Editor’s Note:
This is the tenth in a collection of spiritual reflections on the famous passage on Love in 1 Corinthians 13, written and compiled at the end of 2019. Two of our sisters in Christ – Jan Mitchell and Mary Shapiro (see their bios at the end of this article)– lead a group of young mothers and wanted to create a quiet time series for them on the theme of Love. This series is the fruit of that effort.
Love Does Not Delight In Evil
(1 Corinthians 13:6)
by Trish Peters
I think this verse is a difficult one, and I am not alone in thinking this. Some commentators ignored it completely (groan)! I will use different translations to help us get to where we need to go.
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” NIV
My first reaction was, “Duh!” Why would love ever delight in evil? So, what is the definition of evil? The Oxford dictionary defines evil as “profoundly immoral and wicked.” Wow!
Strong’s Concordance of the Greek translation is (legal) injustice; moral wrongfulness (of character, life, or act), iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, and just plain wrong. And why would Paul say that the opposite of evil is “truth”? Why not “good”?
Here are some other translations of 1 Cor.13:6:
“It (love) does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.” NLT (New Living Translation) Okay, that is a little different.
“(Love) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;” NASB (New American Standard)
Many of you like the Message Bible. It says, “(Love) doesn’t revel (get great pleasure in, celebrate) when others grovel, (are brought down low, cringe, beg) but takes pleasure in the flowering of truth.” Quite poetic.
“It does not rejoice at injustice but rejoices with the truth…(when right and truth prevail).” AMP (Amplified Version). Don’t you love it when truth and justice prevail? Feel like cheering, “Yay!”
“Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.” TPT (The Passion Translation)
“Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish ambition.” (J.B. Phillips Translation). This is the version I read as a young Christian, decades before any of you were a twinkle in your father’s eye. Good manners are what honors other people. Jesus talked about that with Simon at his house in Luke 7.
“It does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right.” RSV (Revised Standard Version). This was another version available when I was in my late twenties.
And finally, for those of you who would like the “original”; the KJV (King James Version), “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.”
Oh, goodness, there are many other translations, but this is enough, perhaps, more than enough, to get us started.
Now the hard part, what does all this mean? How does this apply to me, to you, the New Mom’s Class? (Or the Young Mom’s Class as I think of you now as some of you are not so new at this, anymore). Depending on the commentary you read, and I read a lot of them, there are a few directions we can pursue. I am going to brush briefly on some of these and give you a chance to dig some more and make it your own.
David Guzik, one commentator I read, suggested that Paul was addressing the Corinthian church in chapter 13 for some specific issues that he had gotten reports about while in Ephesus from Timothy. And in reading 1 Corinthians, we understand some of the issues that Paul was addressing. Sort of like the TV show, Jeopardy, we are getting Paul’s answers and we must supply the questions.
What was Paul addressing? Well, there were factions, jealousy, divisiveness, sexual immorality, quarrels, pride, not dealing with sin, not getting along, lawsuits against one another, instructions on marriage, personal freedom vs responsibility, instructions on worship, spiritual gifts, and more, and all that before chapter 13! So, how we deal with one another as a body is so important.
Back to 1Corinthians 13:6. We are not to delight in things that are evil or wrong but to get to the truth. Jesus prayed in John 17, “Sanctify them by the truth, your word is truth.”
Are we seeking God’s truth in handling situations? Are we guarding our hearts not to be jealous of a sister? We are not to delight when someone is brought low by sin or circumstances but rejoice in what is true. We are not to say or even think, “Ah hah! It’s about time he/she was found out!” That is not loving at all.
Perhaps, believing the wrong in a person and never seeing the truth as God sees her. Perhaps, it is not extending grace to brothers and sisters who have sinned or made mistakes or have hurt us even deeply, in some ways. Perhaps, it is not carrying a grudge, getting bitter, being divisive. Are we resolving conflicts biblically? Are we confessing sins, apologizing, and forgiving? Perhaps, on a more personal level, it is making sure we are not doing evil to a person with gossip and slander; not passing those choice tidbits along but, rather, being kind.
Ephesians 4:32.
As young moms, how can I use this verse in my home, in my marriage, with my children?
What do my children at home hear me say or pray about?
Proverbs 14:1 says, “Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.” Ouch! Are we bringing evil into our homes by some of the novels we read, the questionable shows and movies we watch, the ugly things we say to our spouses, the harshness with our kids? Are we building our house up or tearing it down? It is never too late to start again.
I remember, as a new Christian, burning my books and immodest clothes I had before. Am I that sensitive now to unholy things? Or have I gotten hardened by sin’s deceitfulness and embraced what is acceptable from a worldly point of view?
Another commentator whom I forgot the name (I apologize) used 1Corinthians 13 in a marriage series. About the sixth verse, he mentioned the evil of pornography in marriage. We have had much teaching on this in the past. Suffice it to say that pornography has no place in a marriage, especially a Christian one, individually or as a couple. Get help and counseling if this is occurring in yours. It is hard to keep the marriage bed holy with that going on. As Lady Diana said about her marriage to Prince Charles, “it got a little crowded.”
Finally, I will mention the children. How do we feel when a sister’s child is honored above our own? Jealous, envious, or do we rejoice with those who rejoice? Do we inwardly rejoice when our sister’s child is called out or gets in trouble? This is not a competition, sisters.
What do our children hear at home? Fighting? As a commercial recently put on a plaque, “No fussing, and no cussing.” Do we have devotionals?
Do we make time daily to talk as a family with no interruptions or distractions? Do we apologize to our children when we should? Do they see us praying and relying on God? Or are we relying on ourselves? Are we sensitive to the needs of others? Do we try to find out the truth in all matters or believe the worst?
Are we seeking justice and what is true and right? Are we acting as a village and helping each other raise our kids in love? Are we seeking wise, spiritual advice in raising our children? Are we teaching our kids the truth about God and Christ? Are we bringing into our homes the antidote to an evil world run by the evil one? Are we balancing the scales in God’s favor? Are we living lives according to the Scriptures and faith in Christ? Are we extending grace?
It was not an easy verse. I pray it has helped somewhat and that you study it further. Let me leave you with this promise, and let’s rejoice in these truths - God loves you (1John 4) and cares for you (1 Peter 5, Matt.6:25ff). He has given us prayer (Matt.6 and Luke 11). He is attentive to our prayers (1 Peter 3:12, Jer. 29:12-13, Ps 34:17-18) and bends down to hear them (Psalm 116:1-2 NLT), which are among my favorite imageries of God.
He has given all of us an excellent instruction manual, check out Proverbs and stay awhile, and given the Holy Spirit (Eph.1:13-14) to guide us and give us strength and intercede for us (Rm. 8:26-27). And, finally, He has given you Christ, as your savior (Jn. 3:16-17) and brother and given you every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph.1). He wants us to love one another (Jn.13:34, 1Pe.4:8, Jn.15:12) and has put us in “families” to help each other and lean on, especially in this group.
God can give us more than we could ever ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). And He does.
Jan Mitchell : Jan has been a disciple for over 40 years. She and her husband, Mitch, have been married for 43 years, been on staff at 6 different churches, have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. She is a die-hard Wolfpack fan, and enjoys spending time teaching and training, traveling and playing outside with their grandchildren. She currently lives in the greater Raleigh, NC area.
Dr. Mary Shapiro is currently the Director of the ADHD Clinic at Duke Medical School's Southern Regional Area Health Education Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, behavior disorders, and other childhood conditions. For the 30 years prior to moving to North Carolina, she and her husband, Dr. Michael Shapiro, were in private practice in Athens, Georgia, where they served children and adults in predominately rural and underserved areas. She completed her PhD in Educational Psychology at the University of Georgia in 1984 and interned in the Department of Neurology at the Medical College of Georgia. She and her husband have lectured extensively (both domestically and abroad) on topics related to child psychology, parenting, marriage, adoption, and mental health issues in a Christian context. They have authored two publications for Discipleship Press International; “Rejoice Always: A Manual for Christians Facing Emotional Challenges” and “Understanding Sexual Behavior in Children: How to be Proactive in Educating and Protecting your Children.
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