Godly love is a lot like Godly fear or Godly joy; there’s definitely more than meets the eye when measuring “love”, and the Christian’s demonstration of Godly love, according to Scripture. There may not be a more important human emotion to consider under the lens of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 2:11-13:
“For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”
Godly love must be defined by the Spirit of God (God’s word), not man’s dictionary or emotions. The apostle John focuses on the concept of love so much that he has come to be known by many today as the “apostle of love.” He writes in 1 John 4:8 that “God is love” and then says that “we love because he first loved us.” So is the love by which we love a Godly love?
How Scripture answers "What is Godly love?"
The Godly love we see defined in the Bible is emotional and caring3568, but is always rooted in God’s word79 and a deliberate13 intent to act on it24568. This is nothing like how the world would define today. For example, the application of a completely unselfish1 and never-ending1 love would fix all marriages and immediately end divorce in this world. A perfect Godly love is the perfect fulfillment of God’s law6 and is best demonstrated in Jesus’ guiltless death on the cross for all of mankind345.
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
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.
Love is patient and kind, it isn’t jealous, boastful, arrogant, or rude. Love doesn’t insist on its own way, it isn’t irritable or resentful, it doesn’t take pleasure in wrongdoing but seeks the truth. Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. Love never ends.
Paul is instructing the church at Corinth on the use of spiritual gifts and the proper order of worship when gathered together. Their use should all be within the framework of love and demonstrating love to others, which in this context is clearly edification and building up of the brethren.
Applying 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a to this question...
Love is defined as many things, noteably none of which that are emotionally driven but rather highly intentioned actions. A “loving” character is one who is humble, kind, and patient while finding joy in “the truth”. Additionally, love is never jealous, boastful (proud), arrogant, rude, selfish, irritable, resentful, or accepting of wrongdoing. Love is always putting up with, hoping, trusting, and enduring all things. Love never ends.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
And it’s my prayer that your love may continue to increase with knowledge and good judgement in order to accept what is excellent, and so be innocent for the day of Christ, filled with righteous good works that come through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
In Paul’s introduction to the church at Philippi, he commends the for their “partnership in the gospel” (vs 5) leading to this prayer that he has for them.
Applying Philippians 1:9-11 to this question...
A person’s love can be increased indefinitely through knowledge and proper judgment, always seeking to be made more complete in Christ and good works.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 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. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
As God’s chosen to be holy, put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience to bear with one another, forgiving each other when you have a complaint. Just as you have been forgiven by the Lord, so must you forgive. Above all, put on love, which encompasses all of these behaviors in perfect harmony.
Paul is encouraging the Colossians to “keep seeking the things above” (vs 1) and imploring them to “put off” (vs 8) the sins of the world. He continues to give specific “in the Lord” behavioral instructions for wives (vs 18), husbands (vs 19), children (vs 20), fathers (vs 21), and slaves (vs 22).
Applying Colossians 3:12-14 to this question...
A Christian’s love includes behaviors showing deference to brethren that closely mirrors Paul’s definition to the Corinthians1, and a spirit of forgiveness in the shadow of our own great atonement through Christ.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Therefore, be like God as His beloved children. Practice love, as Christ loved us and died for us, a sweet offering to God.
After urging the Christians in Ephesus to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit” (4:3), and stressing their attitude of love toward one another here, he goes on to warn against sins (vss 3-5) and false teachers (vss 6-11).
Applying Ephesians 5:1-2 to this question...
Love is a daily walk and an attitude relational to, or in the context of, Christ’s sacrifice for us (e.g. humble, grateful, etc.).
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.”
I [Jesus] give you a new commandment to love each other, just as I have loved you. This is how anyone will know that you are disciples of mine, with the love that you have for one another.
This entire section of Scripture (John 13-17) is Jesus in the upper room with the twelve apostles. He is speaking to them directly and giving them instructions about his coming death and what will follow. Jesus will begin to wash their feet.
Applying John 13:34-35 to this question...
We are to love each other as Christ loved us. Jesus loved us by humbling Himself, offering Himself as a sacrifice for sin, and forgiving those that believe and obey.
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Owe no one anything except to love one another, because the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments against adultery, murder, stealing, coveting, and every other commandment are summed up in this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love fulfills the law.
Paul is offering encouragement to the Christians in Rome. He has given some specific, practical instructions for daily life in the previous chapter (including to love one another – 12:10). In this chapter Paul turns to how a Christian should submit to and live under “governing authorities” (vs 1) before coming back to the subject of loving each other. Paul cites a portion of the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20:13-17 and relates them to Leviticus 19:18 just as the lawyer did in Luke 10:27 which Jesus approved.
Applying Romans 13:8-10 to this question...
In recalling Jesus’ exchange with the rich young ruler in Luke 10:25-28, Paul reiterates the Christian’s perspective of an outward, relational love and its epitomizing behavior of all things Godly.
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? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.
But if anyone sees a brother in need and has the means to help and doesn’t, God’s love is not in him. Brethern, let’s not simply talk or write about love, but love in action and truth.
John is stating the case for fellow believers to continue in the love of God, here reminding them of the contrast between those that practice sin (e.g. “lawlessness” vs 4) and those that have accepted Jesus and been cleansed of their sin.
Applying 1 John 3:17-18 to this question...
Love is an action that is motivated by good [to others] and God’s truth.
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.
Therefore I [Jesus] tell you [Simon] that her many sins are forgiven, for she loved much. But whoever is forgiven little loves little.
Jesus has been invited by Simon (a Pharisee) to eat at his house (vs 36). Also, there is a prostitute “of the city” – “a sinner” (vs 37). Simon has just wondered to himself why Jesus would be with this sinner (vs 39). Jesus goes on to tell Simon a parable (vss 40-43) and praise the woman for her actions (works) toward Him while Simon has done nothing (vss 44-46).
Applying Luke 7:47 to this question...
A woman’s humility and actions that honor Jesus as the Messiah are described by Jesus as loving and warranted Him forgiving her sins.
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
As I have urged you already, remain in Ephesus in order to command certain individuals not to teach “any different doctrine” or to spend time on myths or endless genealogies. These things only promote speculation rather than “good order” (lit) by our faith in God. This is love that comes from a dedicated heart (mind), good conscience and sincere faith. Certain individuals by diverting from this have gone into worthless discussion. They desire to be teachers but don’t have an understanding of what they teach or the things they confidently assert.
Paul’s instructions to the young preacher Timothy, ending chap 1 with two named individuals that were engaged in false teaching and as a result made a “shipwreck of their faith” and have been “handed over to Satan…”
Applying 1 Timothy 1:3-7 to this question...
In confronting false teaching, Paul describes its “aim” is “love” that comes from “a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
related to 'What is Godly love?'
lend your own study to the discussion
PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY: While your email is required, it will not be posted publically.
All comments are vetted for potential spam before being published, but will not be restricted otherwise.
