We don’t often think of Love as a spiritual gift. However, in the letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle makes the argument that it may be the greatest, if you will, in that without it no other gift is effective or will have meaning.
In 1 Corinthians 12 he outlines the concept of body ministry with each one having a place and various gifts.
[1Corinthians 12:1, 5-7, 12, 18, 31 NASB95] 1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts,] brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. … 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all [persons.] 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. … 12 For even as the body is one and [yet] has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. … 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. … 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts…
And in Chapter 14 we find exhortations regarding prophecy and tongues, order in church, and the end of it all being edification. The building up of one another.
[1 Corinthians 14:1-3, 39-40 NASB95] 1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts,] but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in [his] spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. … 39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Keep in mind the original manuscript did not have Chapter and verse separations. But, the last sentence of Chapter 12 speaking of love says; And I show you a still more excellent way. And the first verse of Chapter 14 speaking of love says; Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts.
Sandwiched nicely in between is his exhortation to love and manifest love as the greatest, and greater than all gifts, and as the foundation from which any and all gifts must operate under the Spirit.
[1Corinthians 13:1-2, 13 NASB95] 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If 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 do not have love, I am nothing. … 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
It is interesting that he specifically outlines some spiritual gifts (tongues, prophecy, and faith) as he opens his remarks on love. And at the end of those remarks on love, for our understanding, he emphasizes that even faith and hope will be eclipsed by the effects of love. Note: this is not warm-fuzzy, ooey-gooey-mushy, feelings or inch deep tolerance and ecumenism unity of the religious or brotherly kind he is referencing. It is God’s love, biblical love, Greek term agape, which is costly and often measured by sacrifice.
Also, note that this love is not simply doing good or being nice and kind, being a “good” person, even if that should result in costing you your life. For he also records:
[1Corinthians 13:3 NASB95] 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed [the poor,] and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
After outlining these opening statement regarding what love isn’t he then exhorts us to it, by defining and outlining what is is with this:
[1Corinthians 13:4-8 NASB95] 4 Love is patient, love is kind [and] is not jealous; love does not brag [and] is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong [suffered,] 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails;
Then he returns to the comparison of this greatest among gifts to the church, and of the attributes of Christ to be made manifest in her, and her gatherings, by emphasizing once again the preeminence, if you will, of love. Indicating love is the manifestation of the perfect that is Jesus, and is in knowing the fullness of Jesus, and that is the sign of maturity in us as individuals and corporately as the church in Him.
[1Corinthians 8b-13 NASB95] but if [there are gifts of] prophecy, they will be done away; if [there are] tongues, they will cease; if [there is] knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
Let us not forsake manifesting Him in all ways, and being directed and used of the Spirit to edify one another into His fullness and purpose, in our various gifts under the direction and order of the Holy Spirit. But, in doing so, may we also pray to excel in service through love, without which we are nothing.
Here is the complete context of 1 Corinthians 13, and then, a definition of Biblical love I have found that has served me, and others, well over the years.
[1Corinthians 13:1-13 NASB95] 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If 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 do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed [the poor,] and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind [and] is not jealous; love does not brag [and] is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong [suffered,] 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if [there are gifts of] prophecy, they will be done away; if [there are] tongues, they will cease; if [there is] knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
True love is based in commitment, which is a word not found in the scriptures, but that is closely related to (and perhaps the same as) faithfulness in the nature and character of God.
Biblical love is the decision to act toward a person, group or situation in a particular way, no matter what, because you know that is what God has asked you to do.
Love, then, is a decision of the will, not an emotion or warm fuzzies. It is not based in how I may feel. As such it is a response of obedience to God, that is why, from a Biblical perspective, Love is commanded. You can’t command emotion. But the scriptures do command love.
[John 13:34 NASB95] 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
[John 15:12, 17 NASB95] 12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. … 17 “This I command you, that you love one another.
[1Peter 1:22 NASB95] 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
[1John 3:23 NASB95] 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
[1John 4:7 NASB95] 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
[Matthew 5:44 NASB95] 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
[Luke 6:27, 35 NASB95] 27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, … 35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil [men.]
[Ephesians 5:25 NASB95] 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
[Collosians 3:19 NASB95] 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.