What does the Bible say about loving one another? And what does it mean to love someone according to the Bible?
In John 13:34 ESV Jesus Christ Himself commands us to love one another, just as He loves us. We know that God is love and Jesus is God in the flesh. Fully human, yet fully God.
Love is powerful and life-changing, yet we live in a depraved world where the love of many has grown cold.
I’m sure everybody has struggled with loving your neighbor. That’s easy to understand.
We live in a fallen world and we’re conceived in sin. We’re all sinners by default.
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
So it’s no wonder that loving one another is such a challenge by living in the flesh as we know that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:40-43 ESV).
Yet, the Holy Spirit that resides in each believer in Christ gives strength to overcome the flesh and worldly things.
And the Bible constantly reminds us of the incredible love that the Lord has for us as we’re called to love one another in a similar fashion.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34, ESV
Genuinely loving one another is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit that we receive freely upon believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. 1
Otherwise, we’ll be trapped in the flesh that puts an emphasis on sinful anti-love aspects such as pride and arrogance.
Continue reading to find out what Scripture says about loving one another, what God says about true love and 100 incredible Bible verses about loving one another!
What Does God Say About Loving One Another?
Scripture includes plenty of unique verses that highlight the need for loving one another and here are a few very relevant examples:
- “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 ESV
- “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44 ESV
- “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34 ESV
- “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 ESV
- “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 ESV
Note that loving one another is a very important theme in the New Testament and for good reason.
Love comes from God and He loves us so much that He sacrificed His only begotten Son, so that we may have eternal life through Him (John 3:16 ESV).
What Bible Verse is Love One Another As I Have Loved You?
The particular Bible verse that goes by “love one another as I have loved you” comes from the Gospel of John where Jesus gives the following commandment to his disciples:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34:35 ESV
Loving your neighbor is something really important for God and He lets us know that in Scripture.
Apostle John knows plenty about this through the Holy Spirit as also evident by his inspired writings in the first epistle general of John:
“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” 1 John 3:23 ESV
Do you notice how John puts believing in Christ next to the commandment of loving one another?
Yes, loving each other is that important to God.
What Does it Mean to Love Others as Jesus Loved Us?
God wants us to love each other with a Holy Spirit-driven, unconditional love that’s perfectly described by Apostle Paul here:
“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.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV
This is the type of love that the Lord wants us to give to each other.
A type of love that’s different than love stemming from the flesh, which can come from insincere or selfish reasons.
But we need the change of heart from comes with the Holy Spirit that Christians receive once they believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again as the ultimate sacrificial lamb for our collective sins.
We can’t expect to achieve this type of love on our own.
We need to be truly born-again Christians to be able to love one another as described by Apostle Paul in his first letter to the church in Corinth.
Related Content:
What Does the Bible Say About Husband and Wife?
Jesus’ Many Blatant Claims to be God
The Difference Between God and Jesus
What Does God Say About True Love?
The Lord has plenty to say about true, genuine love that’s described in Scripture by the inspired writings of many authors including Apostle Paul:
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 ESV
And do you remember who laid down His life for sinful humanity? That’s right – Jesus Christ.
The Lord Himself showed us what ultimate love looks like in every possible way.
To suffer a heinous death on the cross without coming to any sin at all, for wicked and deprived people who don’t deserve it.
Let’s not forget the following Bible passage:
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 ESV
Indeed, God provided an example of the most complete and real form of love that there is in Christ’s redeeming work on the cross.
Loving each other is the least we can and something that every spirit-filled, born-again Christian should strive for.
100 Bible Verses about Loving One Another
These are 100 verses from Scripture related to loving one another as Christ commanded us:
John 13:34
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20
1 Peter 4:8
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”
John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Romans 12:10
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
1 John 4:7-10
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:11
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
Romans 13:8
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
1 John 3:18
“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
John 15:12
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
Galatians 5:13
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
1 John 4:7
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 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;” 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Leviticus 19:18
“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
1 John 3:11
“For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
Ephesians 4:2
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”
John 13:35
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Luke 6:31
“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”
Luke 6:35
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”
1 Peter 1:22
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
1 John 3:16
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
1 John 3:17
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
1 Thessalonians 4:9
“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,”
1 Corinthians 13:13
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 John 4:12
“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”
1 Thessalonians 3:12
“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,”
1 Corinthians 16:14
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Hebrews 10:24
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
John 15:17
“These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
Mark 12:31
“The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Romans 13:10
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
1 Peter 3:8
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”
1 John 4:1-21
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.”
1 John 3:23
“And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
1 John 4:19
“We love because he first loved us.”
Ephesians 5:21
“Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Ephesians 4:1-32
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism,”
Colossians 3:14
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
2 John 1:5
“And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.”
Galatians 5:26
“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Romans 16:16
“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”
Romans 14:13
“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”
1 John 3:14
“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.”
Romans 12:16
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”
1 John 4:21
“And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
James 4:11
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.”
Ephesians 4:2-3
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
1 John 5:3
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
1 John 4:16
“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
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. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Philippians 2:3
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Colossians 3:13
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Romans 15:7
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
John 13:14
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
1 Peter 5:14
“Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”
James 5:9
“Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”
Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
James 5:16
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Hebrews 3:13
“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
1 Thessalonians 4:18
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Galatians 5:15
“But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”
Colossians 3:9
“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.”
Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 11:33
“So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.”
John 15:12-13
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1
1 Peter 5:5
“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Romans 15:14
“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.”
Matthew 7:12
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
1 Peter 4:9
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15
“See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”
Hebrews 10:25
“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
1 Thessalonians 1:3
“Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
John 15:9
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
Luke 3:11
“And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” John 14:1-5
1 Timothy 1:5
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
Matthew 5:41
“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”
Deuteronomy 7:9
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,”
Hebrews 13:1
“Let brotherly love continue.”
Ephesians 5:33
“However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
1 Corinthians 16:20
“All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.”
Ephesians 5:19
“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,”
2 Corinthians 13:1
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
“Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears!” Isaiah 43:4-8
2 Thessalonians 1:3
“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”
1 Corinthians 12:25
“That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”
1 Peter 2:17
“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
Final Thoughts
Love is a fundamental part of Christianity and life for that matter.
You can’t claim to know and follow God by not loving others, because God is love (1 John 4:8).
Real love comes from the Lord because He created it and subsequently showed us how to love each other.
And Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of genuine, unconditional love because he laid down his life for us.
His true love for humanity was on full display when He humbled Himself by becoming fully human (yet still being fully God) to bear our sins upon Him.
As a result of His death, we can now receive eternal life by believing in Him and what He did on the cross.
Also, we receive the Holy Spirit at the very moment we surrender our heart to Jesus and it’s this part of the Trinity that guides us toward true love.
Love that stems from the Holy Spirit is genuine, unselfish and forgiving.
Is your Faith Founded on Fact? Have you committed to follow Jesus?