Part 2:

What is True Love?

The Bible's Definition of Love:

1 Corinthians 13:4 to 8 gives us a great definition of love.

"Love is patient,
love is kind,
it is not jealous;
love does not brag,
it is not arrogant. 
It does not act disgracefully,
it does not seek its own benefit;
it is not provoked,
does not keep an account of a wrong, 
it does not rejoice in unrighteousness,
but rejoices with the truth;
  it keeps every confidence,
it believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things. 
Love never fails...

Note: Some versions of the Bible translate the word for "love" as "charity," from the Latin Vulgate version of the New Testament. This translation is no longer as accurate as the world "love" because the meaning of the word "charity" has changed in modern English. The modern word for love includes charity; but the modern definition of "charity" does not require love.

Let's expand on the meaning of these words based on the original Greek definitions of these words.

"Love is patient, love is kind:"
Are you always patient and kind to those you say you love? True love has or continually works on increasing patience and kindness in all directions of loving relationships.

"it is not jealous;"
When both people can totally trust each other's faithfulness; there is no need for jealousy. Jealousy can be replaced with confidence and faith.

"love does not brag, it is not arrogant:"
Be happy when you find love; but bragging and arrogance require pride; the first sin and the foundation of all sin. Bragging can hurt other people. Confidence is silently knowing; boasting and arrogance are fearfully trying to convince... One is based on faith; one is based on fear.

"It does not act disgracefully:"
Just as it is in the English translation; the Greek texts mean one's actions should be within what is respectful to oneself and others.

"it does not seek its own benefit:"
Love is selfless not selfish. Love fades away as one's focus on themselves, their wants and needs increases.

"it is not provoked:"
Love does not intentionally provoke; nor is easily provoked. The word "provoked has more meaning in the Greek. To expand on this it would mean: Love is not easily angered, irritated, annoyed, or stirred up to action. In many long term relationships, people form habits of instantly reacting with anger. Become aware of your "triggers/buttons" and rather than blame other for "triggering" you or "pushing your buttons" take the responsibility to patiently chose your responses. Stop being a helpless slave your automatic reactions.

"does not keep an account of a wrong:"
God gave us His example. True love includes forgiveness. The meaning of "wrong" here includes forgiveness, and forgetting harm and suffering. Forgive and forget to move on.

"it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in truth:"
"Righteousness" here means immorality, and wrong actions. Habitual liars and cheaters think they are clever when they think no one knows they lied or fell for immoral actions. They get a moment of joy in their delusion that no one knows. They fail to see they chose to be fools; having been so easily fooled by the devil. All their friends and relatives who have passed into the next dimension already know everything they have done. When everyone they know passes on; everyone will know what they have done; there are no secrets. Many people around them know now; but don't say anything. The one most cheated by immoral actions or words is the one doing them.

"it keeps every confidence:"
Love endures and covers suffering with silence and patience. Of course, I think accepting unlimited abuse is not a healthy love of oneself. One who continually inflicts verbal, psychological, or physical abuse on another clearly does not know how to love.

"it believes all things"
Love has faith. Faith in one another; faith in the future; faith that it can grow.

"hopes in all things, endures all things. Love never fails..."
The Greek and English are the same in meaning here, nothing needs to be added. Love includes the hope, faith, and ability to endure all problems; true love never fails or ends. Love only seems to end or change into hatred when one makes those choices; to find excuses to give up on it rather than develop it. Only people fail when they choose to;

Love Never Fails.