Love is a significant theme in Christianity. Thou shalt love each other isn’t technically one of the Ten Commandments, but the importance of spreading love is a common theme throughout the pages of the Bible. In 1 John 4:7-8, we’re reminded that love comes from God. God is love, and whoever doesn’t know love doesn’t know God. In other words, love is a fundamental characteristic of who God is, and everything God does is incited and influenced by His love.
As you read the Bible, you’ll see there are many inspirational Bible verses about love that highlight how much God loves you and how you, in turn, must give that love to others. The Bible has plenty of inspiration for creating lasting relationships regarding romantic love. There are stories about powerful couples like Mary and Joseph, Jacob and Rachel, and Adam and Eve to read and learn from for inspiration.
Love in the Bible
The Bible uses several different words for love in Hebrew and Greek, interchanging them depending on the context. These words mean affectionate love, while others indicate friendship or erotic, sexual love. There is also a specific word for the type of love that God shows; in Greek, the word agape refers to a caring and unselfish love that seeks the best for the loved one.
The Bible gives lots of examples of love; the caring provision of Boaz for Ruth, the deep friendship of David and Johnathan, the poetic, passionate love of Solomon and the Shulamite, and the sacrificed, saving love of Christ for His people. Agape, the benevolent, selfless love that God shows, is mentioned in the New Testament, including in the love chapter 1 Corinthians 13. In verses four through eight, this chapter in 1 Corinthians lists all love’s characteristics. Of the greatest of God’s gifts, faith, hope, and love, the greatest gift is love.
According to the Bible, God’s motivation to save the world was fueled by love. God’s love is best seen in the sacrifice of Christ on His people’s behalf, described in 1 John 4:9. God’s love doesn’t require us to be worthy to receive it, but His love is genuinely benevolent and gracious. The Bible also says that God is the source of love. He’s the initiator of a loving relationship with us. Any love we have for God responds to His sacrificial love for us.
As Christians believe, you are made from His love, and He has given you the tools to love one another unconditionally, even during the most challenging times and most significant fights. However, it’s not just key to love your romantic partner, but to love your family and friends, as well as strangers. The Bible commands us to love our enemies as well. God doesn’t limit who He loves and how, nor should Christians. You’ll benefit from spreading positivity and kindness because it’ll fill your life with love and light. These are the best Bible verses about love and loving others.
Bible Verses About Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-5: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast, and it is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
1 John 4:16 – And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lies in God in them.
1 Corinthians 13:13 – Now, these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Romans 12:9 – Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, and cling to what is good.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 – May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
Bible Verses About Loving Others
1 John 4:12 – No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is made complete in us.
Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Romans 13:8 – Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Luke 6:31 – Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Galatians 5:14 – For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: love your neighbor as yourself.
Love is the Answer
It should be no surprise that God has given us ample instructions and teachings on loving others. Scripture tells us that God is love, that He first loved us, and sent His son to die for us. God created all people valuable and worthy of love. God is the ultimate example of love. Through the Word of God, He shows us through the life and death of Jesus Christ what it means to love others first. Because of the love that God has shown us, He calls us to show one another love. God tells us that love is a superb command.
Loving others is complicated at times. A common phrase to refer to people we consistently find ourselves challenged to love is “extra grace required” people. Still, even people we generally like can sometimes be challenging to love. The main reason we run into difficulties loving others is sin, both ours and those we try to love. Humans are fallen beings. Apart from God and His power, we are selfish, and loving ourselves comes much more naturally than loving others. However, love is not selfish; it seeks the best for others.
Battling both our selfishness and sin tendencies and dealing with the selfishness and other people’s sin tendencies can make love a chore. Still, it’s a chore that’s necessary. Christians are God’s people and must look for the good in others, even when only presented with the bad. Loving others is difficult because they are human, and we are human. But in this difficulty, we come better to appreciate the quality of God’s love for us. God’s Spirit shines through and the world sees Christ in us when we love others despite their lack of lovability.
