I Corinthians 13:6 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 13:6 Commentary: Love Rejoices with the Truth
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul shows love does not delight in evil but actively rejoices with the truth, calling believers to grieve at sin and celebrate goodness.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Love refuses to celebrate wrongdoing but actively joins in the joy of truth, whether in others’ lives or the gospel’s triumph.
- Key words: adikia (unrighteousness/injustice), alētheia (truth), sugchairō (rejoice with, a compound verb indicating shared joy).
- Main debate: Whether “rejoices in the truth” (KJV) or “rejoices with the truth” (most modern versions) is more accurate; the latter better reflects the Greek and personifies truth.
- Theological theme: Love is not morally neutral; it aligns with God’s truth and grieves over sin, even in an enemy.
- Best use: A diagnostic for the heart, do I find any secret delight in others’ failures? Am I quick to celebrate genuine goodness wherever I see it?
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.
WEB World English Bible 2000
doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
KJV King James Version 1769
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
rejoiceth not over the unrighteousness, and rejoiceth with the truth;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
does not rejoice at iniquity but rejoices with the truth,
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No se huelga de la injusticia, mas se huelga de la verdad;
Não se alegra com a injustiça, mas se alegra com a verdade.
elle ne se réjouit point de l’injustice, mais elle se réjouit de la vérité;
sie freut sich nicht der Ungerechtigkeit, sie freut sich aber der Wahrheit;
Zij verblijdt zich niet in de ongerechtigheid, maar zij verblijdt zich in de waarheid;
non gode dell’ingiustizia, ma gioisce con la verità;
Nie raduje się z niesprawiedliwości, ale się raduje z prawdy;
не радуется неправде, а сорадуется истине;
不 喜歡 不義，只 喜歡 真理；
It takes no pleasure in wrongdoing, but has joy in what is true;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 13:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the core meaning: love does not take pleasure in wrongdoing, especially the sins of others. Adam Clarke warns against secretly rejoicing when an enemy suffers, calling that a form of rejoicing in iniquity. Barnes says love finds no malicious pleasure in hearing that others have fallen; rather it grieves. Gill adds that a loving person mourns over both personal and public sin. The second half, rendered in most translations as “rejoices with the truth,” draws on the Greek verb sugchairei (συγχαίρει), literally “to rejoice together.” Vincent’s Word Studies notes that truth is personified as love is, so the sense is co-rejoicing with truth. Cambridge Bible and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown similarly argue that love joins in the triumph of gospel truth. The contrast is sharp: love refuses to celebrate what is wrong, and instead celebrates what is right.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Love refuses to celebrate evil and actively shares joy in what is true and good.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Translation of ‘rejoices with’ vs ‘rejoices in’ | The Greek verb συγχαίρει (sugchairei) is a compound meaning ‘rejoice together with’. All major modern translations render it ‘rejoices with’ the truth. | Some older translations (KJV) read ‘rejoiceth in the truth’, which could be understood as simply taking pleasure in truth rather than joining its celebration. Commentators like Vincent and Cambridge argue the compound verb demands the sense of co-rejoicing, not merely delighting in an abstract quality. |
| Scope of ‘unrighteousness’ (adikia) | All traditions agree unrighteousness includes moral evil, injustice, and acts against God’s law. Love cannot celebrate any of these. | Adam Clarke and others note that adikia can also mean falsehood. This broadens the application: love not only rejects celebration of immoral acts but also rejects delight in lies, deception, or false teaching. |
| Personification of truth | Commentators widely recognize that the phrasing ‘rejoices with the truth’ lends itself to personifying truth as a companion. | Some (e.g., Calvinist tradition) see truth here primarily as the gospel message. Others (e.g., Wesleyan tradition) emphasize practical virtue and truthful living. Both agree that love actively shares joy in the success of what is true and good. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to a congregation marked by division, pride in spiritual gifts, and even tolerance of sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). Against that backdrop, this verse functions as a corrective. In Greco-Roman culture, rejoicing at an enemy’s downfall was common, a sentiment the Greek world barely questioned. Paul, however, insists that love cannot share that joy. The word adikia (unrighteousness) can also mean “falsehood” or “injustice,” which Adam Clarke’s excerpts highlight. So the refusal to rejoice includes delight in lies or unjust gain, something Corinth’s boastful environment may have excused.
The second clause, “rejoices with the truth,” uses a compound verb sugchairei that implies shared celebration. In the Old Testament, Jethro rejoices “for all the goodness which Yahweh had done” (Exodus 18:9), joy that comes from the triumph of God’s truth. Paul himself connects truth with love elsewhere: “speaking truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). In a church where some were proud of “knowledge” (1 Corinthians 8:1), Paul redirects that instinct toward joy in what is true and good, not toward gloating over the weak or the wicked. This verse stands in the middle of a list of love’s attributes, each one cutting against Corinth’s competitive culture.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text is stable across manuscripts, and no alternative readings affect interpretation.
Reception History
In early church preaching, 1 Corinthians 13:6 was often cited to discourage Schadenfreude and to encourage rejoicing in the conversion of sinners. Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologiae, used this verse to argue that charity rejoices in the good of others as if it were its own. Reformation commentators like Calvin and the Geneva Bible stressed that love cannot coexist with delight in sin, and they connected it to the believer’s joy in God’s truth. In modern evangelical preaching, this verse frequently appears in sermons on humility, forgiveness, and the ethics of media consumption. Across traditions, it has been a touchstone for the inner transformation love requires, a change so deep that even our secret pleasures are brought into line with God’s heart.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Love grieves at sin, even in an enemy. Paul denies love any pleasure in the unrighteousness of others. Whether a rival, a persecutor, or a wayward Christian, love does not celebrate their fall (Clarke, Barnes).
- Love celebrates goodness wherever it appears. The Greek verb sugchairei means to join in the joy of truth. Love is not silent when truth wins but actively shares its delight, whether in a neighbor’s honesty, a congregation’s repentance, or the gospel’s advance (Vincent, Cambridge).
- Love reshapes our social instincts. Paul confronts the natural human tendency toward Schadenfreude. Love reorients the heart so that even an enemy’s virtue is a cause of joy, and even a friend’s sin is a cause of sorrow (Barnes).
Five-point outline
- Refusal: Love “does not rejoice”, the present tense suggests an ongoing habit, not a one-time decision.
- The object refused: “in unrighteousness” (adikia), any violation of God’s standard, including injustice, falsehood, or moral failure.
- Reversal: “but rejoices”, the contrast is deliberate and strong (de). Love does not stay neutral; it actively shares joy.
- The object embraced: “with the truth” (aletheia), personified truth, or truth embodied in righteous living and gospel proclamation (JFB, Gill).
- Implication: A church that loves cannot celebrate what is false or evil, and must learn to cheer the success of truth even when it comes through those who differ.
Illustration hooks
- Watching a rival or political opponent face a scandal: the natural response may be to feel vindicated; love checks that impulse and grieves.
- Hearing that a persecutor or former enemy has come to faith: love not only accepts the news but rejoices fully, without suspicion.
- In a church dispute, seeing the truth of a situation finally confirmed: love celebrates with the truth, not with the victory of a party.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it wrong to feel relief when a manipulative person faces consequences for their actions?
- How can I genuinely celebrate a blessing that comes to someone I don’t like?
- What does it look like to “rejoice with the truth” in a world full of misinformation and partisan spin?
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits in the center of Paul’s famous description of love. It confronts the instinct to delight when things go wrong for people who have hurt us, and it calls us to share joy when truth wins. As you talk through these questions, let the conversation move from what the text says to how your own hearts respond.
Discussion questions
- What is the difference between “rejoicing in unrighteousness” and simply being aware that evil exists?
- The Greek word for “rejoices with” (sugchairō) emphasizes shared joy. How does that change your understanding of love’s relation to truth?
- Adam Clarke gives examples of people rejoicing when an enemy suffers. Have you experienced that temptation? How does Paul’s teaching speak to it?
- If love “rejoices with the truth,” how should that affect the way we talk about people who disagree with us on moral or doctrinal issues?
- How does this verse challenge the way we use social media or news, especially when a public figure falls into sin?
- Think of a time you genuinely rejoiced at someone else’s success in living honestly or bravely. What made that joy possible?
- In what practical ways can a small group or church cultivate a culture that celebrates truth more than victory over others?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 18:9 | Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Yahweh had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. |
| Joshua 22:22 | “The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, the Mighty One, God, Yahweh, he knows; and Israel shall know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against Yahweh (don’t save us today), |
| Joshua 22:33 | The thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad lived. |
| I Samuel 23:19 | Then the Ziphites came up to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert? |
| I Samuel 23:21 | Saul said, “You are blessed by Yahweh, for you have had compassion on me. |
| II Samuel 4:10 | when someone told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ thinking that he brought good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. |
| II Samuel 4:12 | David commanded his young men, and they killed them, cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in Abner’s grave in Hebron. |
| Psalms 10:3 | For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns Yahweh. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke warns that even Christians can secretly rejoice when an enemy suffers, mistaking it for God's justice. This, he argues, is a subtle form of rejoicing in iniquity. True love instead rejoices in truth, actively helping spread genuine religion rather than persecuting it.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that love does not take malicious pleasure in the sins or failures of others, even an enemy, but grieves over them. Love rejoices in truth, meaning virtue and goodness wherever found, regardless of personal differences or denominational ties. This reversal of natural human rejoicing is a triumph of the gospel's transforming power.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator emphasises that love does not merely approve of truth from a distance but rejoices with truth as it triumphs in the world. The joy comes from seeing truth victorious and unrighteousness consequently decline, since unrighteousness is truth’s opposite.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
It reioyceth not in iniquitie, but reioyceth in the trueth:
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that a believer does not rejoice in sin, whether personal or in others, and is especially grieved by injustice done even to an enemy. He points to Christ healing the high priest's servant as proof that rejoicing in iniquity has no place in a heart that instead delights in gospel truth and holy living.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB reads the phrase not as simply loving truth but as actively rejoicing alongside truth when it triumphs. This love refuses to take pleasure in others wrongdoing and condemns any false charity that compromises truth by excusing sin.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that the word "charity" in the King James Version misrepresents Paul's meaning. The original Greek agape is a uniquely Christian term for love in its highest sense, embracing both God and neighbor. This love is not a single virtue but the root and spring of all virtues, the fundamental grace that makes a person like God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry reduces the many properties of charity to two main qualities: longsuffering, which bears injury without resentment, and kindness, which actively seeks to do good. Under these he groups all the other traits, showing charity as both patient and generous, restraining anger while seeking opportunities to help others.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the Greek word meaning "rejoices with," not merely "rejoices in." He sees truth personified here as a companion to love, just as love itself is personified, so that love does not simply applaud truth but actively shares its joy.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses that genuine love takes no pleasure in the sin or folly of anyone, not even an enemy; it wishes such things could be forgotten forever. Instead, love rejoices in the truth, especially when that truth produces holiness of heart and life wherever it spreads.