Love
Many books, poems, and songs have been written about love. On this page, we look at love from the perspective of why.
Why did God create the universe and mankind? Luke 15:7 says that when one person turns to him of his own free will, it brings God such great Love and Joy that heaven rejoices. Also see Free Will page
Studying the Record of Nature, we have found that the whole history of the universe shows that God planned from the start to make a home for humans. The universe is an expression of God's love (planning in advance for someone's benefit). See Anthropic Principle page
Written thousands of years ago, the Bible states that love is the reason for almost everything:
Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus stated the greatest commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," and the second is "Love your neighbor as yourself," noting that "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments".
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (defines love)
John 4:8 ("God is love")
John 3:16 (God's sacrifice, He loves the World),
John 15:13 (Greatest is to "lay down one's life")
1 Peter 4:8 ("love covers over a multitude of sins"). This is the only way a relationship works.
Colossians 3:14 ("put on love, which binds everything together")
God does not force His Love on anyone; it is a free, unearned gift that each person may receive or reject (God offers this to everyone, past, present, and future). Also see God of the Bible page
John 3:16 "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. " (love agapaō)
Romans 5:8 "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
Romans 8:38-39 "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
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Love in Greek - Love in English.
English has the largest vocabulary, with more than 1 million words, yet it has only one word for love.
In Biblical Ancient Greek, there are different types of love, yet they are all translated as "love" in English.
Agape (unconditional/selfless love) (agapaō in Greek)
Philia (deep friendship)
Storge (familial affection)
Pragma (enduring/practical love)
Ludus (playful/flirtatious love)
Philautia (self-love)
Eros (passionate/romantic desire)
If you ever wonder which Greek word the New Testament is used for "Love", the Blue Letter Bible is a free tool you can use. Looking at the verse (in KJV or NKJV), click on Strong's. This will give you a Strong #. Click the number to see the Greek (or Hebrew) word. https://www.blueletterbible.org
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Love in the Bible:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."
1 John 4:8 "But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
John 15:13 "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
1 Peter 4:8 "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins."
Colossians 3:14 "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony."
1 Corinthians 16:14 "Let all that you do be done in love."
Romans 12:9-10 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."
1 John 4:10-12 "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
Also see Bible Translations page