From the positive qualities of patience and kindness, Paul turned his attention to love's negative qualities - that is, qualities which describe what love is not. This negative treatment highlighted for the Corinthians the fact that their attitudes and actions - which they regarded as godly zeal for the Spirit's gifts - were contrary to love. The Corinthians were richly endowed with spiritual gifts, knowledge and power, but they were using the Spirit's endowments as instruments of self-glorification, not the ministration of love in the cause of the gospel.