1 Corinthians 13:7

7. In rendering the clauses of this verse we must, with the apostle, keep the loved object in view; as, for instance, his dear Corinthian Church. The verses picture to the life, for example, the persistent love of a mother for an erring son the most beautiful of all human loves. The all things four times said are, of course, to be limited by the law of truth and justice just given, and made appropriate to the verb which each follows in the clause.

Beareth all things Rather covereth all things. Such is the strict meaning of the Greek word. To render it beareth gives the same sense as endureth in the last clause. The word covereth implies the idea expressed by Pope in his Universal Prayer:

“Teach me to feel another’s woe,

To hide the fault I see,

That mercy I to others show,

That mercy show to me.”

So does a mother seek to cover the faults of her child; so would Paul rather cover than expose the errors of his Corinthians.

Believeth all things Favourable to the beloved object. Such is the temper of deep love, limited in action by the laws of truth.

Hopeth all things All future good for its object.

Endureth all things How often is it said of a mother in regard to a son, “She bears every thing from him.” Paul bore countless things from the Corinthians, and sought to correct their faults for their own sake.