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Close relationships are part of God’s will for human life. Scripture speaks of intimate relationships between Jesus Christ and the Father, between God and his people, and between various individuals.
Mt 11:27 See also Mt 3:17 pp Mk 1:11 pp Lk 3:22; Jn 5:20; Jn 10:30,38; Jn 14:10-11; Jn 17:21
Jn 17:3 “know” speaks of close personal relationship rather than theoretical or academic knowledge. See also 2Ch 7:15-16; Ps 148:14; Hos 6:6; Jn 14:21; Jn 15:4,15
God as a father Jer 31:9 See also Ps 103:13; Jer 31:20; Hos 11:1-4; Ro 8:15; 1Jn 3:1
God as a husband Isa 62:5 See also Isa 54:4-8; Jer 3:14; Hos 2:19; Eph 5:25-27; Rev 19:7; Rev 21:2
As God’s good purpose Ge 2:18 See also Ge 1:27-28; Ge 2:24; Mt 19:5 pp Mk 10:7; 1Co 6:16; Eph 5:28,31; 1Ti 4:3-4
Examples of such close relationships Jacob and Rachel: Ge 29:20,30
Ru 4:13 Boaz and Ruth Elkanah and Hannah: 1Sa 1:5,8
Est 2:17 Xerxes and Esther; SS 1:15-16 Solomon and his beloved
Close friendships commended Pr 18:24 See also Pr 17:17; Pr 27:10; Ecc 4:9-12; Jn 15:13
Examples of close friendships David and Jonathan: 1Sa 18:1,3 Elijah and Elisha: 2Ki 2:2,4
2Ti 1:16 Paul and Onesiphorus
Ge 37:3 Jacob and his son Joseph; Ru 1:16 Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi; 2Sa 18:33 David and his son Absalom
1040 | God, fatherhood |
1250 | Abba |
5680 | family |
5690 | friends |
5708 | marriage |
5729 | one flesh |
5735 | sexuality |
5966 | tenderness |
6754 | union with Christ |
8102 | abiding in Christ |
8135 | knowing God |
8622 | worship |