Biblical Answer

What Does the Bible Say About Love?

The Bible describes love in various ways, including its absence of hypocrisy (Rom 12:9; 2 Cor 6:6; 1 Pet 1:22), its willingness to lay down its life for another (Jn 15:13), and its ability to work no ill for others (Rom 13:10). God gives us his love to enable us to love each other (John 17:26; Rom. 5:5), and our love for our enemies especially reflects God's love (Matt. 5:43-48). For Christians, love is the heart of everything, as God is love (1 John 4:8), and Jesus told his followers to love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12).

The Bible also defines love as a responsibility that should be practiced even if feelings of affection and passion are not present. It is not merely an emotion but a state of the will that we must learn to have about others. Scripture speaks about love as something one does, rather than how one feels. When discussing love, New Testament writers talk about it in terms of actions, such as laying down one's life for another (Jn 15:13) and working no ill for others (Rom 13:10). This understanding of love is rooted in the biblical concept of obedience to God's commands, particularly the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18).

Biblical love is not merely sentimental or emotional but is characterized by truth and purity. It does not embrace that which runs contrary to reality or the law of God. The Bible calls believers to show love to other people, even if it means ignoring our own feelings or desires. Love is not about granting what someone else desires but about acting in a way that reflects God's character and is first pure, then peaceable (James 3:17). As believers, we are instructed to walk in this kind of love, which reflects the character of God and is a fundamental aspect of our relationship with Him.