Friends, good

Examples of good friends

David and Jonathan

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.

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Job’s friends

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.

Ruth and Naomi

Ruth 1:16–17 ESV

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

Paul’s friends in ministry

Romans 16:3–5 ESV

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.

See also Titus; Epaphroditus; Tychicus; Luke; Timothy; Philemon

Other examples

David and Abiathar; David and Nahash; David and Ittai; David and Hushai; David and Hiram; Elijah and Elisha; Jehonadab and Jehu; the friends who brought the paralysed man to Jesus Christ

The benefits brought by good friends

Comfort and sympathy

Job 2:11–13 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. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

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Support and encouragement

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Sacrificial service

John 15:13 ESV

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

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Shared joy and sorrow

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Loving rebuke

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Encouragement in good works

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Challenge

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Good friendship among believers

Unity in the love and fear of the Lord

Psalm 119:63 ESV

I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.

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Worshipping together

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Sharing possessions

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Serving together

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Praying for one another

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Living peaceably

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Covering sins

; ; A friend does not stir up trouble by spreading details of wrongs suffered, but rather seeks reconciliation; ;

Restoring from sin

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Jesus Christ is the friend of sinners

Matthew 11:19 ESV

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”