Love is at the very centre of the Christian faith, God's love for us, and the love we're called to show others. These verses describe what that love looks like.
“Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (WEB)
The definitive description of love, patient, kind, selfless and enduring.
“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.” (WEB)
The most famous verse on the scale of God's love.
“We love him, because he first loved us.” (WEB)
Our ability to love flows from first being loved by God.
“But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (WEB)
God's love isn't earned, it was given while we were still far off.
“Love is of God… God is love.” Love finds its source and definition in God.
Jesus' new command to love one another, the mark of his followers.
1 Corinthians 13 is worth reading slowly with your own name in place of “love”, a humbling, hopeful way to see where God is growing you. Love in the Bible is less a feeling and more a way of treating people.
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Open Verse FinderJohn 3:16 (“For God so loved the world…”) is the most famous verse about God's love, while 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is the best-known description of what love looks like in practice.
1 Corinthians 13 describes love as patient, kind, not envious or proud, not self-seeking, keeping no record of wrongs, and enduring all things. 1 John 4:8 adds that “God is love”, love finds its definition in God himself.
Want a single verse explained? See what popular verses mean →