1 Corinthians 13:6 says, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” This verse comes in the middle of Paul’s famous discourse on love in 1 Corinthians 13, where he describes the nature and character of genuine Christian love.
To properly understand this verse, we first need to look at the context. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul contrasts love with spiritual gifts like prophecy, knowledge, and faith. He argues that these gifts are meaningless without love. Love is greater than any spiritual gift because it comes from God and reflects His nature (1 John 4:8).
In verses 4-7, Paul describes what true godly love looks like in action. He says love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
With this context in mind, let’s break down the specific verse in question, 1 Corinthians 13:6:
“Love does not delight in evil”
The first part of this verse tells us that godly love does not take pleasure in evil. The word “delight” implies enjoyment, approval, favor towards something. True love does not delight in wickedness, sin, immorality, or anything opposed to God’s nature and commands. Instead, love hates evil.
As Romans 12:9 says, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Love abhors evil. It does not find evil fascinating, entertaining, or attractive in any way. This applies to both our own sin and the sin of others.
The fact that love does not delight in evil sets it apart from worldly affections. Unholy loves might take pleasure in sin, immorality, deception, and so forth. But godly love never approves of or enjoys evil.
“But rejoices with the truth”
In contrast to delighting in evil, love rejoices with the truth. The conjunction “but” sets up a sharp contrast between these two clauses. Not only does love not enjoy evil, but it positively delights in what is good, right, and true instead.
The “truth” here refers first and foremost to God’s truth revealed in Scripture (John 17:17). Love takes joy in the Word of God. It celebrates biblical truth and values it highly. Love also rejoices when the truth of God impacts people’s lives for good, setting them free (John 8:32).
As John says in 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” When we see others embracing and obeying God’s Word, it brings joy to our hearts.
Love also rejoices when truth triumphs over deception and falsehood, both individually and corporately. When lies are exposed and truth prevails, love is glad because God’s kingdom has advanced.
So in summary, this verse teaches that godly love finds no pleasure in immorality or evil of any kind. Instead, it delights in the truth of God’s Word and celebrates when that truth transforms lives and culture.
Practical Implications
What are some practical ways we can apply 1 Corinthians 13:6 today? Here are a few key implications from this verse:
- We must guard our hearts against enjoying worldly entertainment or media that glorifies immorality and sin. Love finds no pleasure in watching or reading things that dishonor God.
- We should feel sorrow, not delight, when we see wickedness prevailing around us. Love mourns over injustice, corruption, violence, and so on.
- We must celebrate and find joy when God’s truth transforms someone’s life or renews a part of culture. Love is thrilled to see the gospel at work.
- We must hate our own sin, not downplay it or make excuses for it. True love means ruthlessly confronting our own sin by the power of the Spirit.
- We have a responsibility to expose deception and proclaim truth in our spheres of influence – at work, school, in our families, online, and so forth.
- We must pray for and actively support ministries that promote biblical truth and oppose immorality in our society.
Put simply, 1 Corinthians 13:6 calls us to have God’s value system. We must hate evil, celebrate truth, and allow this to shape how we live each day in a fallen world.
What the World Says
Our culture often has a very different perspective on evil and truth than the Bible. Here are some contrasting worldly messages:
- “As long as you don’t hurt anyone, you’re free to live however you want.” But Scripture says sin always hurts others and offends God, whether directly or indirectly.
- “Nothing is absolutely right or wrong.” But God’s truth reveals objective moral standards that do not change.
- “Your truth is valid for you, my truth is valid for me.” Yet the Bible claims absolute divine truth for all people in all places.
- “Darkness can have beauty.” But Scripture never attributes anything positive to evil.
- “Sinful pleasures last for a season.” However, the Bible says fleeting sinful pleasure only brings lasting destruction (Hebrews 11:25).
- “Victimless crimes aren’t wrong.” But God cares about our private thoughts and motives, not just external behaviors.
As Christians, we must reject worldly thinking that condones or even glamorizes sin. Instead, we fix our eyes on God’s eternal truths revealed in Scripture.
Old Testament Background
While 1 Corinthians 13:6 deals specifically with Christian love, the Old Testament also addressed the contrast between delighting in evil vs. truth.
Several Psalms highlight this theme. For example:
- Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
- Psalm 119:47-48 – I delight in your commands because I love them. I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.
These verses connect delighting in God’s truth with rejecting the ways of the wicked. We cannot do both.
Proverbs also warns against finding pleasure in evil:
- Proverbs 2:14 – who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil.
- Proverbs 10:23 – A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
The prophets rebuked God’s people for delighting in idolatry and falsehood instead of God’s truth. See Jeremiah 9:24, Hosea 4:18, and Micah 3:2 for examples.
So while 1 Corinthians 13:6 presents a distinctly Christian view of love, the principles of delighting in truth and shunning evil permeate the Old Testament as well.
Examples in Scripture
Many biblical figures display the contrast between rejoicing in evil and truth described in 1 Corinthians 13:6. Here are a few examples:
Job – Did not delight in the calamity of his trials
After losing his possessions, children, and health, Job did not rejoice or say he deserved these tragedies. Rather, he worshiped God (Job 1:20-22) anddid not sin in what he said (Job 2:10). He found no pleasure in evil.
David – Repented of his sin with Bathsheba
Although David initially enjoyed and covered up his adultery and murder, God convicted him of his evil. David repented and found joy in being forgiven and restored to righteousness (Psalm 51).
Phinehas – Zealous for God’s honor
When an Israelite brought a Midianite woman into the camp, Phinehas righteously killed them both. He could not rejoice in this evil and idolatry in God’s people (Numbers 25:6-13).
Jesus – Loved righteousness and hated wickedness
Hebrews 1:9 describes Christ as loving righteousness and hating wickedness. He perfectly exemplified delighting in the truth and shunning evil. Even when reviled, He did not retaliate or threaten (1 Peter 2:23).
In contrast, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day rejoiced in evil. They loved the praise of men and their position (John 5:44). They delighted in catching Jesus in His words and plotting to kill Him out of envy (Matthew 27:18).
As disciples of Christ, we must follow Jesus’ example of hating evil and rejoicing in the truth, not the model of the corrupt Pharisees.
Qualities of Love that Delight in Truth
Based on 1 Corinthians 13:6 and the rest of Scripture, we learn that godly love has the following qualities that set it apart from unholy affections:
- Moral excellence – Love upholds God’s standards of righteousness.
- Justice – Love cares about protecting the vulnerable and defending the oppressed.
- Discernment – Love wisely separates truth from lies, right from wrong.
- Integrity – Love acts consistently in public and private.
- Self-control – Love controls harmful desires that wage war against the soul.
- Courage – Love stands up boldly for truth in the face of opposition.
- Zeal – Love burns fiercely against hypocrisy, exploitation, and ungodliness.
- Gratitude – Love overflows with thankfulness for God’s grace and truth.
- Humility – Love surrenders personal glory to exalt God’s truth alone.
When we walk by the Spirit, He produces these moral qualities that despise evil and celebrate righteousness. This sets God’s love apart from all weaker counterfeits.
Guarding Against Deceptive Loves
As sinful human beings, we easily fall into loves that appear righteous but subtly delight in evil. Scripture warns us to guard our hearts against counterfeit affections.
For example, the Pharisees acted very religious but were full of pride and hypocrisy (Luke 18:9-14). God rebuked the Ephesian church for forsaking their first love and tolerating false teaching (Revelation 2:4-6). Even mature believers like Peter failed deeply when they followed Christ afar off instead of standing with Him (Matthew 26:58).
Here are some deceptive loves that delight in evil rather than truth:
- Worldliness – Loving pleasure, possessions, and approval of man more than God (1 John 2:15-17).
- Idolatry – Worshiping created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).
- Greed – Pursuing wealth by exploiting others (1 Timothy 6:10; James 5:1-6).
- Pride – Arrogance, self-exaltation, and looking down on others (Proverbs 16:18).
- Unforgiveness – Bitterness, resentment, revenge, and keeping record of wrongs (Matthew 6:15).
- Hypocrisy – Pretending to be godly while embracing secret sin (Matthew 23:25-28).
These counterfeit affections pervade human society. That is why we must constantly pray for wisdom and examine our hearts. Even good things like family, ministry success, or passionate causes can become inordinate loves that lead us astray.
God gives us His Word, Spirit, and church community to protect us from deceptive desires. He lovingly rebukes and disciplines those He loves to keep us from subtly delighting in evil (Hebrews 12:5-6).
Cultivating Love that Rejoices in Truth
How can we practically grow in godly love that rejects evil and embraces truth? Here are some tips:
- Internalize Scripture – God’s Word exposes sin and reveals truth. Memorizing and meditating on it renews our minds (Psalm 119:9-11).
- Reject worldliness – Avoid entertainment and media that celebrates immorality. Fix your eyes on Christ instead (Hebrews 12:2).
- Pursue accountability – Humbly confess sins and temptations to other believers. Don’t hide evil but bring it into the light (James 5:16).
- Examine your heart – Ask God to search your heart and reveal any delight in evil (Psalm 139:23-24).
- Practice thankfulness – Cultivate gratitude for God’s attributes, salvation, and truths revealed in Scripture.
- Walk in the Spirit – Surrender daily to the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control (Galatians 5:16-25).
- Serve others – Get your eyes off yourself by ministering to needs around you in Jesus’ name.
Loving truth is a lifelong journey that requires God’s ongoing grace, wisdom, patience, and discipline. But He promises that as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us and transform us into Christ’s image (James 4:7-8).
Reflection Questions
Here are some reflection questions to help apply the truths of 1 Corinthians 13:6 personally:
- What are some ways I have delighted in evil instead of truth? Have I enjoyed degrading entertainment or excused my own secret sins?
- When have I failed to rejoice in the truth? Do I recognize the power of God’s Word at work around me?
- What qualities of holy love – like justice, courage, integrity – do I need to grow in most right now? Which fruits of the Spirit?
- What are some deceptive loves I need to guard my heart against? Do I love success, comfort, or approval too much?
- How has God disciplined and rebuked me out of His love to make me hate evil and cling to truth?
- Who can I confess sins to and ask to help me cultivate love that rejoices in the truth?
- How am I preparing my heart to face persecution for righteousness with courage, not compromise?
May God grant us discernment to walk in His truth and reject all counterfeit affections. As we mature in godly love, may we reflect Christ more beautifully to the world around us for His glory.
