What Does the Bible Say About Love?
Love is the central theme of the entire Bible, described as God's defining attribute (1 John 4:8) and the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-39). It is not merely an emotion but an act of the will — choosing to seek the good of another.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
Old Testament Perspective
In the Old Testament, God's love (hesed — covenant faithfulness) is demonstrated through His relationship with Israel: choosing them, delivering them from Egypt, providing the Law, and remaining faithful despite their unfaithfulness.
New Testament Perspective
The New Testament reveals agape love supremely in the incarnation and crucifixion of Christ (John 3:16, Romans 5:8). Paul's hymn to love in 1 Corinthians 13 defines its practical characteristics.
15 Key Bible Verses About Love
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life."
- 1 John 4:8: "He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love."
- Romans 8:38-39: "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from God’s love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- 1 John 4:19: "We love him, because he first loved us."
- Ephesians 4:2: "with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;"
- Deuteronomy 6:5: "You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might."
- 1 Peter 4:8: "And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins."
- Song of Solomon 8:6-7: "Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh. Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned."
- Romans 5:8: "But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
- John 15:12-13: "“This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
- Mark 12:30-31: "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”"
- Galatians 5:22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,"
- Psalm 136:1: "Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever."
- Zephaniah 3:17: "Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing."
Video: What the Bible Says About Love
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