哥林多前书第十三章第4—8节，保罗阐述了爱的真正的表现是什么样子的。爱是圣灵在信徒身上所结的果子。保罗说爱就是耐心与和蔼；爱是不嫉妒，不自夸，不骄傲；爱就是行为适当，不求自己的益处，不被激怒，眼睛不盯着别人的恶行，不在不义里欢喜，而是在真理里欢喜；包容一切的事，相信一切的事，对一切的事抱有希望，并忍耐一切的事；爱从不会失败。世上的一切终必归于无有，全能的主必再降临来接我们。现如今，三样东西存留了下来，就是信心，希望和爱，其中最伟大的是爱。保罗在这里说最伟大的是爱，因为只有爱能造就人，只有爱能拯救人，信心若没有爱心的表现，自己就什么都不是，与自己与他人也是无益的。

林前13:4 爱是恒久忍耐、又有恩慈．爱是不嫉妒．爱是不自夸．不张狂．
Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,
林前13:5 不作害羞的事．不求自己的益处．不轻易发怒．不计算人的恶．
doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
林前13:6 不喜欢不义．只喜欢真理．
doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
林前13:7 凡事包容．凡事相信．凡事盼望．凡事忍耐。
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
林前13:8 爱是永不止息．先知讲道之能、终必归于无有．说方言之能、终必停止、知识也终必归于无有。
Love 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.
林前13:9 我们现在所知道的有限、先知所讲的也有限．
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
林前13:10 等那完全的来到、这有限的必归于无有了。
but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
林前13:11 我作孩子的时候、话语像孩子、心思像孩子、意念像孩子．既成了人、就把孩子的事丢弃了。
When 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.
林前13:12 我们如今彷佛对着镜子观看、模糊不清．〔模糊不清原文作如同猜谜〕到那时、就要面对面了．我如今所知道的有限．到那时就全知道、如同主知道我一样。
For 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.
林前13:13 如今常存的有信、有望、有爱、这三样、其中最大的是爱。
But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.