Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Monday, March 30, 2015

1 Corinthians 13

Mormon summarized charity  as -

"...the pure love of Christ..."  (Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:47)

It is an attribute we are all striving for.  Paul provided a more detail definition as -

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."  (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7)

Thus -

"Charity never faileth..."  (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 13:8)

David J. Ridges provided several interpretations of "faileth" -

"...For instance, it can mean that exercising charity never fails to make us a better person. It never fails to make the world a better place. Another lesson for us could be found in Strong’s Concordance # 1601 , which defines “faileth” as being ineffective, in other words, “charity” is never ineffective. Even in the case where Christ like love and patience is rejected by others, charity still brings the one who has it back to God. Yet another use of the word “fail” is found in the phrase “Men’s hearts failing them for fear,” as used in Luke 21: 26. Here, the word “failing” means “to run out of,” as in running out of hope, courage, optimism, etc . Thus, “Charity never faileth” could mean that a truly Christ like person never runs out of charity toward others. Still another help for understanding the word “faileth” is found in the Institute of Religion New Testament student manual, p. 296, where “faileth” is used in conjunction with a leaf falling off a tree or a flower. The message is that “charity” will never be removed from its place as a central focus of celestial, Christ like behavior." (Ridges, David J. (2010-10-01). The New Testament Made Easier, Part 2)

All for consideration.  I could improve in all of these.