Phileo Love
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time." - Proverbs 17:17
When you think about love, friendship may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But in the Bible, one of the most important kinds of love is phileo—brotherly love. It is the kind of love that binds true friends together, the kind that strengthens, encourages, and lasts through life’s challenges.
One of the greatest examples of phileo love in Scripture is the friendship between David and Jonathan. First Samuel 18-20 describes a bond so strong that Jonathan willingly protected David, even when it meant going against his own father, King Saul. Their friendship was not just based on convenience or personal gain. It was rooted in loyalty, trust, and a deep love that reflected God’s heart.
You have probably experienced different kinds of friendships in your life. Some are casual, based on shared interests or circumstances. Others come and go with time. But then there are those rare friendships that stand the test of time, the friends who sharpen you, who push you to grow, and who stand by your side through thick and thin. That is phileo love.
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.” A real friend does not disappear when things get hard. A real friend is there to pray for you, encourage you, and walk with you through every season.
Do you have friends like that? More importantly, are you that kind of friend? The world treats friendships as disposable, but God calls you to love deeply, to invest in others, and to build relationships that reflect His love.
If you have a phileo friendship, thank God for it. If you do not, ask Him to bring people into your life who will sharpen you and draw you closer to Him. And no matter what, be the kind of friend who loves at all times, because that is what true phileo love looks like.
When you think about love, friendship may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But in the Bible, one of the most important kinds of love is phileo—brotherly love. It is the kind of love that binds true friends together, the kind that strengthens, encourages, and lasts through life’s challenges.
One of the greatest examples of phileo love in Scripture is the friendship between David and Jonathan. First Samuel 18-20 describes a bond so strong that Jonathan willingly protected David, even when it meant going against his own father, King Saul. Their friendship was not just based on convenience or personal gain. It was rooted in loyalty, trust, and a deep love that reflected God’s heart.
You have probably experienced different kinds of friendships in your life. Some are casual, based on shared interests or circumstances. Others come and go with time. But then there are those rare friendships that stand the test of time, the friends who sharpen you, who push you to grow, and who stand by your side through thick and thin. That is phileo love.
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.” A real friend does not disappear when things get hard. A real friend is there to pray for you, encourage you, and walk with you through every season.
Do you have friends like that? More importantly, are you that kind of friend? The world treats friendships as disposable, but God calls you to love deeply, to invest in others, and to build relationships that reflect His love.
If you have a phileo friendship, thank God for it. If you do not, ask Him to bring people into your life who will sharpen you and draw you closer to Him. And no matter what, be the kind of friend who loves at all times, because that is what true phileo love looks like.
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