Scripture rarely treats love as a feeling. It describes love as something done, patient, generous, and willing to bear cost. From the commandments to the cross, these passages show love that acts before it is deserved. Here are some of the clearest verses on what love is and how it moves.
Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:18-19
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 13:34-35
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
Colossians 3:14
Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh. Many waters can't quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. Friends
Song of Solomon 8:6-7
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
Proverbs 10:12
By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him? My little children, let's not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.
1 John 3:16-18
For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
Galatians 5:13
Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 22:37-39
with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;
Ephesians 4:2