Bible Verses About Friendship Bible Verses About Friendship

Friendship: Concept, Meaning & Definition

The term “friendship” can be defined as,

“The state of being a friend; association as friends”.

OR

“A friendly relation or intimacy”

OR

“Friendly feeling or disposition”

OR

“Any bond between 2 or more people that contains the qualities of harmony, accord, rapport and understanding qualifies to be called a friendship”.

Concept of Friendship in Reference to Biblical Inscriptions

As deep and vast as its interpretations are, the Bible does not only talk about friendship between human beings; it also gives lessons and preaches on how to form a friendship with God; the King himself.

For the devout followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy scriptures contain numerous Bible verses about friendship that not only teach devoted Christians on how to choose friends, but also on how to sustain healthy friendships. Additionally, numerous Bible verses about bad friendship point out the traits of individuals that you want to avoid when determining whether to befriend a certain someone or not.

True Friendship According to Bible

True friendship is best described in Apostle Paul (Romans 5:7-8),

"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"

Biblical Stories on Friendship

An example of true friendship can be seen in the story of David and Saul’s son Jonathan, where, in spite of his father Saul’s pursuit of David and his repeated attempts to murder him, Jonathan stood by his friend.

You can find the story in 1 Samuel chapter 18 through chapter 20. Some pertinent passages are 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19: 4-7; 20:11-17, 41-42.

Jesus Christ on Friendship

Before I quote certain verses from the Holy Scripture, I would first like to state a message from Jesus Christ himself on how friendship can break barriers between human beings.

In John 15: 12 – 15, the Holy Christ says,

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Bible Verses About Friendship with God

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded”
– James 4:8

Bible Verses About Bad Friendship

“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare”
– Proverbs 22:24 – 25

“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:33

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm”
– Proverbs 13:20

“A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge”
– Proverbs 14:6-7

“One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray”
– Proverbs 12:26

Bible Verses About Best Friends

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity”
– Proverbs 17:17

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety”
– Proverbs 11:14

“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”
– Colossians 3:12-14

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor”
– Romans 12:10

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them”
– Luke 6:31

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another”
– Proverbs 27:17