meaning would then be, ' Thougli I not only give away all my goods, but should sell myself as a slave for the sake of the poor, it would profit me nothing.' Had Paul intended to say this, he would probably have used the appropriate term for branding. We do not express the idea that an animal was branded, by saying it was burnt. There is no necessity for departing from the simple sense of the words. ' Though I give my body to be burnt for others, i. e. though I should die for them, without love it profiteth me nothing.'
4. Charity suffereth long, (and) is kind ; charity en- vieth not ; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Almost aU the instructions of the New Testament are sug- gested by some occasion, and are adapted to it. We have not in this chapter a methodical dissertation on Christian love, but an exhibition of that grace as contrasted with extraordi- nary gifts which the Corinthians inordinately valued. Those traits of love are therefore adduced which stood opposed to the temper which they exhibited in the use of their gifts. They were impatient, discontented, envious, inflated, selfish, indecorous, unmindful of the feelings or interests of others, suspicious, resentful, censorious. The apostle personifies love, and places her before them and enumerates her graces, not in logical order, but as they occurred to him in contrast to the deformities of character which they exhibited.
Love suffereth long, i. e. is long-minded, or slow to be roused to resentment. It patiently bears with provocation, and is not quick to assert its rights or resent an injury. It is kind, i. e. is inclined to perform good offices ; is good-natured. The root of the verb (xp^crTos, from xpao/xat) means useful, and hence its primary sense is, disposed to he useful. The excel- lence here indicated is the positive side of that already men- tioned. Love is not quick to resent evil, but is disposed to do good. It envieth not. The word (^^Aow) here used may ex- press any wrong feeling excited in view of the good of others ; not only envy, but hatred, emulation, and the like. It vaunt- eth not itself (TrcpTrcpcvcrat), this includes all forms of the desire to gain the applause of others. Love does not seek to win ' admiration and applause. Is not puffed up, i. e. conceited. This is the root of the preceding. The man who has a high conceit of himself is apt to be boastful and desirous of praise. Love, on the other hand, is modest and humble ; modest be- cause humble.