1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is … kind

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

1

Strong’s Number: g1085

Greek: genos

Kind (Noun):

akin to ginomai, “to become,” denotes

(a) “a family,” Act 4:6, “kindred;” Act 7:13, RV, “race” (AV, “kindred”); Act 13:26, “stock;”

(b) “an offspring,” Act 17:28; Rev 22:16;

Kindness is a state of being, it is what it does. This definition from Strong’s is important because one can be kind apart from being in the family of God. Kindness in and of itself does not indicate kinship. It is however once again a characteristic that is developed because of where we are more so than who we are.

When did I discover that I was kind? I can remember when I was not kind. I was selfish and intolerant of others. If I were to admit to myself at what point in my life I had that epiphany it was during PTSD therapy. During my therapy I discovered that unresolved conflict within the mind is often caused by an ability to see the truth of a situation. I discovered some hidden truths.

Perhaps my gradual character development should be best described by coming to know truth to be my Lord Jesus Christ. I learned to trust Him and gave up my penchant for being right about everything. Insist on being right and we will discover it is insistence that is the problem.

Perhaps this is why patience is listed first in the character traits of agape love. Everything that follows requires patience. Walking with Jesus is a step by step discovery.

Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

My interpretations were flawed, His are not. Once we accept that, it is easier to be kind to others that are as we were “flawed”.

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient 

What I know is what has been revealed to me and what has happened in this life with Christ.

I was young, that is no excuse, but the nature of a child is impatience. I wanted more than the peace that was given to me. I wanted more. My problem like so many that are immature was that I did not know what to ask for.

Matthew 20:22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

His disciples had been with Him  for three years and they still had no clue as to what He meant. In my early years I was like that also. I had no clue of what was going to be required of me to get more. So I said “Give me more of You!” His answer was so true, “You do not know what you are asking.”

• Luke 8:15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
• Romans 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
• Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

In the ESV the word patience is only used once in the Old Testament and only twenty-one times in the New. Patience means more to a new creation than the old self. It is the first descriptor of love. God is patient, but we have to learn patience, it is not a gift.

Romans 5:2-4 1599 Geneva Bible

2 By whom also through faith we have had this access into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice under the hope of the glory of God.

3 Neither that only, but also we rejoice in tribulations, knowing that tribulation bringeth forth patience.

4 And patience experience, and experience hope.

The predecessor to the KJV made it clear that patience is character developed and then patience produces experience. The immature have not yet experienced what it takes to get to where we know the will of God for our lives.

This is another one of those mysteries in this life with Christ. We do not know the will of God the Father for each of us and what we must endure to discover His will.

Be careful what you ask for.