Bears (4722) (stego from stege = a thatch or roof or covering of a building) derives its first meaning from stege and thus means to cover closely, to protect by covering and then, to conceal and then, by covering, to bear up under. Note that at the core of its meaning stego denotes an activity or state which blocks entry from without or exit from within.
From this definition we see the picture of love as that which protects the beloved by covering them over, concealing them from that which would be injurious (eg, words, actions, etc).
W E Vine states that...
the verb stego, to bear, signifies that what is mentioned either supports what is placed upon it, or covers what is placed underneath it. The former idea is prominent in 1Co 9:12; 1Th 3:1-note; 1Th 3:5-note. The present statement (1Cor 13:7) may convey both ideas, for love acts in both ways in bearing all things. That which covers both protects what is covered, by keeping off all that is hostile, and in doing so endures the hostility (cp. 1Co 9:12). (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos)
Moffatt translates stego as "slow to expose" and notice that Paul uses the present tense which calls for this to be love's habitual response, not a "hit or miss" action (cp "all things"). Husbands need to be especially attentive to this quality of love (after 42 years of marriage to the same woman I can personally attest to the power of this quality or conversely to the destructive nature of it's absence!) (See the OT example of Boaz)
BDAG notes that stego in the Greek papyri was used frequently...
in the sense of covering or enclosing in such a way as to keep something undesirable from coming in, as water into a ship.
Friberg adds that stego means...
strictly put a roof on; hence cover, keep silent about, keep confidential
Love is that beautiful virtue that throws a cloak of silence over what is displeasing in another person. From this meaning one derives the picture of covering things with the cloak of love. In addition, in favor of the intended meaning as covers over, protects, etc is the fact that this translation would eliminate redundancy for the last clause also reads endures all things.
F F Bruce comments that...
Love covers unworthy things rather than bringing them to the light and magnifying them. It puts up with everything. It is always eager to believe the best and to "put the most favorable construction on ambiguous actions." (Bruce, F. F. 1 and 2 Corinthians. New Century Bible Series. 1971)
Stego occurs in the apocryphal book Sirach 8:17 describing the fool who will not be able to conceal the matter.
Vincent writes that stego
keeps out resentment as the ship keeps out the water, or the roof the rain.
Robertson and Plummer offer the caveat that even though agape love covers others faults and sins this does not mean...
that a Christian is to allow himself to be fooled by every rogue, or to pretend that he believes that white is black. But in doubtful cases he will prefer being too generous in his conclusions to suspecting another unjustly. (1Corinthians 13-Critical and Exegetical Commentary)
Stego is used only 4 times in the NT...
1Corinthians 9:12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
1Corinthians 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1Thessalonians 3:1 Therefore when we could endure (stego) it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone. (See note 1Thessalonians 3:1)
1Thessalonians 3:5 For this reason, when I could endure (stego) it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should be in vain. (note) (Comment: As explained above, this does not appear to be Paul's primary intended meaning here in 1Corinthians 13:7)
Spirit controlled and empowered believers love as a lifestyle by choosing as an act of their will (even that choice enabled by the Spirit Ezekiel 36:27, Php 2:13-note) to cover over in silence, to ''hide'' the faults of others, to bear with or endure. Love doesn’t broadcast another's problems to everyone. Love doesn’t run down others with jokes, sarcasm or put-downs. Love defends the character of the other person as much as possible within the limits of truth. Love won’t lie about weak nesses, but neither will it deliberately expose and emphasize them. Love protects.
And so instead of becoming embittered (Col 3:19-note) the Spirit filled (Ep 5:18-note) husband "covers" his wife's faults and frailties. This does not mean one turns grace into licentiousness but that he lives with his wife in an understanding way (1Pe 3:7-note)...he gets to know her...he loves her sacrificially and selflessly as Christ loved the church (Ep 5:25-note).
Authentic Agape Love continually seeks to cover and protect (1Co 13:7NIV ''love always protects'') the object that is loved and for husbands this applies especially to our wives! Love protects other people. It doesn't broadcast bad news. It goes the second mile to protect another person's reputation. Love doesn't point out every flaw of the ones you love. Love doesn't criticize in public.
Wesley writes that...
Whatever evil the lover of mankind sees, hears, or knows of any one, he mentions it to none; it never goes out of his lips, unless where absolute duty constrains to speak. (Wesley's Notes: First Corinthians)
MacDonald adds that...
Love does not needlessly publicize the failures of others, though it must be firm in giving godly discipline when necessary. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos)
Peter made a similar statement in his first epistle exhorting his readers...
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers (kalupto = throws a veil over - continually = present tense) a multitude of sins. (1Pe 4:8-note)
John MacArthur adds that the verb stego...
basically means to cover or to support and therefore to protect. Love bears all things by protecting others from exposure, ridicule, or harm. Genuine love does not gossip or listen to gossip. Even when a sin is certain, love tries to correct it with the least possible hurt and harm to the guilty person. Love never protects sin but is anxious to protect the sinner. Fallen human nature has the opposite inclination. There is perverse pleasure in exposing someone’s faults and failures. As already mentioned, that is what makes gossip appealing. The Corinthians cared little for the feelings or welfare of fellow believers. It was every person for himself. Like the Pharisees, they paid little attention to others, except when those others were failing or sinning. Man’s depravity causes him to rejoice in the depravity of others. It is that depraved pleasure that sells magazines and newspapers that cater to exposes, “true confessions,” and the like. It is the same sort of pleasure that makes children tattle on brothers and sisters. Whether to feel self–righteous by exposing another’s sin or to enjoy that sin vicariously, we all are tempted to take a certain kind of pleasure in the sins of others. Love has no part in that. It does not expose or exploit, gloat or condemn. It bears; it does not bare. (MacArthur, J: 1Corinthians. Chicago: Moody Press or Logos)
BELIEVES ALL THINGS: panta pisteuei, (3SPAI): (Psalms 119:66)
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