Do you suffer from perpereuomai or phusioutai? Let’s see.
In the above verse, where the New King James Version says “does not parade itself,” the King James Version says “vaunteth not itself.” So, what does that mean?
Perpereuomai is the Greek word used above for parade or vaunt, which means to boast of oneself, to be a braggart, to trample on others or treat them with contempt and scorn.
Phusioutai means puffed up, in the sense of blowing, to make proud or haughty, to cause to swell up, to be inflated with a sense of one’s own importance.
A braggart. A show-off. I know you’ve known people like that. We all have. So, if these things are not part of your personality and behavior, then you don’t suffer with those afflictions that stem from pride.
Pride, in the negative sense of the word, means to inflate with self-conceit, with one’s own self-importance. Pride is “a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority.” (dictionary.com)
But love, as Matthew Henry said, is “not bloated with self-conceit, does not swell upon its acquisitions.”
Love, real love and not love of self, prevents pride. Paul says real love, agape love, is not afflicted with perpereuomai or phusioutai. He told the Corinthian church “love edifies.” (1 Cor. 8:1b NKJV)
The Greek word for edifies means to be a house-builder, to construct or to confirm, to build up from the foundation, rebuild, repair, or to promote growth in Christian grace, virtue, wisdom, affection, and holiness.
Do we treat others with contempt and arrogance or with esteem and grace? Barnes Notes says love “would teach us to treat them with affectionate regard—and no man who has affectionate regard for others is disposed to boast of his own qualities over them.”
Paul exhorts us…
* “When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4 NCV)
* “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” (Rom. 12:10 NKJV)
* “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5 NIV)
Do we really get that last verse? Enough to put it into practice? Real love esteems and honors others as having worth and value. Real love gives preference to others, desiring to build them up, not tear them down. Real love prevents self-conceit and arrogance and shares love and grace.
Real love has the mind of Christ. Real love becomes humble. Obeys. Serves.
I think Paul purposely sandwiched the love-not verses of 1 Corinthians 13 within positive verses. On one side, “Love suffers long or is patient and is kind.” (1 Cor. 13:4a NKJV) And on the other side, “Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13:8 NKJV)
Paul’s writing to the Corinthian believers urged them to pursue love, just as his writing urges us…
I pray are not afflicted with perpereuomai or phusioutai and that real love may always be your aim.
***If you missed the first two posts in the Love series, you can find them here…
Love Suffers
Envy, Envy, Thy Name is Poison!
Hooking up with…
Mondays…
Soli deo Gloria Sisterhood
Laura Boggess
Tuesdays…
Purposeful Faith
Wednesdays…
Words of Life
