"But the fruit of the Spirit is love"... (Galatians 5:22a) The Greek word used for "love" in this verse is agape. Interestingly, it is the same word used in John 3:16 where we are told, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." These two passages suggest that this is a special type of divine love - one only evident from us to others through Christ and a yielding of our flesh nature to that of the Holy Spirit. To find out a bit more, I thought I would dive into 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a and get The Word on Agape.

¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient,

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  Romans 12:17-21

The Greek word used for patient in this text is makrothumia meaning “a person who is able to avenge himself yet refrains from doing so.”  This is the same word used in Galatians 5:22.

love is kind.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

The Greek word used here is chresteuomai, which according to Strong’s means “to show oneself useful”.  This love steps in and helps where needed.

It does not envy,

And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 1 Samuel 18:9

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?  Proverbs 27:4

Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. Acts 7:9

it does not boast,

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.  1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:31

it is not proud.

But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.  2 Chronicles 26:16

We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant. Psalm 123:4

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.  Proverbs 13:10

Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.  Proverbs 18:12

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.  Romans 12:18

⁵It is not rude,

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

The Greek word used here for "rude" is aschemoneo which means “to be (that is, to act) unbecoming”.  In her book, Living Beyond Yourself, Beth Moore talks about the fact that no matter how “spiritual” we are we will never reach a point where we are unaffected by “obscenity and indecency”.
 

it is not self-seeking,

An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.  Proverbs 18:1

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Philippians 2:3

it is not easily angered,

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  Psalm 145:8

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.  Proverbs 15:18

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.  Proverbs 19:11

it keeps no record of wrongs.

...he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;  Psalm 103:10-13

"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.  Hebrews 10:16-18

⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.  Psalm 119:29-32

⁷It always protects,

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4:8

"Protects" in the Greek is stego which means "to cover over with silence."

always trusts,

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:13

I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 2 Corinthians 13:6

Pisteuo is the Greek word used for "trusts" and it means "to have faith in a person."

always hopes,

In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. 2 Corinthians 8:22-24

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:20

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

always perseveres.

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

The Greek word used for "perseveres" is hupomeno and it means, "to stay under, bear".

⁸Love never fails.

In the Greek, "fails" is the word, ekpipto, which means, "to drop away, without effect." Aren't you glad the word NEVER precedes it in this statement!

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Sources:
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (KJV)
Living Beyond Yourself, Beth Moore
Biblegateway.com