"but the greatest of these is charity." - 1 Corinthians 13:13
In these words we observe that something is spoken of as of special importance, and as peculiarly essential in Christians, which the apostle calls charity. And this charity, we find, is abundantly insisted on in the New Testament by Christ and His apostles-more insisted on, indeed, than any other virtue.
But, then, the word "charity," as used in the New Testament, is of much more extensive signification than as it is used generally in common discourse. What persons very often mean by "charity," in their ordinary conversation, is a disposition to hope and think the best of others, and to put a good construction on their words and behavior.
Sometimes the word is used for a disposition to give to the poor.
But these things are only certain particular branches or fruits of that great virtue of charity which is so much insisted on throughout the New Testament. The word properly signifies love, or that disposition or affection whereby one is dear to another; and the original agape which is here translated "charity," might better have been rendered "love," for that is the proper English of it. So that by charity in the New Testament is meant the very same thing as Christian love. Though it be more frequently used for love to men, yet sometimes it is used to signify not only love to men, but love to God.