What Is Love in the Bible?
What Is Love in the Bible? Biblical love is self-giving, sacrificial commitment to the good of another — supremely displayed in God's love for sinners through Christ.
Key verse: 1 John 4:8 (KJV)
Biblical love is self-giving, sacrificial commitment to the good of another — supremely displayed in God's love for sinners through Christ.
Biblical love is self-giving, sacrificial commitment to the good of another — supremely displayed in God's love for sinners through Christ.
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." — 1 John 4:8 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
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The Biblical Answer
The Bible uses several Greek words for love, but the highest is agape — a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love that seeks the good of its object regardless of merit or response. 'God is love,' and His love is not a feeling but a deliberate choice to give His Son for undeserving rebels. 'In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.' Love is the greatest of the theological virtues: 'And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.' Paul defines love in 1 Corinthians 13: it is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, rejoices in truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. The command to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves, sums up the entire Law. Love is the fruit of the Spirit, the bond of perfection, and the distinguishing mark of Christ's disciples. Without it, all religious activity is worthless noise.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?
God's design for marriage, the roles of husband and wife, and building a Christ-centered relationship.
Key Scripture References
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What Is Faith?
Faith is confident trust in God and His promises — believing what He has said even when circumstances seem impossible.
What Is Hope in the Bible?
Biblical hope is a confident expectation of future good, anchored in God's promises and the certainty of Christ's return.
What Is the Golden Rule?
The Golden Rule is Jesus' command: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' — a summary of how God wants us to treat each other.
Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
The Bible presents the resurrection as historical fact, supported by eyewitness testimony, an empty tomb, and transformed lives.
Is Jesus God?
Yes — the Bible teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the second person of the Trinity.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside 1 John. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read 1 John on day 356 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
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