rigorous standard of Christian character. Below is a curated collection of scriptures that expand on the definitions found in 1 Corinthians 13, exploring patience, kindness, humility, and selflessness.

I. The Foundation: 1 Corinthians 13

 

The definitive text on the nature of love.

1. 1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

2. 1 Corinthians 13:5 – “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

3. 1 Corinthians 13:6 – “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”

4. 1 Corinthians 13:7 – “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

5. 1 Corinthians 13:8 – “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled.”

6. 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

7. 1 Corinthians 16:14 – “Do everything in love.”

II. Love is Patient (Long-Suffering & Endurance)

 

Scriptures connecting love with the ability to endure and wait.

8. Ephesians 4:2 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

9. Colossians 3:12 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

10. Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

11. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 – “Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

12. Proverbs 14:29 – “Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”

13. Proverbs 15:18 – “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”

14. Proverbs 19:11 – “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

15. 2 Timothy 2:24 – “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”

16. James 1:19 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

17. Ecclesiastes 7:8 – “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”

18. Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

19. Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

20. 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise… Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish.”

III. Love is Kind (Benevolence & Goodness)

 

Scriptures illustrating active goodness and tenderheartedness.

21. Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

22. Proverbs 3:3 – “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

23. Proverbs 31:26 – “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” (Often translated: “The law of kindness is on her tongue”).

24. Proverbs 11:17 – “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”

25. Proverbs 16:24 – “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

26. Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

27. Zechariah 7:9 – “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.”

28. Luke 6:35 – “But love your enemies, do good to them… because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

29. Romans 2:4 – “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

30. Romans 12:10 – “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

31. Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”

32. 1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

33. 1 John 3:18 – “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

IV. It Does Not Envy, It Is Not Proud (Humility)

 

Love as the antidote to ego and jealousy.

34. Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

35. Philippians 2:4 – “not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

36. Romans 12:16 – “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”

37. Proverbs 13:10 – “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”

38. Proverbs 17:19 – “Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.”

39. James 3:16 – “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

40. James 4:6 – “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

41. 1 Peter 5:5 – “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'”

42. Galatians 5:26 – “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

V. It Is Not Easily Angered (Gentleness)

 

Love keeping a cool temper.

43. Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

44. Proverbs 17:9 – “Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”

45. Proverbs 19:11 – “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

46. Ephesians 4:26 – “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”

47. Colossians 3:8 – “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

48. James 1:20 – “Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

49. Titus 3:2 – “To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”

VI. Keeps No Record of Wrongs (Forgiveness)

 

Love acting as an eraser, not a file cabinet.

50. 1 Peter 4:8 – “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

51. Proverbs 10:12 – “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”

52. Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

53. Isaiah 43:25 – “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

54. Matthew 6:14 – “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

55. Matthew 18:21-22 – “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”

56. Luke 6:37 – “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

VII. Divine Example (The Source of Patient Love)

 

We love because He first loved us.

57. Psalm 86:15 – “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

58. Psalm 103:8 – “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”

59. Psalm 145:8 – “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”

60. Joel 2:13 – “Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”

61. Exodus 34:6 – “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.'”

62. Lamentations 3:22-23 – “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.”

63. Romans 5:5 – “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

64. 1 John 4:7 – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”

65. 1 John 4:16 – “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

25 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About “Love is Patient, Love is Kind”

 

Q1: Where is “Love is patient, love is kind” found in the Bible? A: It is found in the New Testament, specifically in 1 Corinthians 13:4. It was written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth.

Q2: What is the Greek word for “Love” used in this verse? A: The word used is Agape. This refers to unconditional, self-sacrificial, and volitional love, distinguishing it from Eros (romantic love) or Phileo (brotherly friendship).

Q3: What does “Love is patient” truly mean? A: The Greek word is Makrothumia, which literally means “long-tempered” or having a “long fuse.” It means the ability to be wronged or inconvenienced without retaliating or exploding in anger.

Q4: Does “Love is kind” mean just being nice? A: No, it goes deeper. The Greek Chrestotes implies usefulness and active benevolence. It isn’t just being polite; it’s actively seeking to do good for others and meet their needs.

Q5: Why does Paul say love does not envy? A: Envy focuses on what I lack compared to others. Agape love focuses on celebrating the good of others. You cannot self-sacrificially love someone while simultaneously resenting their success.

Q6: What does “keeps no record of wrongs” mean? A: It uses an accounting term. It means love doesn’t keep a ledger of hurts to bring up in future arguments. It involves releasing the debt of the offense.

Q7: Is 1 Corinthians 13 only for weddings? A: No. While popular at weddings, Paul actually wrote it to correct a dysfunctional church. It is a blueprint for community life, friendship, and conflict resolution, not just romance.

Q8: Can love be patient and kind if boundaries are needed? A: Yes. Patience is not enabling abuse. You can be patient (slow to anger) and kind (desiring their good) while maintaining firm boundaries to protect yourself and the relationship.

Q9: What does “Love does not boast” mean? A: It means love is not self-promoting. It doesn’t try to win the argument or prove superiority. It is secure enough to let others shine.

Q10: How can I practice patience when I feel angry? A: Biblical patience is a “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22). It requires pausing, praying for the Spirit’s control, and choosing to respond with grace rather than reacting with instinct.

Q11: What does “Love never fails” mean? A: It means Agape love is eternal. Unlike spiritual gifts (prophecy, tongues) which are temporary, love is the nature of God and will exist forever in heaven.

Q12: Why is love the greatest of these? A: In verse 13, Paul says love is greater than faith and hope. Faith will become sight, and hope will be realized in heaven, but love is the eternal mode of existence with God.

Q13: What does it mean that love “rejoices with the truth”? A: Love doesn’t hide from reality or enable sin (“delight in evil”). True love wants the best for the beloved, which is always found in living according to God’s truth.

Q14: Is patience a personality type or a choice? A: Biblically, it is a fruit of the Spirit and a choice. While some are naturally calmer, Makrothumia is a supernatural power to endure difficult people that every believer is called to cultivate.

Q15: How does God model patient love? A: 2 Peter 3:9 says God is patient with us, “not wanting anyone to perish.” He waits for us to repent rather than giving us the immediate judgment we deserve.

Q16: Can I love someone without liking them? A: Yes. Agape is a command to act in their best interest. You can choose to be patient and kind (love) to a difficult coworker or neighbor even if you don’t feel emotional affection (like).

Q17: What does “Love is not self-seeking” mean in marriage? A: It means prioritizing the spouse’s needs above your own preferences. It shifts the mindset from “What can I get?” to “What can I give?”

Q18: How does pride destroy love? A: Pride focuses on the self (“I am right,” “I deserve better”). Love focuses on the other. They are mutually exclusive forces.

Q19: What is the relationship between kindness and forgiveness? A: Ephesians 4:32 links them: “Be kind… forgiving each other.” Kindness is the attitude that makes the action of forgiveness possible.

Q20: Why does Paul say “Love always protects”? A: Love seeks to shield the reputation and well-being of others. It doesn’t gossip or expose shame unnecessarily; it covers (Proverbs 10:12).

Q21: What if I fail at being patient? A: Confess it to God and the person you hurt. Love is also humble enough to say, “I’m sorry.” God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).

Q22: Does “Love always trusts” mean being gullible? A: No. It means giving the benefit of the doubt rather than jumping to suspicion. It means believing the best about someone’s motives until proven otherwise.

Q23: How do I teach my children 1 Corinthians 13? A: Model it. Replace the word “Love” with your name in the verses to see where you need to grow. Encourage them to do the same.

Q24: What does “Love is not easily angered” imply? A: It implies not being “touchy” or hypersensitive. Love doesn’t carry a chip on its shoulder waiting to be knocked off.

Q25: Is 1 Corinthians 13 a description of Jesus? A: Yes. Many theologians suggest that if you replace the word “Love” with “Jesus” in the text, it is a perfect description of His life and ministry. He is the embodiment of Agape.