What does the Bible say about love?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that love is God’s gift and command, flowing from his own character, shown supremely in Christ, and expressed in holy, self-giving service to others. John 3:16 and John 15:13 reveal the measure of divine love in the Father’s giving of the Son and Christ’s sacrifice for his people. Because God is love, as 1 John 4:8 says, believers are called to love one another sincerely and actively. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 describes love’s patient, truthful, enduring character, while Galatians 5:13-14 teaches that love fulfills God’s law through service. Christian love does not set aside holiness, but joins mercy, truth, and obedience under the lordship of Christ.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 8 votes
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, and endures all things. 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.
- 1 Corinthians 16:14 5 votes
Let all that you do be done in love.
- John 3:16 4 votes
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- Leviticus 20:13 3 votes
“‘If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon themselves.
- Galatians 5:13-14 3 votes
For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
- 1 John 4:8 3 votes
He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.
- 1 Peter 4:8 2 votes
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
- Colossians 3:14 2 votes
Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13 2 votes
But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
- John 15:13 2 votes
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
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