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What does the Bible say about a time for love?

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The Bible teaches that love has its proper season and highest meaning when it reflects God’s own holy, faithful, self-giving character. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 recognizes a time for love within God’s wise ordering of life, while Song of Solomon 8:6-7 celebrates love’s strong and enduring covenant bond. Yet Scripture insists that true love is more than affection: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 describes it as patient, kind, truthful, and persevering. God’s people are called to love Him wholly and to love their neighbors, covering offenses with grace rather than stirring conflict (Matthew 22:37-39; 1 Peter 4:8). Above all, Christ’s sacrificial love for His church is the pattern and source of Christian love (Ephesians 5:25; 1 John 4:8).

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

    [1] For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: [2] A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck up that which is planted; [3] A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; [4] A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; [5] A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; [6] A time to seek, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to cast away; [7] A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; [8] A time to love, And a time to hate; A time for war, And a time for peace.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:8

    A time to love, And a time to hate; A time for war, And a time for peace.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

    [1] If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. [3] If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing. [4] Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, [5] doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; [6] doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; [10] but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. [11] When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. [12] For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. [13] But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.

  • 1 Peter 4:8

    And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

  • Colossians 3:14

    Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

  • Song of Solomon 8:6-7

    [6] 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. [7] 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. Friends

  • Proverbs 10:12

    Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all wrongs.

  • Matthew 22:37-39

    [37] Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

  • Ephesians 5:25

    Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;

  • 1 John 4:8

    He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.

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