What does the Bible say about friendship?

What makes a true friend

Loyalty in hard times (Proverbs 17:17). Honesty, even when it hurts: “the wounds of a friend are faithful” (Proverbs 27:6). Pointing you toward God. Keeping your confidences. Showing up.

When to step back from a friendship

When it keeps pulling you into sin. When it is controlling or abusive. When it only ever takes. You can still love and pray for someone while changing how close you are.

How to find godly friends

Go where believers gather and keep showing up. Join a small group or Table. Serve alongside people. Be the one who reaches out first. Friendship takes time, so give it time.

What the Bible says

1. 01

   A friend loves at all times.

   “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

   Proverbs 17:17
2. 02

   Iron sharpens iron.

   “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

   Proverbs 27:17
3. 03

   Two are better than one.

   “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

   Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
4. 04

   I have called you friends.

   “Greater love has no one than this, that he 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 a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.”

   John 15:13–15
5. 05

   David and Jonathan.

   “After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.”

   1 Samuel 18:1–3
6. 06

   Four friends.

   “A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home, they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them. Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men. Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus knew in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked. “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!””

   Mark 2:1–12

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.