What does the Bible say about love?

The Bible's first claim about love is staggering: God Himself is love (1 John 4:8). Love is not a feeling God sometimes has—it is part of who He eternally is, expressed perfectly within the Trinity and poured out toward us.

The clearest picture of love in Scripture is the cross. "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Love acts; it sacrifices; it moves toward the unworthy.

When Jesus was asked the greatest commandment, He gave two: love God with everything you are, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Every other command flows from these.

1 Corinthians 13 strips love of sentimentality and shows what it actually looks like—patient, kind, not jealous, not arrogant, slow to anger, quick to forgive, hopeful, faithful. This is the love we're called to give in marriages, friendships, churches, and even toward enemies.