What does the Bible say about love and forgiveness?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that God’s love in Christ both forgives sinners and forms them into people who love and forgive one another. Because God freely gave His Son for our salvation, believers are called to forgive as the Lord has forgiven them, bearing with one another in humility and compassion. Colossians 3:12-14 and Ephesians 4:32 join forgiveness to the new life God creates in His people. Love is not mere sentiment but patient, truthful, self-giving action, as 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 teaches. It covers offenses rather than spreading them, pursues peace instead of condemnation, and casts out fear through God’s perfect love, as 1 Peter 4:8, Luke 6:37, Proverbs 17:9, and 1 John 4:18 affirm.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Colossians 3:12-14 7 votes
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
- 1 Peter 4:8 6 votes
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
- Luke 6:37 4 votes
Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free.
- Colossians 3:13 4 votes
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
- Ephesians 4:32 4 votes
And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
- 1 John 4:18 3 votes
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 3 votes
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. 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. If I give away 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. 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. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. 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. 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. But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
- John 3:16 2 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.
- Romans 12:9 2 votes
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
- Proverbs 17:9 2 votes
He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
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