What does the Bible say about relationships? We all have them—with friends, spouses, parents, children, and more. Some flow easily and bring much joy. Others not so much. What, then, should we do?
The Bible provides guidance on interaction between men and women, mankind and our Savior, and relationships between believers. Knowing these truths helps us make better decisions and navigate in a righteous manner.
What Does the Bible Say about Relationships, Especially with Jesus?
If a passerby came up to you and asked, “Who is Jesus?” How would you answer them? And what does the Bible say about relationships, especially one with Jesus? Is He simply a man or a prophet? Maybe He’s “someone” we know about, and that’s all. The Bible assures us that He is the Son of God and the hope for salvation.
He rights those wrong decisions we’ve made—the ones threaded with sin. (By the way, it doesn’t matter how “bad” our sin ranks—not in a world with Jesus. He wipes the salve of forgiveness, love, and salvation over every wrong, no matter how awful those may seem.) This vital relationship stands as the foundational rock of the Christian’s life.
Read more about how to have a relationship with Jesus here.
Bible Verses about Building Relationships
How do we build relationships with others? Are there Bible verses to help us? Yes.
Thoughts often fuel actions. One of the best ways to build good relationships is to consider what thoughts tumbles around inside our brain. Philippians 4:8 calls us to focus on things that are true, noble, right, lovely, pure, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. What a great start to good marriages, friendships, and so forth when we build with these thoughts.
Patience and gentleness help us, as does bearing with one another. Each of us has faults, so we’re wise to make allowance for weaknesses. See Ephesians 4:2 for more.
Honesty helps godly relationships grow. Colossians 3:9 implores us “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.” But perhaps the most impactful word for building solid marriages, friendships, and other connections comes in the four-letter variety: love. 1 Peter 4:8 champions loving well: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
How Do We Fellowship, or Have Relationships, with Other Believers?
The Bible offers several verses to help us. Ephesians 4:11-13 assures us we’re not alone. In the body of Christ, God outlines helpers for growing our faith. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers all play a role in helping us mature in our walk with Jesus.
Here are a few more scriptures pertaining to our fellowship with other believers:
Don’t forsake gathering and encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:25)
Pray for everyone, including those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
How to handle a situation in which a brother sins (Matt. 18:15-17)
Love one another—just as Jesus loved us (John 13:34)
Bear with one another and forgive (Col. 3:12-14)
What does the Bible say about Marriage Relationships?
Genesis 1:27 notes that God created both male and female in His image. Genesis 2:18 says God created woman as a suitable helper for man. Verse 24 adds that a man will leave his father and mother to be joined with his wife, and they shall become one—painting a beautiful picture of marriage.
Proverbs 31:10-11 explains the high value of a good, trustworthy wife. This type of wife enriches her husband’s life with great impact.
Ephesians 21-33 focuses on the relationship between Christ and church, but it also provides solid guidance for marriages. Husbands should love their wives as self (verse 33), while wives are called to respect their groom.
1 Corinthians 13 describes love. Patience, kindness, a refusal to envy, and many other attributes that are important in the Christian life also ring wise for a good marriage.
Find more Bible verses about marriage in this piece.
What Does the Bible Say about Dating Relationships?
I wasn’t a Christian during my dating years and ended up “winging it.” I don’t recommend that approach. God offers a better way.
It’s easy to be tossed off course, especially in dating, when we aren’t certain of our identity. As Christians, our worth and who we are rests with Christ. However, we might place our importance and purpose on a person rather than God. This piece offers verses that assure us of our identity. (If you’re not certain of your identity in Christ, ask God to solidify it for you. There’s a good chance you’ll make better dating decisions as a result.)
One verse that comes to mind for many when asked about dating is 2 Corinthians 6:14 which says “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” This verse, in context, pertains to believers. It encourages mindfulness when making alliances, but the principle mentioned relates to dating and important interactions.
The New Testament (Luke 10:27) mentions the two greatest commandments. The first is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second is to love others as ourselves. Why not focus on both commandments when dating?
The fruit of the Spirit, as noted in Galatians 5:22-23, is full of good things. Would you want to date someone who displayed these characteristics? Why not allow God to produce this fruit in you as well?
Television, movies, and music often glorify sex outside of marriage. It’s so commonplace, in fact, that many of us don’t think twice about it. However, the Bible warns us often about sexual immorality. In fact, 1 Corinthians 6:18 urges us “flee” from it. Find more Bible verses about sex in this article as well as this one.
11 Bible Verses about Parenting
We’ve discussed bonds between adults, but what about those involving children?
Here are a list of eleven Bible verses concerning parents and their children:
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 11:19 “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Ephesians 1:4 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.”
Ephesians 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise— ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’
Col. 3:21 “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
Prov. 22:6 “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Prov. 29:15 “A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.”
Prov. 29:17 “Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.”
Matt. 6:33-34 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Prov. 1:8-9 “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”
Psalm 127:3-5 “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.”
Find more parenting scriptures in this piece as well.
What about Christian Friendship?
As a mother, I pay attention to the friendships my children make. I want them to be involved in relationships centered on love, trust, honesty, and kindness. The Bible offers several verses on friendships. Two examples, however, lead the pack.
1. Jesus is our friend
In John 15:13 we see that our relationship with Jesus balances on love. In fact, He exemplifies love and true friendship. Read the entire book of John to read more about this.
2. David and Jonathan created a good friendship
These companions trudged together through a deadly situation. Jonathan’s father, Saul, desired to kill David, the man anointed to replace Saul as king. Jonathan saved David’s life. In return, David showed kindness to Jonathan’s descendants. Read 1 Samuel 18, 1 Samuel 20, and 2 Samuel 9:1-7 to learn more.
Additional verses concerning friendships await us. Study these or pray them over loved ones:
1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”
Proverbs 13:20 “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
John 15:12-14 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”
Proverbs 22:24-25 “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
7 Bible Verses about a Relationship with God
He displays love for us in John 3:16.
He is our vine (making spiritual fruit possible) in John 15:4-5.
He is our creator in Genesis 1:27.
He is our safety in Proverbs 18:10.
He is our refuge and strength in Psalm 46:1.
He is our help in Psalm 121:1-2.
He wipes every tear in Revelation 21:4.
Scripture provides many more helpful passages for us to study. And the next time someone asks, “What does the Bible say about relationships?” we’ll be able to answer with godly wisdom straight from God’s Word.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Duy Pham