Paul’s message of love is presented in the letters he wrote to the early churches that were taking root throughout the Mediterranean region. Paul took the message of love that Jesus taught and proclaimed it at every opportunity.

Loving Thy Neighbor, Fulfilling the Law

Jesus taught us to, “Love thy neighbor as thyself” Matthew 22:39 and, “Greater love hath no man than this, except he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. The love of God permeates these teachings. Paul ministered to believers the importance of God’s love in helping one another and adhering to God’s law toward his fellow man, thus fulfilling the law of God.

Galatians 5:14:

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Romans 13:8-10:

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Love Demonstrates Faith

By consistently showing love in all we do as scripture teaches, believers present evidence of their faith. Love cannot be separated from the practice of our faith. Likewise, faith is dead if there is no evidence of God’s love in our lives.

Galatians 5:6:

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Love One Another

During his ministry, Jesus gave us a new commandment focused on demonstrating God’s love through our lives. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35. Paul took this message to heart urging believers to support each other in all things through love.

I Thessalonians 4:9:

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

Hebrews 13:1:

Let brotherly love continue.

Let Love Flourish in Your Life

By exemplifying God’s love in our daily lives, we let love grow and flourish. Just like the Light of the World cannot be covered by darkness, God’s love is infinite and cannot be contained in faithful Christian’s life. Be an example by exercising your faith and share God’s love with others.

I Corinthians 8:3:

But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Philippians 1:9:

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

Romans 5:5:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Paul’s Message of Love Takeaway

Paul teaches us that charity, or love, is perfection and is the greatest of spiritual virtues. For Christians, love is perfected when we exercise our faith. Paul so eloquently describes the purity of perfect love in what has become known as the “Love Chapter.”  Here is Paul’s inspired words of love:

I Corinthians 13:1-13:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

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