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What does the Bible say about love in the new testament?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that love comes from God, is supremely revealed in Christ, and is the fruit of saving faith rather than a means of earning God’s favor. In 1 John 4:7-8 and 4:16, believers are called to love because God is love and has made his love known in them. John 3:16 displays God’s initiating love in giving his Son for sinners. Jesus commands his disciples in John 13:34-35 to love one another as the distinguishing mark of his people. First Corinthians 13:1-13 describes love as patient, humble, truthful, and enduring, while Galatians 5:22-23 identifies it as the Spirit’s fruit. Love fulfills God’s moral law by seeking a neighbor’s good.

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • 1 John 4:7-8

    [7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. [8] He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.

  • 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.

  • Galatians 5:22-23

    [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

  • 1 John 4:16

    We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

  • Romans 12:10

    In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another;

  • John 13:34-35

    [34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

  • 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.

  • Matthew 7:1-7

    [1] "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. [2] For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. [3] Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? [4] Or how will you tell your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;' and behold, the beam is in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye. [6] "Don't give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. [7] "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.

  • Romans 13:9-10

    [9] For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet," and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." [10] Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

  • 1 John 3:1

    Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him.

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