What it means
The whole verse reads, “Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.” It is one thought in two halves. The first half names what love refuses to enjoy: a rival’s slip, a scandal, bad news about someone you never liked. The second half names what love enjoys instead. It is glad of the truth, and of everything good that turns out to be true.
Paul’s word here means to rejoice together with someone, the way you celebrate alongside a friend. He used the same word in the chapter before, about the church as one body: “if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” That is why many Bibles say love rejoices with the truth. Love stands on the side of what is real and right, and it is glad when the truth wins.
Day to day, that means being relieved when a rumor about someone turns out to be false. It means being glad when a coworker gets credit they earned, and when a friend’s good news is real. And it means wanting the truth even when the truth is about you.
How John Chrysostom read it
John Chrysostom, the great preacher of the early Church, heard this line as being about people more than ideas.
“She feels pleasure, says he, with them that are well spoken of, as Paul says, Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
John Chrysostom, Homily 33 on First Corinthians
“There are many, at all events, that have shared danger with men in danger, but were cut to the heart when they came into honor.”
John Chrysostom, Homily 7 on Romans
Chrysostom read “the truth” here as the good that is truly said of someone. When a person is praised and deserves it, love is glad with them. For him, this line says the same thing as Paul’s rule in Romans: be glad with those who are glad.
He thought this was harder than it sounds. Plenty of people will stand by a friend in trouble, and then struggle when the same friend is honored. Chrysostom went to the root. Love “accounts the good things of others her own.” If their good is yours, there is nothing left to envy. In another sermon he adds that your gladness makes their joy larger. When a friend is well thought of, he says, “You have the power of making it greater.”
What it looks like
- Your sister’s quiet hard work finally gets noticed, and you are glad someone saw it.
- A rumor about someone you don’t much like turns out to be false, and you are simply relieved.
- A friend shares good news in the group chat, and you are the first to reply, and you mean every word.
- Someone shows you that you had the facts wrong, and you thank them and put it right.
What missing it looks like
- “I’m happy for them. I just think people should know I did half of it.”
- “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. I’m not saying it’s true.”
- “I’ll believe the good things about him when I see them.”
- “I’m only being honest about their mistakes. Someone has to be.”
Learn from Jonathan
The king’s son, who wanted his friend to be king.
The king’s son and next in line, he gave David his own robe. Chrysostom asks, “Did he envy David? Not at all, though he had great reason.” 1 Samuel 18:4
Be glad out loud, and first, before the sting has a chance.
Read about JonathanOne step to try
Ask two questions about their good news before you say anything about yours.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice.” Romans 12:15
Questions and answers
What does it mean that love “rejoices in the truth”?
It means love is glad when what is true and good comes to light. It takes no joy in scandal or in someone’s fall, which is the first half of the verse. It is glad when a rumor proves false, when someone gets credit they earned, and when a friend’s good news is real. And it welcomes the truth about itself.
Is it ‘rejoices in the truth’ or ‘rejoices with the truth’?
Both are faithful. Paul’s Greek word means to rejoice together with someone. Older Bibles and the BSB say ‘in the truth’. The NIV says ‘with the truth’, and the NLT says love ‘rejoices whenever the truth wins out’. Each catches part of it. Love stands with the truth, and it is glad when the truth wins.
Is ‘rejoices in the truth’ about being honest?
Partly. Love is on the side of the truth, so it does not lie to keep the peace or to look good. But the line is about gladness more than speech. Love is glad when the truth comes out, even when it clears someone you don’t like, or shows that you were wrong. It is never glad when the truth is used to hurt someone.
