Table of Contents
- What are Short Friendship Bible Verses about Being Good Friends?
- Do You Want Scriptures For Building True Friendships?
- What are Good Scriptures For True Friends?
- What Bible Quotes Are For Making A Close Friend?
- More Bible Verses on Loyal Friendship
- More Friendship Verses
- What Are Good Verses about Being A Real Friend?
- More Bible Verses on Friendship
- What Are Short Scriptures on Being A Loyal Friend?
- Teaching on Being Friends
-
Today we have some amazing scriptures on friendship. We have long and short kjv bible verses about friendship to share with you from God's Word for your bible study or daily devotion:
It's important to note here that friendship is fundamental to all our lives as believers. This is why we hope that our bible verses for friendship here will inspire you to be and find good friends for:
- We are friends with God.
- We are friends with our family members and friends, who we are acquainted with.
- We are also friends with other believers.
- Jesus, in fact, defined friendship in the bible in that He said that you're His friends because He's told you everything.
And so, friendship has to do with intimacy. It's our prayer that you enjoy our bible quotes on friendship and grow in friendship with the Lord and with righteous others in Jesus' Name.
Church Father quote above followed by Spiritual basis of 1John 1:7 which reads: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
What does The Bibe say about Friendship?
Let's answer this now. Here are our friendship Scriptures for you to enjoy.
What are Short Friendship Bible Verses about Being Good Friends?
Bible Verse For Friendship
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
- Colossians 3:12-14
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
- 1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.Bible Verses About Leadership -Powerful Read
A Bible Verse About Friendship:
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Do You Want Scriptures For Building True Friendships?
Colossians 3:12-14
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Church Father quote above followed by Spiritual basis of Proverbs 17:17 which reads: A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Bible Scripture About Friendship:
- Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.Bible Truth: Divorce, Remarriage and The Exception Clause Job 16:20-21 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
What are Good Scriptures For True Friends?
Philippians 2:3Bible Verses About Love (Powerful)
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Church Fathers on Friendship:
Church Father | Teaching |
---|---|
Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215) | “True friendship is found in those who share in virtue and knowledge of God, not in those bound by pleasures.” Scriptural Basis: Proverbs 17:17 |
Tertullian (c. 155–220) | “Among the brethren, friendship is stronger than blood, for it is sealed in the Spirit and truth of Christ.” Scriptural Basis: John 15:15 |
Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258) | “There is no true friendship but that which begins in Christ; for what is united outside Him must perish.” Scriptural Basis: 1 John 1:7 |
Origen (c. 184–253) | “Friendship according to God is a school of love, teaching us to bear one another’s burdens.” Scriptural Basis: Galatians 6:2 |
Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373) | “The holy ones are bound together in friendship by the love of Christ, which death itself cannot sever.” Scriptural Basis: John 11:11 |
Basil the Great (c. 330–379) | “A friend is a guardian of love, or rather a co-partner in life, leading one another toward God.” Scriptural Basis: Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 |
Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–395) | “Friendship is the likeness of God’s own charity, wherein two souls are knit together in the pursuit of the good.” Scriptural Basis: John 15:12 |
John Chrysostom (c. 349–407) | “Nothing so welds our life together as friendship; a friend makes the sorrows of life bearable and the joys more abundant.” Scriptural Basis: Proverbs 18:24 |
Jerome (c. 347–420) | “Friendship that is based on Christ remains firm; but if it leans on worldly gain, it falls as quickly as it rises.” Scriptural Basis: James 4:4 |
Augustine of Hippo (354–430) | “In this world, friendship is the sweetest solace; yet it is only true when it is rooted in Him who never dies.” Scriptural Basis: John 15:13 |
Paulinus of Nola (c. 354–431) | “Friends in Christ are fellow pilgrims, guiding each other with prayer and mutual encouragement toward our heavenly home.” Scriptural Basis: Hebrews 10:24–25 |
Leo the Great (c. 400–461) | “Friendship that is holy unites men in Christ and makes one will out of many hearts.” Scriptural Basis: Philippians 2:2 |
Gregory the Great (c. 540–604) | “The bond of friendship must serve the soul’s profit; otherwise it is not friendship but flattery.” Scriptural Basis: Proverbs 27:6 |
Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662) | “A true friend is one who shares in your virtues, and by sharing strengthens you in the likeness of God.” Scriptural Basis: Sirach 6:14–16 |
Isidore of Seville (c. 560–636) | “Friendship is fostered by faith, kept by truth, and perfected in charity.” Scriptural Basis: 1 Corinthians 13:6 |
Thankful For Friendship Bible Verses
Philippians 1:3-5
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;Proverbs 17:9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Health Benefits of Friendship
Category | Specific Benefit | How Friendship Contributes | Scientific / Biblical Insight |
---|---|---|---|
Physical Health | Stronger Immune Function | Reduces chronic stress, improving immune cell activity and inflammation control. | Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times.” Studies show companionship lowers cortisol and boosts immune response. |
Lower Blood Pressure & Heart Disease Risk | Emotional support reduces cardiovascular strain during stress. | Harvard Health notes that socially connected adults have 50% greater survival rates. | |
Faster Recovery from Illness | Supportive friends encourage adherence to treatments and faster healing. | Mayo Clinic: social ties predict better recovery from surgeries and infections. | |
Longer Lifespan | People with close friendships have lower mortality rates. | A 2010 meta-analysis (Holt-Lunstad et al.) found strong social bonds improve longevity as much as quitting smoking. | |
Mental Health | Reduced Anxiety & Depression | Shared empathy and belonging buffer against isolation and sadness. | Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 – “Two are better than one… if either of them falls, one can help the other up.” |
Improved Stress Regulation | Talking and laughing with friends lowers cortisol and boosts oxytocin. | Laughter and trust release endorphins that neutralize stress hormones. | |
Enhanced Cognitive Function | Social engagement keeps the mind active, slowing cognitive decline. | NIH studies show that social interaction delays onset of dementia symptoms. | |
Behavioral Health | Healthier Habits | Friends promote accountability in exercise, diet, and sleep routines. | Positive peer influence strengthens self-discipline and motivation. |
Reduced Risk Behaviors | Meaningful friendships discourage substance abuse and reckless actions. | Belonging reduces the need for harmful coping mechanisms. | |
Spiritual / Emotional Health | Sense of Purpose and Belonging | True friendship reflects God's love and gives life meaning. | John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” |
Increased Joy and Gratitude | Shared experiences foster contentment and emotional balance. | Gratitude and fellowship increase serotonin and life satisfaction. |
What Bible Quotes Are For Making A Close Friend?
Bible Verses That Talk About Friendship
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
- Job 42:10Proof: Once Saved Always Saved is Biblical
And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Romans 12:10-11
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;- Read Bible Verses About The Holy Spirit - Powerful
Job 6:14
To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
More Bible Verses on Loyal Friendship
Read Our Inspiring Quotes (Secrets) For A Successful LifeBible Verse on Friendship:
Philippians 2:4
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
John 15:12-15
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
KJV Best Friend Bible Verses:
Proverbs 16:28
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.Bible Verses About Women (Powerful)
A Good Friendship Scripture
1 Samuel 18:4
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
More Friendship Verses
Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Scripture on Friendship:
Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
1 John 4:21
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.Bible Verses About Happiness (Powerful)
What Are Good Verses about Being A Real Friend?
Verses in the Bible about Friendship:
Proverbs 27:5-6
Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
- 1 Peter 4:8-10
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Psalm 37:3
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
More Bible Verses on Friendship
Proverbs 12:26
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
2 Kings 2:2
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
Bible Verse Talking about Friendship:
Job 2:11
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.1 Peter 4:10
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Bible Verses to Share With Friends:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.Proverbs 27:10
Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Read Our Inspiring Quotes (Secrets) For A Successful Life
What Are Short Scriptures on Being A Loyal Friend?
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Proverbs 24:5
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Teaching on Being Friends
How do we become intimate with another human being without the sexual undertones that go with a romantic relationship between a husband and a wife? How do we maintain platonic friendships? I guess I can say this more succinctly like this: How do you find a good friend and how do you become a good friend?
Now that you're finished, you can visit here for a video of prayers and scriptures for everyday.
You can also watch this video for worship music to build faith in God
It's important in life to realize that friendship is an institution that you enter into through the skill that you develop while being a friend.
The Bible says that he who wants to have friends should be himself friendly. And so if you want to find close relationships with others, you must know how to skillfully build those close relationships with others. The Bible verses that we have here are Bible quotes about friendship, but I want to share with you some keys to becoming good friends with other people.
Real Friends Are Honest
As you've learned from our bible passages about friendship, one key is that in order to be a true friend, you must show yourself to be true. There are some people who say that they like what you have on but they really and truly do not. If you're going to be a good friend, a true friend, you have to say what you truly believe. The other person may not quite like it. But honesty is always the best policy. And what you find when you talk about relationships is that when you can be open with someone else in sharing your beliefs and your thoughts on a particular issue or particular situation that they may or may not like, you will find that your honesty actually helps to bring you closer together.
Now there are ways of sharing something that can be hurtful and there is a sharing of something that can be very easy to deal with. And this brings us to number two.
Friends Think About Each Other
Always think about the other person's feelings. It's good to be honest, but it's equally good to be aware of how your honesty will be received. Remember, I told you that friendship is a skill. This means that you must know who your friend is, what his or her pain points are, and try your best not to hit one of those pain points. It can be that you're saying that you don't like the red dress that your friend has on? What your friend might hear is "I don't like the way you look."
Now, if your friend reacts a certain way to what you say. That doesn't make sense. Then you should think about why your friend is reacting that way. It may or may not be what you said but what was heard as a good friend. Developing this skill of interpreting what someone hears is extremely important.
Many friendships have ended because a person's words were misinterpreted or because of gossip, as we've read in some of our bible passages on friendship here on this page. And those persons that didn't have the skill with which to ensure the accurate interpretation of words and the true facts of a situation very often lose out on good friends.
Friends Have Common Interests
And three, involve yourself with the things that your friends are involved with. You have to be friendly. And so if you find that you have friends who are interested in music, even though you're not a music fan, find out something more about music. Invest some time. Don't be a bad friend, because your friend may want to share some things about music, but your disinterest can really put a drag on the relationship. Don't get me wrong, there are some things that you may not want to speak about, or some things that don't interest you. But the mere fact that you are interested in your friend means that you should be interested, in some respects, in what he/she finds interesting.
And so, in closing, I would like to speak a little bit about choosing your friends. I've already shared with you what you want to do when you do find somebody that you'd like to be a friend to, but I'd also like to share with you what to look for in a friend because you are on the path of life. Ideally, what you would want is to find someone who's on the same path. In other words, as the Scriptures say, don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
Be Friends With Godly People
Don't be unequally yoked with somebody who is not born again. Because bad character can corrupt good morals. You want to maintain friends that take you closer to God. You don't want to maintain a friendship that takes you away from God. And so in choosing your friends, choose someone that has committed his/her life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, look for someone that has similar interests as you do.
Is the person passionate about what they believe in? Is the person passionate? Is the person going forward with their goals, dreams, ideas and aspirations? Do they have drive? Do they have a five-year plan or a 10-year plan for the work of Christ, and themselves?
As you've seen with our friendship bible quotes, these are things that you need to find out to know whether or not you should invest in that direction with that particular friend. Why is this important? Because when you grow, your friends should also be growing. Because if you are growing at a faster rate than your friend, the two of you can actually instead of becoming great friends, grow apart and find yourself, possibly, becoming great enemies.
There's a thin line between friendship and having an enemy. The difference is in perspective. And when you find someone that doesn't have a similar perspective on life as you do, the things that you do will irritate them and it can cause a wedge to come into your relationship. So find people that have a roadmap of where they're going to go and who they intend to be and you will find someone that will grow with you.
These are the keys I believe that will help you find and develop a godly friendship.
As with everything in this walk with the Lord, you should pray about the friends that you choose and seek the Lord on them and be led by the Holy Spirit. Our bible quotes for friendship above should be a guide in choosing friends and becoming the type of friend that God wants you to be to others. This way, your life and the friends that you have will be to the glory of the Lord Christ Jesus. May the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in your life and in your friendships in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
We hope that you enjoyed our friendship bible verses.
Read Our Inspiring Quotes (Secrets) For A Successful Life