Item 1 in Fruit of the Spirit
Love
Act with sustained concern for the well-being and dignity of others.
- Position
- 1
- Form
- Mixed formulation
- Obligation
- Context-dependent
- Wording status
- Translation
- Intended audience
- Christian communities
- Last reviewed
- 28 June 2026
Names and terminology
Canonical name: Love
Source wording
Act with sustained concern for the well-being and dignity of others.
Broader interpretation
Act with sustained concern for the well-being and dignity of others.
Practical meaning
Act with sustained concern for the well-being and dignity of others.
Ethical purpose
This principle is intended to guide conduct, character and relationships in accordance with the parent framework.
Variations across schools or traditions
Interpretation and application may vary across communities, translations and individual circumstances.
Criticism and difficult cases
This principle should be applied with attention to evidence, consent, equality, power, foreseeable harm and realistic alternatives.
Truth By Reason analysis
Act with sustained concern for the well-being and dignity of others. Its ethical force depends on whether its application reduces avoidable harm and respects equal human dignity.
Ethical themes
Sources
- Galatians 5:22–23 — Fruit of the Spirit Mainstream secondary source