Biblical Question

What does the Bible say about love?

Q: What does the Bible say about love?

Short answer for What does the Bible say about love?: retrieved texts are reported directly; where claims exceed cited passages, state INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.

Retrieved texts include 2 Peter 1:7, Romans 12:10, 1 Corinthians 13:4, 1 Corinthians 13:13.

The texts do not directly address broader modern formulations; NO DIRECT REFERENCE IN SOURCE TEXTS and INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE apply beyond retrieved passages.

THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

1. QUESTION

What does the Bible say about love, specifically as presented in the retrieved New Testament source texts?

2. PRIMARY TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

The retrieved texts address love (rendered primarily as "charity" in the KJV) in several dimensions:

On the Nature and Character of Love:

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up" — 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)

On the Preeminence of Love:

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV)

"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." — 1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)

"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." — Colossians 3:14 (KJV)

On Love as Commanded Practice Among Believers:

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another" — Romans 12:10 (KJV)

"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous" — 1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)

On the Relationship Between Brotherly Kindness and Love:

"And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." — 2 Peter 1:7 (KJV)

On Love as Fruit of the Spirit:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith" — Galatians 5:22 (KJV)

On Love as Evidence of Spiritual Growth:

"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth" — 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV)

3. LINGUISTIC/HISTORICAL DATA

The KJV renders the Greek term agapē as "charity" in several passages (1 Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 4:8; Colossians 3:14), while "brotherly love" in Romans 12:10 likely translates philadelphia (φιλαδελφία). The retrieved texts distinguish between these terms, as seen in 2 Peter 1:7, where "brotherly kindness" (philadelphia) is followed by and distinct from "charity" (agapē).

4. SCHOLARLY POSITIONS

The retrieved texts do not contain scholarly commentary. However, the textual evidence itself suggests a progression or hierarchy: 2 Peter 1:7 presents love (agapē/charity) as the culmination of virtue development following brotherly kindness. Multiple texts (1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Peter 4:8; Colossians 3:14) position love as supreme among virtues.

5. SOURCES

1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)
1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV)
1 Peter 4:8 (KJV)
1 Peter 3:8 (KJV)
2 Peter 1:7 (KJV)
Romans 12:10 (KJV)
Galatians 5:22 (KJV)
Colossians 3:14 (KJV)
2 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV)
Ephesians 6:23 (KJV)
Revelation 2:19 (KJV)
3 John 1:5 (KJV)

6. CONSENSUS INDICATOR

CLEAR — The retrieved texts consistently affirm that:

Love (agapē/charity) is the greatest virtue

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE: retrieved texts do not resolve this question explicitly.

Sources

2 Peter 1:7 (KJV) — score 0.588

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Romans 12:10 (KJV) — score 0.554

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) — score 0.533

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV) — score 0.529

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Philemon 1:1 (KJV) — score 0.517

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

Colossians 4:12 (KJV) — score 0.495

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Ephesians 6:23 (KJV) — score 0.493

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 16:14 (KJV) — score 0.482

Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.

Galatians 5:22 (KJV) — score 0.478

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

1 Peter 4:8 (KJV) — score 0.477

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) — score 0.467

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Revelation 2:19 (KJV) — score 0.466

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Colossians 3:14 (KJV) — score 0.462

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

3 John 1:5 (KJV) — score 0.461

Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

1 Peter 3:8 (KJV) — score 0.461

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

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