Across every century of Christian history, the one value Christians keep naming as the heart of their faith is **agapē — self-giving love for God and every neighbor**[1][5].
Why love is seen as the core
– Jesus called love of God and neighbor “the greatest commandment” on which “all the Law and the Prophets hang,” making it the definitive summary of biblical ethics[5].
– Paul placed love at the top of the lasting trio “faith, hope and love,” declaring it “the greatest” virtue (1 Cor 13:13)[5].
– Modern summaries of “Christian values” still list love first, ahead of justice, humility or integrity[1].
How the same theme surfaces in each era
– Early church writers urged believers to share possessions, reject violence and love enemies, practices seen as literal obedience to Jesus’ teaching on love and generosity[7].
– Medieval theologians (e.g., Aquinas) defined charity (caritas) as the virtue that unites the soul to God, making love the form of every other virtue — an idea still echoed in confessional statements today[1].
– Reformation and post-Reformation pastors (Calvin, Wesley) insisted that true doctrine must lead to “faith working through love,” fueling social reforms such as abolition, temperance and prison outreach[5].
– Contemporary Christians continue to anchor missions, relief work and civil-rights advocacy in the command to “love your neighbor,” treating it as the criterion for public witness and personal ethics[1].
Companion virtues that flow from love
Love consistently carries with it a cluster of virtues that describe its practical shape:
– **Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control** — the “fruit of the Spirit” that Paul says characterizes a life governed by love[5].
– **Justice, mercy, humility** — Micah’s triad often cited to explain how love acts in society[1].
These traits appear in creeds, denominational statements and modern value lists, but they are always presented as expressions of the primary mandate to love.
In short, while language and emphases shift, Christian leaders from the catacombs to the twenty-first century converge on one conviction: the Christian life is measured above all by **love of God shown in active love for people**[1][5].
Sources
[1] Christian values – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
[2] History of early Christianity | Beliefs, Characteristics, Organization … https://www.britannica.com/
[3] Unveiling the Core of Christian Beliefs https://australianchristians.
[4] Core Beliefs and Values – Mars Hill Bible School https://www.mhbs.org/about/
[5] 4 Prominent Christian Values in the Bible https://www.crosswalk.com/
[6] 8 Core Christian Values That Mark the Lives of Believers https://www.christianity.com/
[7] Early Christian Values https://cac.org/daily-
[8] What are the core beliefs of Christianity? https://biblehub.com/q/what_
[9] Statement of Faith and Core Values https://www.biblica.com/about/
[10] Christianity: Basic Beliefs – URI.org https://www.uri.org/kids/
