Fathers

1 Corinthians 13

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Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 13:7

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Nevertheless, he is not content with these, but hath something even more than these to say: according to his plan of stating the stronger points later. Wherefore he saith, "beareth all things." From her long-suffering, from her goodness; whether they be burdensome, or grievous, or insults, or stripes, or death, or whatsoever else. And this again one may perceive from the case of blessed David. For what could be more intolerable than to see a son rising up against him, and aiming at the usurpation, and thirsting for a father's blood? …

Homily on 1 Corinthians 33 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

And insults, and beatings, and death. Such a quality is granted to it by the long-suffering inherent in it. This is against those who devise evil. Love believes all things that the beloved says, for love itself speaks nothing falsely, and does not suppose that another speaks falsely either. Love, he says, does not despair of the beloved, but hopes that he is always ascending to what is better. This he said to those who despair. …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Clement of Alexandria

But love is in truth celestial food, the banquet of reason. "It beareth all things, endureth all things, hopeth all things. Love never faileth." "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." But the hardest of all cases is for charity, which faileth not, to be cast from heaven above to the ground into the midst of sauces. And do you imagine that I am thinking of a supper that is to be done away with? …

The Instructor Book 2 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

And how can they tell, when they hear from me of myself, whether I speak the truth, seeing that no man knoweth what is in man, "save the spirit of man which is in him"? But if they hear from Thee aught concerning themselves, they will not be able to say, "The Lord lieth." For what is it to hear from Thee of themselves, but to know themselves? And who is he that knoweth himself and saith, "It is false," unless he himself lieth? …

Confessions 10.3 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

He that has this charity fears nothing, for charity casteth out fear; and fear being thus banished and thrown aside, charity beareth all things, endureth all things. He who by charity endures all things, cannot fear martyrdom; and so in another place he speaks as a conqueror at the end of his course, The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Letter 78, To Horontianus ↗

Thomas Aquinas

In the fact that a person endures the evils of his neighbor to the extent that it is fitting, he says: love bears all things, i.e., without disquiet it tolerates all the shortcomings of the neighbor or any adversity whatever: "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak" (Rom 15:1); "Carry one another's burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ," namely, charity (Gal 6:2). Then when he says: believes all things, he shows how charity makes one do the good in relation to God. …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗