Greek has many words that English translates as “love”; the Greek word here is ἀγάπη (G26). ἀγάπη is the noun form of ἀγαπω (G25) and is an integrity love based upon the person doing the loving not the person, or object being loved. It is not a “warm, fuzzy” feeling, but instead it is a thought out action towards the object of love. The merit of this kind of love is in the one doing the loving not in the object of the love.
In John 3:16 we read that God so loved (ἀγαπω, G25) the world… Now this love is not based upon anything that the world did but entirely upon who and what God is. Another aspect of ἀγάπη love is that it seeks what is best for its object, not necessarily what the object of that love wants. Notice that God sent his Son, that is not what the world wanted for God to do, but that is what the world needed. That is why Christians are supposed to have ἀγάπη love for others. “You shall love (ἀγαπω G25) your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew. 19:19) That is why, if you wanted to show love to a homeless person you would not give them money, (what they want), but instead you would give them a meal or donate to a charity that helps them, (what they need). The least loving thing that you could do is give them money that they could turn into drugs or things like it.
ἀγάπη is the basis for all of the other attributes of the fruit of the Spirit. Only to the extent that we manifest ἀγάπη will we be able to manifest the others.
Love (ἀγάπη) is patient, love (ἀγάπη) is kind and is not jealous; love (ἀγάπη) does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
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