Love and the Bible

“Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7.

Valentine’s Day is known for symbolizing love and romance. It is also known as St. Valentine’s Day. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine.

Through later traditions, it has become a cultural and commercial celebration of romance and love.

The Apostle Paul writes a statement on love in 1 Corinthians 13. Verses 4-8 is a listing of the characteristics of love.

First, it is long-suffering. This refers to a quality that does not seek revenge but suffers wrong to act redemptively.

Second, love is kind. This could mean gracious, virtuous, manageable, pleasant, and benevolent. It is the opposite of harsh, bitter, or sharp.

Third, love is not envious. It does not jealously desire what it does not possess.

Fourth, love does not promote itself. Love is not puffed up. In humility, it considers others more important than self.

Fifth, love does not behave itself in an unbecoming fashion. Believers are to avoid the appearance of evil.

Sixth, love does not seek its own things. Love seeks the interest of others.

Seventh, love is not easily provoked. Love is not irritated, exasperated, or made angry.

Eighth, love thinketh no evil. Love thinks the best in people and does not keep a record of the wrongs of others. This is agape love, the kind of love only of God. One has to be born of God, and knoweth God to have this kind of love. The natural man does not possess this. The natural love of man is conditional and can only function according to stimulus.