Self love

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Angelica00

New member
Feb 14, 2026
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I've been told this before, but does that invalidate my interpretation that every human being should value their life as a form of at least rudimentary self-love? She told me this: The Bible doesn't really talk about self-esteem. It says that love exists in God, because God is love. Love for others, for one's own life, for situations—all of these exist only in God. Outside of that, it's not love.
 
I've been told this before, but does that invalidate my interpretation that every human being should value their life as a form of at least rudimentary self-love? She told me this: The Bible doesn't really talk about self-esteem. It says that love exists in God, because God is love. Love for others, for one's own life, for situations—all of these exist only in God. Outside of that, it's not love.

God, from what I see through experiences and scriptures is
God loves us all 1John 2:1-27. Jesus the Son that took on himself the sins of the entire world, past, present and future. Is completed for us all John 19:30. yet none of that done work gives new life, it just takes away sin John 1:29.

Now he is risen from the dead as reported by the disciples to us all in the Bible. that is where the new life for you and anyone in beleif to this between God and themselves. Begins the new life called to be new in love and mercy to all too.
The same as Son did willingly going to that cross without any fight back, not even a word fight back.

Who else could ever do that? I couldn't, can't. Can anyone else? I need God to do the leading, The Holy Spirit, you think?
Therefore what Son did is true, who was here on earth, who never sinned against God Father for us to get saved in his risen life. That Father gives to us each by God himself, as if you, I or anyone else never sinned Col 1:21-22, then read verse 23 and stand in this fact given and love all as are loved first by God first in risen Son for you too. Thank you Lord
 
I've been told this before, but does that invalidate my interpretation that every human being should value their life as a form of at least rudimentary self-love? She told me this: The Bible doesn't really talk about self-esteem. It says that love exists in God, because God is love. Love for others, for one's own life, for situations—all of these exist only in God. Outside of that, it's not love.
Jesus said,

Matthew 5:46 KJV
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

He used the word for Love agapao, the love God has for us, but He says, do not even the publicans the same? So that the sinner's love each other with agapao love.

Much love!
 
I've been told this before, but does that invalidate my interpretation that every human being should value their life as a form of at least rudimentary self-love? She told me this: The Bible doesn't really talk about self-esteem. It says that love exists in God, because God is love. Love for others, for one's own life, for situations—all of these exist only in God. Outside of that, it's not love.
Welcome to CC, Angelica!

Scripture does not state anything "directly" about loving the self, but it does imply it in several places.

This idea is introduced in Leviticus 19:18 "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself."

This is against stated in verse 34: "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt."

In Matthew 19:37-39 (also recorded in Mark 12 and Luke 10), Jesus is asked what is the greatest commandment. He says, "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

With this "second-greatest commandment", God assumes that we love ourselves, and requires us to love others at least as well.
 
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1Co 13:4 Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;
1Co 13:6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;
1Co 13:7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

This biblical definition of love (agape) might be seen as reducing to the word selfless.

This is the love of God that sent Jesus to the cross so that sins could be forgiven. This "love" represents a choice to sacrifice self for others.

What can be confusing is that most English speakers think of "love" as the array of emotional sensations touched by various songs or the feelings of affection one has for pets.