Affection is a pivotal human experience vividly captured within the pages of the Bible. Multiple verses throughout the Bible emphasize the importance of affection, underscoring its role in shaping our interactions with others and even our relationship with God. Boasting a multifaceted portrayal, affection in the Bible is evidenced in countless expressions, ranging from love and tenderness to kindness and patience.
What Does the Bible Teach About Affection?
The Bible abounds in teachings highlighting the significance of affection. It encapsulates affection as a powerful, transformative emotion that fosters unity and mutual respect. Affection, according to the Bible, is instrumental in upholding core Christian values like forgiveness, understanding, and camaraderie. It establishes that affection is not exclusive to familial or romantic relationships but permeates all human interactions.
Why is Affection Important in the Bible?
Affection has a unique importance within the Bible, positioned as a divine gift fostering deep connections between people. This profound emotion demonstrates the essence of divine love, embodying God’s boundless affection for His creation. It serves as an exemplar, guiding believers to emulate this divine affection in their relationships with others. The Bible associates affection with the actualization of love, kindness, and compassion, vital virtues reflecting God’s overarching love for humanity.
Who are the Recipients of Affection in the Bible?
In the Bible, no individual or group is exempt from receiving or giving affection. It presents an egalitarian framework where everyone, irrespective of status, age, or lineage, is both a recipient and purveyor of affection. Biblical figures, from prophets and kings to ordinary men and women, are often depicted extending and receiving affection, illustrating the universal applicability of this emotion. This reciprocal model of affection underscores the Bible’s teachings of mutual respect, unity, and love.
When is Affection Expressed in the Bible?
The Bible offers countless instances where affection is expressed. It is seen in acts of reconciliation, forgiveness, familial love, and gestures of kindness. Not limited to times of joy or celebration, the Bible identifies such expressions as crucial even amidst hardship and strife. By doing so, it establishes that affection, akin to love, is not contingent on circumstances but is instead an enduring, omnipresent emotion nurturing human relationships and communion with God.
Where is Affection Demonstrated in the Bible?
From the private spaces of homes to crowded public squares, affection in the Bible sees no geographical boundaries. It shines forth in palace chambers and shepherd fields, highlighting its universal essence. The Bible vividly portrays affection breaking through barriers of space, fostering kinship among individuals and communities. It reinforces that irrespective of where one is, the act of manifesting and receiving affection is integral to leading a life in tune with biblical teachings.
Below is our full list of bible verses on affection (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Affection
John 13:34-35
“34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Related Themes: Love Hate Fidelity Forgiveness
Romans 12:10
“10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Related Themes: Respecting Your Parents Humility Attitude Love Respect
Romans 13:8-10
“8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Ephesians 4:31-32
“31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Letting Go Gossip Criticism
1 Corinthians 7:2
“2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”
Related Themes: Dating Adultery Marriage Lust Abstinence
James 4:1
“1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
Related Themes: Lust Complaining Arguing
1 Corinthians 6:18
“18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”
Colossians 3:9
“9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”
Related Themes: Telling The Truth Lying New Life Honesty New Beginnings
Mark 12:31
“31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
Related Themes: Love Equality Bullying Gossip Discrimination
Mark 12:28-30
“28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”
Psalm 133:1
“1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Related Themes: Working Together Teamwork Family Friendship Community
Ephesians 5:5
“5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
James 1:19-20
“19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
Related Themes: Criticism Bitterness Frustration Patience Frustration
Luke 16:13
“13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Related Themes: Money Consistency Gambling Finances Obtaining Wealth
Leviticus 19:18
“18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
Related Themes: Bullying Revenge Bitterness Love Morality
Luke 6:32-42
“32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.”
Related Themes: Selfishness Love
James 2:14-24
“14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
Related Themes: Strangers Faith Serving Others Hypocrisy Fidelity
Philippians 4:8-9
“8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Related Themes: Lust Gossip Attitude Complaining
Proverbs 11:3
“3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”
Matthew 5:43-48
“43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Related Themes: Bullying Strangers Benevolence Morality Love
Philippians 2:2-8
“2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Related Themes: Humility Holiness Love Pleasing God Togetherness
