“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
Scripture by topic
Bible verses about love
Ten passages on the love that comes from God first, and the love the Church asks of us in return.
01
What love is
Scripture defines love by God's own nature before it describes our feelings, then gives Saint Paul's plain description of love in practice.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
02
How God loves us
The measure of God's love is not sentiment but the Cross: love shown while we were still far off.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
“Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
03
How we are to love
Our love is a response, never the origin. It is learned from God, directed to the neighbour, and it slowly drives out fear.
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Questions readers ask
Love and Scripture
What is the greatest Bible verse about love?
John 3:16 and 1 John 4:8 are the most quoted, while 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 gives the fullest description of what love actually looks like in practice.
What does the Bible say love is?
Love is first a name for God himself (1 John 4:8), then a way of acting—patient, kind, enduring, self-giving—shown most completely in Christ laying down his life.
How can I love people who are difficult?
Scripture makes love an act of the will rather than a feeling: pray for them, act for their good, forgive, and ask God for the love you do not yet have.