1 Corinthians 13:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Love keeps no private scoreboard of wrongs, and it does not put itself first.
What Does 1 Corinthians 13:5 Mean?
Paul keeps tracing the shape of love by what it sets aside. It does not behave rudely or shame others. It does not seek its own advantage, the instinct that always angles for what is best for me. It is not easily provoked, not quick to flare up when crossed. And it thinks no evil, which means it keeps no running ledger of the wrongs done to it. Picture someone who could have nursed a grudge and chose instead to let it go, again and again. That release is what love looks like up close.
Every line here was lived out in Jesus. He sought our good before His own comfort, stayed steady under insult, and from the cross asked forgiveness for the very people harming Him. He does not keep a tally of our failures either; He carries them away. When we are tempted to keep score, His mercy toward us is the deep well we can draw from. Loved like this, we slowly learn to stop counting.
1 Corinthians 13:5 in the Original Language
logizomai (λογίζομαι), 'thinketh' -- an accounting word, to reckon or keep a tally; love does not record wrongs in its ledger.
How to Apply 1 Corinthians 13:5 Today
Much of love is what we choose not to hold onto: the sharp reply, the grudge quietly logged, the urge to come first. When someone wrongs us, we can lay the score down rather than file it away. We are able to, because God has not kept count against us.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 13:5
What does 1 Corinthians 13:5 mean?
Love keeps no private scoreboard of wrongs, and it does not put itself first.
How can I apply 1 Corinthians 13:5 today?
Much of love is what we choose not to hold onto: the sharp reply, the grudge quietly logged, the urge to come first. When someone wrongs us, we can lay the score down rather than file it away. We are able to, because God has not kept count against us.