We can all agree that love is the most important theme on which our Christian faith is built on. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible speaks about love in different forms.

The Bible explains God’s love for us, our love for Him, and the life we should have for on another. I

n this article, we’ll explore the different types of love found in the Bible, scriptures that teach us about love, and what it means to truly love God and others.

Let’s dive in.

Understanding Biblical Love.

The word love can mean different things to different people. So to really understand it the way God meant it, we need to start from the basics. So what exactly is biblical love?

What Is Biblical Love?

Contrary to the world’s view of love, biblical love isn’t based on emotions or personal gain. Biblical love is centered on God and others.

In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus said, “Love the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Through this verse, Jesus teaches us that love is not just an emotion but a commandment that shapes our relationship with God and everyone around us.

Love is a choice, a commitment, and an intentional action. The Bible teaches that true love is selfless, patient, and enduring.

Types of Love in The Bible.

There are several types of love mentioned in the Bible, both good and even selfish ones. However, for the purpose of this article, we will focus on the important ones.

1. Agape (Greek):

Central to the New Testament, agape refers to unconditional, self-sacrificial love. It is the highest form of love in the Bible.

This is the kind of love God has for us, and the type of love Christians are called to emulate in their relationships with God and others.

We can see this is Romans 5:8, which says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Agape love is completely centered on the well-being of others without expecting anything in return.

Characteristics of Agape Love:

• It is sacrificial (John 3:16).
• It is unconditional (Romans 5:8).
• It is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3).

2. Philia (Greek):

Philia love is often translated as brotherly love. It is the love between friends, companions, and fellow believers.

Philia is affectionate, loyal, and built on mutual respect and shared experiences.This type of love binds close friendships, families, and even the church community.

Characteristics of Philia Love:

• It is loyal and devoted (Romans 12:10).
• It involves sacrifice for others (John 15:13).
• It is trustworthy and supportive (Proverbs 17:17).

3. Eros (Greek):

The word “Eros” is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. But, the concept of Eros love is clearly present in Scripture, particularly in books like Song of Solomon, Genesis, and Proverbs.

Eros love is romantic and passionate love, which aligns with the biblical principles of love within the context of marriage.

Although this love involves feelings of attraction and desire, the Bible teaches that true eros love must be based on commitment, respect, and godly principles, rather than just emotions.

While eros love is a beautiful gift, the Bible warns against misusing it outside of marriage (1 Corinthians 6:18). True biblical eros love honors God through purity and commitment.

Characteristics of Eros Love:

• It is exclusive to marriage (Genesis 2:24).
• It involves passion and affection (Song of Solomon 1:2).
• It is to be enjoyed within God’s design (Proverbs 5:18-19).

4. Storgē (Greek):

Storgē love is the natural love that exists between family members (parents and children, siblings, and relatives).

It is built on affection, care, and deep-rooted bonds. This love is seen in families who nurture, support, and protect one another.

This love is the foundation of strong, godly families. The Bible encourages parents to raise their children with love and discipline, and children to honor and respect their parents.

Characteristics of Storgē Love:

• It is natural and instinctive (Exodus 20:12).
• It is protective and nurturing (Ephesians 6:1-4).
• It involves deep emotional connection (Romans 12:10).

How the Bible Defines Love?

The Bible gives us a clear definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, 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. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

The Bible portrays love as more than a passing feeling or romantic ideal. Love is a deep commitment to the well-being, growth, and happiness of others while also valuing yourself.

Love for God.

It isn’t enough to say we love God. It is also important to understand how we can love God. Let’s look closely at how we can love God;

Love God with All Your Heart.

The Bible commands us to love God above everything else. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Loving God isn’t as hard as people make it seem. Because our love for Him is a response to His love for us. When you love God, it shows in your decisions, your actions, and even your thoughts. Because you’d always put Him first in all areas of your life.

Love the Lord Your God.

Jesus reaffirmed this in Matthew 22:37-38 when He said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Loving God isn’t just about saying it, but it’s about showing it through obedience, worship, and trust.

Also read, Love The Lord Your God More Than Anything Using These 7 Powerful Steps.

Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart.

Loving God also means trusting Him completely. In Proverbs 3:5-6 we’re encouraged to completely trust in God and never rely on our own wisdom.

Our love for God should convince us that His plans and purposes for us are always for our benefit. The Bible states that there is no fear in love (1 John 4.18). This means that true love for God is believing in His plans even when we don’t understand them.

Love For Others.

Loving others is one of the clearest ways we reflect God’s love in the world. And the Bible gives us so many reminders of this. Let’s look at a few of them.

Bible Verses About Loving Others.

1. Romans 13:8 – Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God’s law.
2. Philippians 2:3 – Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.
3. 1 Corinthians 13:1 – If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself.

The second greatest commandment is found in Mark 12:31, “Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”In this chapter, Jesus was responding to a scribe who asked Him which commandment is the most important.

The Greek word for “love” here is “agapē.” Which means a selfless, sacrificial love that seeks the best for others. This is not just an emotional affection but an intentional commitment for the well-being of others. The term “neighbor” (Greek: “plēsion”) goes beyond our immediate family or community.

But it covers all of humanity. And this reflects the universal scope of God’s love. The expression “as yourself” conveys a natural level of care and concern for oneself. And it implies that loving others should be as instinctive and broad as self-love.

This commandment encourages Christians to live a love-centred life just as Jesus did. Our love for people should overcome social, cultural, and personal obstacles.

Love One Another Bible Verse.

1. John 13:34 – A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
2. 1 John 4:11 – Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
3. Romans 12:10 – Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Also read, Loving People More.

Family Love In The Bible.

Family is one of the most important parts of our lives, and the Bible speaks a lot about the love we should have for our family members. Let’s look at what the Bible says about family love.

Bible Verses About Family Love.

1. Ephesians 6:4 – And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.
2. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
3. Psalm 133:1 – Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Bible Verses About Mother’s Love.

1. Titus 2:4 – These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children.
2. Isaiah 49:15 – Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
3. Isaiah 66:13 – As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.

Bible Verses About Children’s Love.

1. Ephesians 6:1 – Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.
2. Ephesians 6:2 – “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise.
3. Colossians 3:20 – You children must always obey your parents, for this is what pleases the Lord.

Bible Verses About Loving Parents.

1. Exodus 20:12 – Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
2. Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
3. Colossians 3:21 – Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Special Types Of Love.

The love between a husband and wife is something truly special. The Bible honours this kind of love and gives us verses to guide and inspire it. Let’s look at a few.

Bible Verses About Love and Marriage.

1. Ephesians 5:28 – In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife.
2. 1 Corinthians 7:3 – Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
3. Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Bible Verses About Romantic Love.

1. Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
2. Genesis 2:24 – That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
3. Proverbs 5:18-19 – May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer, may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

Bible Verses About Loving Animals.

1. Proverbs 12:10 – The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
2. Matthew 6:26 – Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
3. Psalm 104:10-11 – He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

Bible Verses for Death of Loved One.

1. Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
2. Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 – Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

Biblical teachings on Self-love.

Biblical teachings on self-love focus more on treating oneself with compassion and respect and realizing your value as God’s creation. Throughout the Bible, we find threads of wisdom that weave a tapestry of self-love.

It’s not vanity or egotism, but rather an understanding and acceptance of one’s worth.

We see in Psalm 139:14 where David sings praises about being “fearfully and wonderfully made.” He acknowledges his value in God’s eyes, setting a precedent for us to do the same.

You’ll also stumble upon passages that reiterate this concept. In Mark 12:31, Jesus puts forth the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. It’s implied here that we can’t truly love others if we don’t first have love for ourselves.

The Apostle Paul further echoes these sentiments in Ephesians 5:29-30 when he wrote: “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it just as Christ does the church because we are members of His body.”

From this biblical perspective then, self-love isn’t about selfishness or placing oneself above others; instead, it means accepting ourselves as valuable creations who deserve love and respect.

Bible Verses About Self Love.

1. Mark 12:31 – The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
2. Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
3. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Also read, How to Forgive Yourself.

Scripture on Loving Yourself.

1. Proverbs 19:8 – The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
2. 2 Timothy 1:7 – For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
3. Psalm 139:14 – I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

FAQ Section.

1. How many times is love mentioned in the Bible? The number of times the word “love” is mentioned in the Bible depends on the translation. In the King James Version (KJV), “love” is mentioned 310 times, while in the New International Version (NIV), it is mentioned 551 times123. The Old Testament mentions “love” 131 times, while the New Testament mentions it 179 times in the KJV3. The NIV mentions “love” in its various forms 551 times.
2. What are the types of love in the Bible? There are 4 types. And they are storge agape eros and philos.
3. How can you say you love God whom you haven’t seen? Although we cannot physically see God, our faith allows us to feel His presence and love in our lives. Through faith, we experience a deep connection with God and an assurance of things hoped for and a conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 beautifully describes this faith, stating, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This verse highlights the power of our belief, allowing us to trust in something beyond our immediate understanding.
4. Which Bible verse says love God, love others? Matthew 22:37-39 – Jesus commands us to love God and love others.
5. What Bible verse says to love others as God has loved you? John 15:12 – My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Conclusion.

The Bible teaches us that love is not just a feeling, but an action, a command, and a reflection of God’s nature.

Whether it is love for God, others, family, or even ourselves, the Bible provides clear guidance on how we should love.If we truly follow God’s definition of love, we will live in peace, unity, and joy.