What does it mean that love always protects (1 Corinthians 13:7)?

What does it mean that love always protects? We're going to answer that question.

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Corinthians 13, mentions four specific attributes of love that are always put into action.

The first of these is that love always protects, or love bears all things.

The Greek word translated protects literally means to cover and includes the idea of preserving.

Also of note, the four always statements in verse 7 use the Greek word panta, which corresponds to another four uses of the same word, translated all, in verses 2 -3.

First, Paul mentions four spiritual gifts used to their utmost. But then he says, if I employ these gifts without love,

I am nothing and no one benefits. Then Paul provides the missing ingredient, love.

Verse 7 is the counterpoint to verses 2 -3, connected by the repetition of panta.

God's type of love protects, that is, it watches out for others, it withstands difficulty, and if there is a shortcoming or fault in the loved one, love has the ability to cover it.

Love is not based on selfish desire or even mutual benefit, rather it seeks the benefit of the other person, aiming to give rather than to receive.

In the Old Testament, God's protection of Israel was a sign of his love. Though we are slaves, our

God has not deserted us in our bondage. He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our

God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection.

The Psalms also declare God to be a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, and also promise

God's protection of those who love and trust him. We find a wonderful example of love's protective nature in the story of Christ's birth.

When Joseph learned of Mary's pregnancy, he was faced with a choice, expose her to public disgrace or divorce her quietly.

Joseph, being a righteous man, was planning to keep the matter quiet. In other words, he was covering over what he saw as a fault in Mary, and he protected her from public shame.

This is love. One of the marks of love is that it always seeks to protect the loved one.

This doesn't mean that we excuse wrongdoing or seek to evade the natural consequences of sin.

It means that we strengthen what is weak, shield what is vulnerable, and forgive what is provoking.

That answers the question, what does it mean that love always protects? On our website, GotQuestions .org,

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