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Catholic Bible Verses about Love
December 31, 2023

Catholic Bible Verses about Love

Love is far more than a feeling, as we talked about last time. Love is, essentially, willing the good of the other, as St. Thomas Aquinas put it. Click here to read about the four types of love! 

Nevertheless, love is something every person needs to live fully. Here are some bible verses that expand on each type of love:

Philia (Friendship): amicable love

The Book of Proverbs is a great place to find guidance on virtuoso friendships.

“The Lord also restored the prosperity of Job, after he had prayed for his friends; the Lord even gave to Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42: 10

“Whoever overlooks an offense fosters friendship, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.” Proverbs 17: 9

“A friend is a friend at all times, and a brother is born for the time of adversity.” Proverbs 17: 17

“There are friends who bring ruin, but there are true friends more loyal than a brother.” Proverbs 18: 24

“Trustworthy are the blows of a friend, dangerous, the kisses of an enemy.” Proverbs 27: 6

Ben Sara Chapter 6 is full of blessings about the gift of friendship. Read the whole chapter, but here is an excerpt for now:

“Pleasant speech multiplies friends, and gracious lips, friendly greetings. Let those who are friendly to you be many, but one in a thousand your confidant.”

“Happy the one who finds a friend, who speaks to attentive ears.” Ben Sira 25: 9

“A good friend will fight with you against the foe, and against your enemies he will hold up your shield.” Ben Sara: 37: 5

Storge (Affection):

The second commandment teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

“The bread of charity is life itself for the needy; whoever withholds it is a murderer.” Ben Sira 34: 25

“Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.” Roman 12: 9-10

“Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13: 10

“Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4: 8

“We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death.” 1 John 3: 14

“Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Cor 9: 7

Eros (Romantic):

There is beauty in the sacrament of marriage as a reflection of love. 

“His mouth is sweetness itself; he is delightful in every way. Such is my lover, and such my friend, Daughters of Jerusalem!” Song of Songs 5: 16

“A wife is her husband’s richest treasure, a help like himself and a staunch support.” Ben Sira 36: 29

“Likewise, you wives should be subordinate to your husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives’ conduct 2 when they observe your reverent and chaste behavior.” 1 Peter 3: 1-2

“The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise the wife toward her husband. 4 A wife does not have authority over her own body, but rather her husband, and similarly a husband does not have authority over his own body, but rather his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control” 1 Cor 7: 3-5

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her” Ephesians 5 (Chapter 5 of Ephesians is a great read!)

“Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers.” Hebrews 13: 4

Tobit chapter 7

“I belong to my lover, and my lover belongs to me” Song of Songs 6:3 

Agape (Charity): Reckless love

The kind of love and essence of God.

“But it was you, my other self, my comrade and friend, You, whose company I enjoyed, at whose side I walked in the house of God.” Psalm 55: 13-15

“Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Mark 10: 21

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.” Matthew 11: 19

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” Luke 15: 13-15

“He set me free in the open; he rescued me because he loves me.” Psalm 18: 20

“Do not fear, beloved. Peace! Take courage and be strong.” When he spoke to me, I grew strong and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” Daniel 10: 19

“Though the mountains fall away and the hills be shaken, My love shall never fall away from you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” Isaiah 54: 10

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” John 3: 16

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13: 34-35

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.'” John 14: 23

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