1 Coríntios 13
Marvin Vincent · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Coríntios 13
Vincent comments that "Easily is superfluous, and gives a wrong coloring to the statement, which is absolute." Provoked (3947) (paroxuno from pará = at point of, implying movement toward a certain point + oxúno = sharpen, incite, irritate) means to sharpen (this literal meaning is found in Lxx of Dt 32:41). This Greek verb gives us our English word paroxysm which is defined as a fit, attack, or sudden increase or recurrence of symptoms (as of a disease), a convulsion (like paroxysm of coughing) or a sudden violent emotion or action, and so an outburst (a paroxysm of rage). Moses lost control and had a "paroxysm" which cost him dearly (Study Nu 20:10, 11, 12, cp Mt 5:22-note). Proverbs warns us that… A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. (Proverbs 14:17) Figuratively paroxuno came to mean to spur on, to cause to be upset, to stimulate and as used in this verse to arouse or stir someone to anger. To be incensed which is frequently the meaning in the 45 uses in the LXX. usually reflecting God's reaction to sin of His people Israel. Clearly God's provocation is righteous anger, but in the present verse Paul is referring to sinful anger that is never provoked in one who is living out selfless, supernatural love. They are willing to endure slights and insults even as did the One Who is the essence of these attributes of agape love. And it is His life in us as the Spirit of Christ that enables us to manifest this love, which is not possible in our own strength. Paul gave an exhortation in Romans 12 which is the corollary of non-provocation… Bless (present imperative = charge for bestowing blessings to be the believer's lifestyle! How are you doing, beloved? Have you blessed anyone today?… this week?) those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Ro 12:14-note). Never take your own revenge (Love does not seek to give out a proverbial "eye for an eye" response, a tit for a tat!), beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. (Ro 12:19-note) and Thiselton notes that… The heart of the word (paroxuno) conveys the semantic force of to exasperate, to irritate, as metaphorical extensions of to make sharp, to make pointed, to make acid… Virtually every lexicon and primary source indicates the notion of reaching a level of exasperation. But how does this express itself? The English pique combines the same range of nuances as the Greek: something between irritation and anger which takes offense because one’s self-regard has been dented, wounded, or punctured by some sharp point. Love, Paul urges, does not become exasperated into pique (a transient feeling of wounded vanity), partly because patience delays exasperation and partly because lack of self-interest diverts a sense of self-importance away from reacting on the grounds of wounded pride: “it is not embittered by injuries, whether real or supposed.” (1 Corinthians - NIGTC) As noted above the derived English word paroxysm describes a convulsion or sudden outburst of emotion or action. Love guards against being sharply irritated (and irritable), upset, or angered by things said or done against it. Note the relation of this trait to the former (a spirit of selfishness) for the one who is intent on having his or her own way is generally the same one who is easily provoked or angered. The only other NT use of paroxuno is a "positive" usage in Acts 17 where Luke records that… Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked (imperfect tense = over and over, again and again) within him as he was beholding the city full of idols. (See notes Acts 17:16) On the other hand there are 45 uses of paroxuno in the Septuagint (LXX) Nu 14:11, 23; 15:30; 16:30; 20:24; Deut. 1:34; 9:7f, 18f, 22; 31:20; 32:16, 19, 41; 2 Sam. 12:14; Ezra 9:14; Ps. 10:3, 13; 74:10, 18; 78:41; 106:29; 107:11; Prov. 6:3; 14:31; 17:5; 20:2; 27:17; Isa. 5:24-25; 14:16; 23:11; 37:23; 47:6; 60:14; 63:10; 65:3; Jer. 22:15; 50:34; Lam. 2:6; Dan. 11:10; Hos. 8:5; Zech. 10:3; Mal. 2:17) Here are some representative uses… Deuteronomy 9:7 "Remember, do not forget how you provoked (paroxuno) the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD. Deuteronomy 9:18 "And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke (paroxuno) Him to anger. Deuteronomy 9:22 "Again at Taberah and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked (paroxuno) the LORD to wrath. Psalm 106:29 Thus they provoked (paroxuno) Him to anger with their deeds; And the plague broke out among them. Isaiah 65:3 A people who continually provoke (paroxuno) Me to My face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks As one reads this letter is clear that the church at Corinth had to deal with numerous situations which could easily provoke and in fact did produce provocation -- factions, immorality, lawsuits, friction in or disputes about marriage, and eating food offered to an idol. The result was that disagreements were common and disrupted relationships. J B Phillips paraphrases it well writing that love "is not touchy" which conveys the readiness to overreact on one’s own behalf. Robertson and Plummer render it… Not merely 'does not fly into a rage' but 'does not yield to provocation'; it is not embittered by injuries, whether real or supposed. Henry Drummond in "The Greatest Thing in the World" wrote the following about this negative trait noting that… the peculiarity of ill temper is that it is the vice of the virtuous. It is often the one blot on an otherwise noble character. You know men who are all but perfect, and women who would be entirely perfect, but for an easily ruffled, quick-tempered, or "touchy" disposition. Pritchard adds… I know that some people excuse their bad temper by saying, "Sure, I lose my temper a lot, but it's all over in a few minutes." So is a nuclear bomb. A great deal of damage can be done in a very short time. Even small temper "bombs" can leave behind a lot of hurt, especially when they explode on a regular basis. Your temper is a sign of what is in your heart. A bad temper is a symptom of a terrible disease within the soul. It is an escaping bubble that reveals a fetid pit within. The perfect example of this "negative attribute" of love is our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter writes… For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. (See notes 1 Peter 2:21; 2:22; 2:23)
1 Coríntios 13
Vincent writes that stego "keeps out resentment as the ship keeps out the water, or the roof the rain. Robertson and Plummer offer the caveat that even though agape love covers others faults and sins this does not mean…"that a Christian is to allow himself to be fooled by every rogue, or to pretend that he believes that white is black. But in doubtful cases he will prefer being too generous in his conclusions to suspecting another unjustly. (Critical and Exegetical Commentary) Stego is used only 4 times in the NT… 1 Corinthians 9:12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 1 Corinthians 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Thessalonians 3:1 Therefore when we could endure (stego) it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone. (See note 1Thessalonians 3:1) 1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this reason, when I could endure (stego) it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should be in vain. (note) (Comment: As explained above, this does not appear to be Paul's primary intended meaning here in 1Corinthians 13:7) Spirit controlled and empowered believers love as a lifestyle by choosing as an act of their will (even that choice enabled by the Spirit Ezekiel 36:27, Php 2:13-note) to cover over in silence, to ''hide'' the faults of others, to bear with or endure. Love doesn’t broadcast another's problems to everyone. Love doesn’t run down others with jokes, sarcasm or put-downs. Love defends the character of the other person as much as possible within the limits of truth. Love won’t lie about weaknesses, but neither will it deliberately expose and emphasize them. Love protects. And so instead of becoming embittered (Col 3:19-note) the Spirit filled (Ep 5:18-note) husband "covers" his wife's faults and frailties. This does not mean one turns grace into licentiousness but that he lives with his wife in an understanding way (1Pe 3:7-note)… he gets to know her… he loves her sacrificially and selflessly as Christ loved the church (Ep 5:25-note). Authentic Agape Love continually seeks to cover and protect (1Co 13:7NIV ''love always protects'') the object that is loved and for husbands this applies especially to our wives! Love protects other people. It doesn't broadcast bad news. It goes the second mile to protect another person's reputation. Love doesn't point out every flaw of the ones you love. Love doesn't criticize in public.