5895 intimacy

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.

Jesus Christ’s intimate relationship with his Father

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

God’s intimate relationship with his people

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

Images of God’s desire for intimacy with his people

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

Intimate relationships between men and women

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

Intimacy in other relationships

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

Examples of intimate family relationships

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

See also