1If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. 3If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.
4Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. 13But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
In the Greek language four basic words are used to describe love: eros (sexual love; not found in Scripture), phileo (three basic nuances, namely, “natural affection”- occurring approximately 25 times in the N.T., “brotherly love “ – five times, and “casual friendship”- only found in James 4:4), storge (tender affection between relatives), and agape. Agape is similar to the Old Testament rendering of hesed, that is, “loyal love.” Agape-love is the commitment of the will to the true good of another. Agape-love entails dedication and is undeserving- even among those who mock, reject, and ridicule the giver (cf. John 3:16).
Agape-love was powerfully demonstrated by God the Father by sending Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to die on the cross for our sins. (cf. Romans 5:8). Agape-love is what committed Jesus to embrace death by crucifixion so that we might have eternal life (Philippians 2:5-11). Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf. It is the type of loyal love that God extends to His children, lavishing them with their best interests in mind (1 John 3:1). Therefore, even though we may not understand why certain afflictions, pains, and troubles come our way, we can trust God, for He is the sum-total of His infinite perfections. God, who is both good and sovereign, has willfully and decisively chosen to love His children. Similar to Hosea’s loyalty to Gomer, God never gives up on us, His children, no matter how many times we raise our fists in rebellion against Him. As a result, we are invited to love Him and love others, believers and non-believers alike, as an expression of His love. This type of love is sacrificial, self-surrendering, always genuine, and demonstrated in meeting the practical needs of others- with no expectation of return (cf. 1 Cor 13:1; 1 John 3:16-17).