Top 7 Bible Verses About Friends and Friendship

If it’s one thing the majority of people I know would agree upon it’s this: friends are needed. They may disagree on political topics, argue about the nature of man, and vehemently defend opposite religious positions, but these same people will for the most part unanimously agree that everyone needs friends. Loneliness was never part of God’s plan, which was the whole reason He created Eve for Adam (and vice versa). Those who do not seem to have friends and who are isolated are often people who struggle through life and don’t have the support needed to thrive. To sum it up: friendship is important. And, it’s certainly a topic brought up in the Bible. Yet, even when people know it’s important, it can be difficult to be a good friend and find good friends. Hopefully the following Bible verses will help and encourage everyone.

Here are the top 7 Bible verses about friends and friendship.

“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.” John 15:12-15 NKJV

“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”” 1 Corinthians 15:33

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” Romans 12:10 NKJV

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Colossians 3:12-14 NKJV

“Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathon was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathon loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathon and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.” 1 Samuel 18:1-3 NKJV

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.” Job 2:11-13 ESV

Conclusion

So there you have it. Within just those seven Bible verses, you see a variety of points made about friendship and even some examples of good and bad friends. There is some wisdom on how to choose friends carefully, along with examples of what horrible friends look like. You see two excellent friends in Jonathon and David, and some not so great ones with Job’s friends who gave horrible advice. The Bible is actually pretty exhaustive in its content about friendship and friends. However, the one area that the Bible emphasizes even more in terms of friendship is that with God. Throughout the pages of Scriptures, it is clear there are two choices of friends we can ultimately have: friendship with the world or friendship with God. It is up to you to decide which one, but Scripture definitely gives you the information needed to pick the right one! If you have any other great Bible verses or quotes about friendship, please share it in a comment below!

Michael Krauszer is the founder of ChristianLitReview.com, a website dedicated to providing a Christian perspective on all forms of literature. Additionally, Michael has been a full-time staff member at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge for the last four years, working as a Ministry Assistant and Pastoral Intern. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English from The College of New Jersey and is currently in pursuit of his MA in Theological Studies from Veritas Evangelical Seminary.