What is Love? A Biblical Interpretation and Definition

Christian Pure Team

/
PinterestReddit

Summary

  • Love is defined in the Bible as selfless, unconditional, and a core part of God’s character, influencing how believers should interact with others.
  • The Bible describes four types of love: Agape (unconditional love), Phileo (brotherly love), Storge (familial love), and Eros (romantic love), with Agape being the highest form.
  • God’s love is demonstrated in the Old Testament through His steadfastness and mercy, and most clearly revealed in the New Testament through Jesus Christ’s life and sacrifice.
  • Christ’s teachings emphasize that love for God and others is fundamental to Christian life, serving as the foundation for all moral instructions and relationships.

Introduction: What is the Biblical Understanding of Love? Love is a word we hear all around us—in beautiful songs, heartfelt poems, and our everyday chats.¹ And Although the world tries to define it in many ways, from books to science, as believers, we have the most wonderful and solid understanding right from the Bible. You see, in God’s Word, love isn’t just a quick feeling or a romantic idea; it’s the very essence of God’s amazing character and how He…

Continue reading with a subscription

Get unlimited access to all our premium content and exclusive features.

Subscribe Now

Enjoy unlimited access, cancel anytime.

Bibliography (Click to show)

“Bibliography:

  1. Christian Theological Perspectives on Love and Their Relationship to Scientific Understandings, accessed June 1, 2025, http://166.62.7.99/assets/default/article/2024/10/30/article_1730345823.pdf
  2. Christian Theological Perspectives on Love and Their Relationship to Scientific Understandings, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.clausiuspress.com/article/13939.html
  3. Love in the Bible | Resource Guide with Videos & More, accessed June 1, 2025, https://bibleproject.com/guides/love-in-the-bible/
  4. The Benefits of Love: Is Love a Many Splendored Thing or an Existential Threat?, accessed June 1, 2025, https://cct.biola.edu/love-many-splendored-thing-or-existential-threat/
  5. The four loves : r/TrueChristian – Reddit, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueChristian/comments/17p19rr/the_four_loves/
  6. What Are the Four Types of Love in Scripture? | Christianity.com, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-are-agape-storge-phileo-and-eros-love-in-scripture.html
  7. www.christianity.com, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-does-agape-love-really-mean-in-the-bible.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAgape%E2%80%9D%20is%20one%20of%20several,intentionally%20desires%20another's%20highest%20good.
  8. Bible Verses About Love – FaithGateway, accessed June 1, 2025, https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/bible-verses-about-love
  9. crosscreekfountain.com, accessed June 1, 2025, https://crosscreekfountain.com/2023/08/phileo-love/
  10. Love-Phileo (Greek Word Study) | Precept Austin, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.preceptaustin.org/love-phileo
  11. www.wikihow.com, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.wikihow.com/Storge-Love#:~:text=Paul%20tells%20believers%20to%20practice,with%20familial%20or%20familiar%20love.
  12. www.pursuegod.org, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.pursuegod.org/what-is-eros-love/#:~:text=Eros%20love%20is%20physical%20intimacy,and%20is%20diminished%20by%20selfishness.
  13. How Eros Love Transforms Our Relationship with God? – DrGeorgeJ, accessed June 1, 2025, https://drgeorgej.com/how-eros-love-transforms-our-relationship-with-god/
  14. Six Old Testament Passages That Demonstrate God's Love – Open …, accessed June 1, 2025, https://openthebible.org/article/old-testament-passages-demonstrating-gods-love/
  15. How God Loves Us: Show Us Your Love, Exodus 34:6-7 – 1517, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.1517.org/articles/how-god-loves-us-show-us-your-love-exodus-346-7
  16. Scripture Reminds Us That God Is Patient – until He Isn't – Bible Study Tools, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/scripture-reminds-us-that-god-is-patient-until-he-isnt.html
  17. We Are Gomer | Running from God's Covenantal Faithfulness – The Gospel Coalition, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/we-are-gomer/
  18. Hosea 3 ERV – Hosea Buys Gomer Back From Slavery – Bible Gateway, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%203&version=ERV
  19. Topical Bible: The Patience of God: Israel, accessed June 1, 2025, https://biblehub.com/topical/ttt/t/the_patience_of_god–israel.htm
  20. 11 Bible Verses That Teach Us About God's Love – Chip Ingram, accessed June 1, 2025, https://livingontheedge.org/2022/02/21/bible-verses-gods-love/
  21. 20 Bible Verses About God's Love – Pure Flix, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.pureflix.com/insider/20-bible-verses-about-gods-love
  22. Jesus told us to Love God and to Love our neighbors as ourselves. : r/Christianity – Reddit, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/Christianity/comments/ymlel7/jesus_told_us_to_love_god_and_to_love_our/
  23. 40 Ways: How to Love Your Neighbor as Yourself?, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.lifeisjesuschrist.com/post/40-ways-how-to-love-your-neighbor-as-yourself
  24. Understanding "Agape Love" as the Highest Form of Intimacy – RelateStrong Blog, accessed June 1, 2025, https://boonecenter.pepperdine.edu/blog/posts/understanding-agape-love.htm
  25. 1 Corinthians 13: Why Is Love So Important? | Zondervan Academic, accessed June 1, 2025, https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/1-corinthians-13
  26. Virtue of charity requires us to speak, act and think with love – † Archdiocese of Indianapolis, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2020/02-14/bethuram.html
  27. Jesus Washes His Disciples Feet | Oak Grove Church of Christ, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.ogchurchofchrist.org/Sermons/jesus-washes-his-disciples-feet/
  28. Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet – UBF Resource, accessed June 1, 2025, https://ubf.org/resources/show/17123
  29. Eating With Sinners: Why Jesus Broke the 'Rules' – Olive Tree Blog, accessed June 1, 2025, https://staging-blog.olivetree.com/eating-with-sinners-why-jesus-broke-the-rules/
  30. Jesus, Friend of Sinners: But How? – The Gospel Coalition, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/jesus-friend-of-sinners-but-how/
  31. Jesus Ate with Sinners – The Sometimes Preacher, accessed June 1, 2025, https://thesometimespreacher.com/2014/03/jesus-ate-with-sinners/
  32. Tabletalk in Luke 14: 7-14 – Relationalrealities, accessed June 1, 2025, https://relationalrealities.com/2016/08/27/tabletalk-in-luke-14-7-14/
  33. The Parable of the Prodigal Son – National Shrine of the Immaculate …, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.nationalshrine.org/blog/the-parable-of-the-prodigal-son/
  34. Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) – Bible Odyssey, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/parable-of-the-prodigal-son-luke-1511-32/
  35. Augustine: Love is God – Discourses on Minerva, accessed June 1, 2025, https://minervawisdom.com/2022/04/19/augustine-love-is-god/
  36. Augustine's Love Sermon | Christian History Institute, accessed June 1, 2025, https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/augustine
  37. (PDF) LOVE IN JOHN CHRYSOSTOM'S WRITINGS – ResearchGate, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388372967_LOVE_IN_JOHN_CHRYSOSTOM'S_WRITINGS
  38. "The Timeless Wisdom of St. John Chrysostom: Illuminating Hearts with Love, Prayer, and Hope" – Sophia's Mission, accessed June 1, 2025, https://sophiasmissionus.org/the-timeless-wisdom-of-st-john-chrysostom-illuminating-hearts-with-love-prayer-and-hope/
  39. Charity (Christian virtue) – Wikipedia, accessed June 1, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_(Christian_virtue)
  40. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – Center for Excellence in Preaching, accessed June 1, 2025, https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2019-01-28/1-corinthians-131-13-2/
  41. 10 Biblical Ways to Show Love – Ginger Harrington, accessed June 1, 2025, https://gingerharrington.com/10-biblical-ways-to-show-love/
  42. How to Show Christlike Love in Your Everyday Life | Good Soil, accessed June 1, 2025, https://www.goodsoil.com/blog/how-to-show-christ-like-love-in-your-everyday-life/

“

Discover more from Christian Pure

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

RedditWhatsApp
Share to...
CopyLinkedInMastodonPinterestPrintRedditSMSThreadsWhatsAppBlueskyVK