What does the Bible say about friendship?
The Bible praises loyal, honest friendship that loves at all times, sharpens us, and points us to God. The greatest friend is Jesus, who laid down his life for us.
Scripture treats friendship as a gift to be valued and chosen wisely. ‘A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity’ (Proverbs 17:17). Good friends are loyal in hard times.
True friends help us grow: ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another’ (Proverbs 27:17). The Bible also warns that ‘bad company corrupts good character’ (1 Corinthians 15:33), so the company we keep matters.
The model of friendship is Jesus, who called his followers friends and said, ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’ (John 15:13).
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.