another, esteem, affection, regard, love.”238 Paul begins with three illustrations of how superlatives without love equal nothing (13:1–3). Then he describes this essential love (vv. 4–8a) and compares it to other gifts (vv. 8b–13). Love is not a spiritual gift. It is essential for using spiritual gifts, and it is more important than spiritual gifts. It is important to understand chapter 13 in its literary context. This passage is one of Paul’s most well known, especially verses 4–7 (“Love is patient