1 Corinthians 13:7
«bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.»
Love shoulders the weight, trusts God’s work, looks ahead with holy expectancy, and refuses to quit.
Also searched as
- 1 corinthians 13 7
- 1 Corinthians 13:7
- bears all things believes all things hopes all things endures all things
- what does 1 cor 13 7 mean
- meaning of bears all things
- love believes all things naive?
- hope all things verse
- enduring love bible verse
- 1 cor 13:7 explanation
- apply 1 corinthians 13 7 to relationships
Understand the verse
What this verse is about
Paul stacks four verbs to show love’s toughness and tenacity. This isn’t naïve or passive; it’s an active posture that carries burdens, gives the benefit of the doubt, looks for God’s redemption, and keeps going under pressure. Each phrase stretches love across present pain (“bears”), perception (“believes”), future outlook (“hopes”), and time (“endures”). Together they paint love as resilient faithfulness rather than fleeting feeling.
Context
1 Corinthians 13 sits between chapters correcting chaotic worship and disputes over spiritual gifts. Paul argues that without love, spectacular gifts are empty noise (13:1–3). Verses 4–7 define love’s character in contrast to the Corinthians’ pride and rivalry. Verse 7 culminates the portrait by showing love’s staying power that outlasts gifts and circumstances.
When people especially turn to it
People turn here when relationships are strained, trust feels fragile, or perseverance seems impossible. It also steadies hearts in seasons of caregiving, ministry fatigue, grief, or reconciliation.
A short prayer
Lord, teach me a love that carries what is heavy, believes what is true, hopes in your promises, and keeps going when I’m tired. Shape my reactions today to reflect your patient, enduring heart.
Key phrases in 1 Corinthians 13:7
«bears all things»
From the Greek stegei, “to cover, to support”; love protects by carrying burdens and by covering others from exposure where possible.
«believes all things»
Pisteuei means “trusts” or “has faith”; love gives a posture of trust toward people and, ultimately, confidence in God’s work unless truth clearly forbids it.
«hopes all things»
Elpizei points to expectant confidence; love anticipates God’s redemption and future change rather than cynically foreclosing possibility.
«endures all things»
Hypomenei conveys steadfast remaining under a load; love stays put under trial, refusing to abandon its post.
Historical background of 1 Corinthians 13:7
1 Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul in the mid–first century AD (around AD 53–55) to the church in Corinth, a Roman colony in Achaia. The situation involved internal church conflicts: factions, lawsuits, sexual immorality, and disorderly worship while the church lived under Roman civic expectations. Corinth’s culture prized eloquence, patronage, and status; public meals in homes often reflected social rank, which bled into the Lord’s Supper (ch. 11). Roman law allowed manumission and patron-client ties that shaped social dynamics; temples to Aphrodite and others normalized idolatrous feasts. Into this milieu, Paul redefines true honor as cruciform love that serves rather than seeks status.
Theological themes in 1 Corinthians 13:7
Sanctification
Love is the Spirit-shaped pattern that reforms our reactions, teaching us to carry burdens and persevere in holiness.
Ecclesiology
The church’s health is measured not by gifts but by love that protects, trusts, hopes, and endures together.
Perseverance
Christian endurance is not stoic grit but love-fueled faithfulness that remains under pressure with hope.
Truth and Love
Love’s believing and hoping operate within truth, refusing cynicism while not excusing sin.
Cross references for 1 Corinthians 13:7
«Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.»
Connection: Connects “bears all things” with carrying others’ loads in Christlike love.
«And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.»
Connection: Echoes love’s protective, covering posture.
«Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.»
Connection: Grounds “hopes all things” in Spirit-given hope.
«Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love him.»
Connection: Mirrors “endures all things” with steadfastness under trial.
«remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.»
Connection: Faith, love, and hope appear together as enduring marks of believers.
Other wordings
WEB (World English Bible)
«bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.»
Public-domain modern translation used on this page.
KJV (King James Version)
«Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.»
Classic 1611 English translation.
How to apply 1 Corinthians 13:7
- Identify one relationship where you’ve grown cynical, and today speak one truthful, hopeful encouragement to that person.
- Quietly cover, not broadcast, a fault you could expose; choose a protective action instead.
- Read 1 Corinthians 13 aloud and underline verbs that call for a concrete step this week.
- Make a “hope list” naming three ways you expect God to redeem a hard situation, then pray over it daily.
- When tension rises, take one minute to breathe and silently pray, “Help me endure in love,” before responding.
Questions for reflection on 1 Corinthians 13:7
- Where am I carrying grievances instead of carrying burdens?
- What facts justify caution, and where have I gone beyond truth into suspicion?
- How would my words change if hope for God’s work shaped my tone?
- What pressure tempts me to quit loving, and what small step keeps me at my post today?
Memorize 1 Corinthians 13:7
Break the verse into four beats—bears all things / believes all things / hopes all things / endures all things—and tap a finger for each phrase to build rhythm and recall.
FAQ
What does “bears all things” mean here?
It means love protects and carries weight; it covers rather than exposes and shoulders burdens instead of dropping people.
Who was this written to?
The church in Corinth, a first-century Roman city, dealing with divisions and disorder; Paul shows them a better way to live together.
Does “believes all things” mean being gullible?
No; it means a trusting posture constrained by truth—charity, not naivety.
How do I apply this in conflict?
Speak truth, assume the best consistent with facts, look for redemptive next steps, and refuse to retaliate.
How does this relate to the rest of the New Testament?
It aligns with Jesus’ command to love and with the triad of faith, hope, and love seen across the epistles.
Why do translations differ slightly?
Greek verbs like stegei and hypomenei carry ranges of meaning (cover/support; remain/endure), so versions choose different English words to capture the nuances.
