What Is Love in the Bible?

When asking what love is in the Bible, we discover that biblical love is not just an emotion but an act of will, rooted in God's nature. The biblical definition of love begins in 1 John 4:8 (NKJV): “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” This verse reveals that love is not merely something God does, it is who He is.

The New Testament uses several Greek words for love, but the most significant is agape, meaning selfless, sacrificial love. It is the kind of love God shows to humanity and what He commands us to reflect. Other forms of love, such as phileo (brotherly love) and storge (familial love), also appear in Scripture, but agape stands as the highest expression.

When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responded in Matthew 22:37–39, affirming love as the foundation of the law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart… and… your neighbor as yourself.” The Bible defines love as commitment, sacrifice, and obedience, not merely affection.

What Does the Bible Say About Love?

Across both testaments, what the Bible says about love is clear and consistent. God’s love is holy, faithful, and eternal. “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love’” (Jeremiah 31:3).

God demonstrates true love by initiating a relationship and offering grace. Romans 5:8 shows this vividly: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

What God says about love is not abstract; it’s personal. His love is covenantal and sacrificial. Believers are called to respond by loving others in the same spirit: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God” (1 John 4:7).

Love, according to the Bible, reflects the very character of God. It is what distinguishes His people from the world (John 13:35).

Bible Verses About Love and God’s Nature

Throughout Scripture, Bible verses about love unveil God’s compassionate and faithful nature. These verses not only inspire but teach us how to love in return.

• 1 John 4:9–10 – “In this the love of God was manifested toward us… He sent His only begotten Son… to be the propitiation for our sins.”
• Psalm 136:26 – “Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.”
• Zephaniah 3:17 – “He will rejoice over you with gladness… He will quiet you with His love.”
• Romans 8:38–39 – “Nothing… shall be able to separate us from the love of God.”
• Isaiah 54:10 – “For the mountains shall depart… but My kindness shall not depart from you.”
• Titus 3:4–5 – “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior… appeared, not by works of righteousness… but according to His mercy…”
• Deuteronomy 7:9 – “Know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him…”
• Lamentations 3:22–23 – “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed… Great is Your faithfulness.”
• Ephesians 2:4–5 – “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love… made us alive together with Christ.”
• Psalm 103:11 – “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.”

These love scriptures in the Bible reassure us that God’s love is enduring and unshakable. His love is not dependent on our worthiness but on His faithfulness.

Love in the Teachings of Jesus

Jesus’ definition of love went beyond the Law, calling His followers to radical compassion. He not only taught about love, He embodied it. In John 13:34–35, Jesus says: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you.”

This sacrificial love culminates at the cross. In John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Jesus also challenged cultural norms with Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies… and pray for those who spitefully use you.”

Love in the New Testament means action, mercy, and service, just as Jesus lived. His teachings are the clearest revelation of God’s definition of love.

Scriptures on Love in Relationships

The Bible offers many teachings about how love should manifest in relationships with spouses, neighbors, and even enemies. These Bible verses on love are both instructive and convicting:

• Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church.”
• 1 Peter 4:8 – “Love will cover a multitude of sins.”
• Romans 12:10 – “Be kindly affectionate… in honor giving preference to one another.”
• Luke 6:35 – “Love your enemies… and your reward will be great.”
• Matthew 22:39 – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
• 1 John 4:20–21 – “He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
• 1 Corinthians 16:14 – “Let all that you do be done with love.”
• Galatians 5:13 – “Through love serve one another.”
• Colossians 3:19 – “Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.”
• Hebrews 13:1 – “Let brotherly love continue.”
• 1 Thessalonians 3:12 – “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all…”

1 Corinthians 13 and Other Famous Love Passages

1 Corinthians 13 is the most detailed Bible chapter on love. Known as “the love chapter,” it defines what true love looks like:

“Love suffers long and is kind… does not envy… is not provoked… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

Paul begins by explaining that even if we speak with the tongues of angels, have prophetic powers, or give all we possess to the poor, if we lack love, we gain nothing. Love is the essential virtue, surpassing all spiritual gifts and achievements (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).

The heart of the passage (verses 4–7) paints a vivid picture of how love behaves: patient, kind, humble, and enduring. These verses are often quoted in weddings, but their meaning goes far beyond romance. They call every believer to practice godly love in every relationship.

Paul concludes: “Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). This closing reminder places love at the center of Christian life: eternal, foundational, and the most Christlike virtue.

Other well-known love verses from the Bible include:

• Colossians 3:14 – “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”
• John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
• 1 John 3:16 – “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.”
• Song of Solomon 8:7 – “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it.”

These verses about love in the Bible remind us that love is not optional, it’s foundational.

Different Types of Love in the Bible

The Bible defines love through multiple Greek and Hebrew terms, each revealing a unique facet of how God designed human relationships and His own covenant with us. Understanding these distinct expressions allows believers to practice love faithfully across every area of life.

• Agape is the highest form of love: unconditional, sacrificial, and divine. It’s the love God demonstrates toward humanity, regardless of our worthiness. As seen in John 3:16, agape moves God to give: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” Agape love is central to the Gospel and defines how Christians are called to love both God and others (Matthew 22:37–39).
• Phileo refers to brotherly affection or deep friendship. It’s the kind of love shared between close companions, such as Jesus and Lazarus. In John 11:36, the people say, “See how He loved him!” when witnessing Jesus’ grief. While not as selfless as agape, phileo still requires commitment and loyalty.
• Storge describes familial love, particularly between parents and children or among siblings. Though the term itself appears rarely, its concept is echoed in verses like Romans 12:10, which exhorts believers to show “kindly affection to one another with brotherly love.” Storge is the love that binds households together.
• Eros, while not named directly in Scripture, represents romantic or sexual love and is implied in the passionate poetry of the Song of Solomon. This love, when expressed within marriage, reflects God’s design for intimacy and delight (Genesis 2:24, Proverbs 5:18–19).

Many scholars speak of the 7 types of love in the Bible, expanding on these four to include additional emotional nuances, such as pragma (enduring love), philautia (self-love), and ludus (playful affection). While not all are mentioned explicitly in Scripture, they highlight the rich vocabulary surrounding biblical love and its role in daily life.

Ultimately, each of these loves finds its fulfillment in agape, the divine standard. When Christians walk in love (Ephesians 5:2), they are called to mirror God’s heart in every relationship, embodying truth, grace, affection, and covenant faithfulness. That is the fullness of love defined in the Bible.

Dig Deeper Into Love’s Biblical Meaning with Bible Chat

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Conclusion

So, what does the Bible say about love? Love is not only a command, it is the essence of who God is. From the Old Testament covenants to Jesus’ sacrificial example, love shapes every part of Christian life.

We are called to love God with our whole being and to love others as Christ loved us. Bible verses about love show that love is patient, enduring, truthful, and transformative.

References

• The Holy Bible, New King James Version. (1987). Thomas Nelson;
• What Love Does and Does Not Do , https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-love-does-and-does-not-do?utm_source=chatgpt.com, accessed on 20.06.2025;
• What are the different types of love mentioned in the Bible?, https://www.gotquestions.org/types-of-love.html, accessed on 20.06.2025;

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