D.A. Carson’s explanation of what we learn about love from 1 Corinthians 13 is classic:

“…here are both altruism and self-sacrifice, but Paul can imagine both without love. So love must be something other than, or more than, mere altruism and self-sacrifice.”

“It may be difficult to provide a perfect definition for Christian love. But it is not difficult to find its supreme example. Christ’s love for us is not grounded in out loveliness, but in his own character. His love is not merely sentimental, yet it is charged with incalculable affection and warmth. It is resolute in its self-sacrifice, but never merely mechanical self-discipline. If we wish to come to terms with the apostolic tradition of Christian love as ‘the most excellent way’ that all believers must follow, we need only imitate Jesus Christ.” Carson, For the Love of God, 9/8 entry.

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