C.S. Lewis wrote that often the opening expression of friendship is, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one.” Have you ever had that experience? Something that you once thought was unique to you is shared with someone else, and you instantly feel like you’ve found a kindred spirit—someone else who shares your insights, interests, and vision. When a friendship is born, the weight of loneliness lifts, and we share the joy of solidarity with someone else.
We all need friends to share our joys and carry our burdens. The Bible has a lot to say about friendship and how we relate to one another. And while the struggle is real to find good friends and be a good friend, we’re not left without an example of perfect friendship in Jesus. He’s the friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24), and who reveals his heart to us (John 15:15).
Whether you’re blessed with many friendships or you feel a lack of them, consider printing these 20 Bible verses to help shape your thoughts and inform your prayers about true friendship.
20 Bible Verses on Friendship
- Job 2:11 (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. - 1 Samuel 18:1–3 (ESV)
As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. - 2 Samuel 1:26 (ESV)
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. - Psalm 133:1 (ESV)
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! - Proverbs 15:22 (ESV)
Without counsel, plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. - Proverbs 16:28 (ESV)
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. - Proverbs 17:9 (ESV)
Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. - Proverbs 18:24 (ESV)
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. - Proverbs 22:11 (ESV)
He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend. - Proverbs 22:24–25 (ESV)
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 27:10 (ESV)
Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away. - Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. - Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 (ESV)
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. - Romans 1:11–12 (ESV)
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. - Romans 12:10 (ESV)
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. - Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. - Colossians 3:12–14 (ESV)
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. - 1 Peter 4:8–10 (ESV)
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. - 1 John 4:7 (ESV)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. - 1 John 4:21 (ESV)
And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
The goal of Christian friendship
These passages give us a beautiful picture of what godly friendship looks like—and they remind us what we are becoming together in Christ. For Christians, friendship is more than enjoying the same activities with other believers; it’s about our shared identity in Christ. Together, we’re being transformed by grace from one degree to the next.
If Lewis captures the spark of friendship, Tim Keller captures its finish.
“A friend says, ‘I see who God is making you, and it excites me! I want to be a part of that. I want to partner with you and God in the journey you are taking to his throne. And when we get there, I will look at your magnificence and say, ‘I always knew you could be like this. I got glimpses of it on earth, but now look at you!”
I long to be that kind of friend, and to have friends who will say those words to me someday. What? You feel that way, too?
I thought I was the only one!
Your friend,