Friendship in Christ

# Friendship in Christ

The Greek philosopher from the fourth century before Christ, Aristotle, is known for his influence on science, politics, and aesthetics. Beyond that, he left writings on friendship that few people know about. Aristotle held friendship in high regard and wrote: "No one would choose to live without friends, even if they could have all other good things in its place." This philosophy is perhaps not surprising to most of us, for human beings need friends to share with, to sympathize with, and to help one another through a life full of difficulties, as God's Word reveals: "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 17:17).

According to the philosopher Aristotle's classification, there are three types of friendship: friendship based on convenience and mutual benefit (beneficial when being friends), friendship based on joy and feeling, and friendship based on character and virtue. When friendship is based on character of highest virtue, we can only have a few close friends of good character, because we must spend a long time to understand a person's character and must have much time to maintain such friendship. Time is a limited resource, therefore, most friendships are usually based on joy or benefit.(1)

The Bible shows us there are noble friendships, such as the friendship between King David and Jonathan, the son of King Saul. When King Saul and Jonathan fell in battle, King David sang "a lament" for Jonathan and King Saul, in which he praised their noble friendship, saying, "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women" (2 Samuel 1:26). The Apostle Paul also had many good friends, fellow workers with him in the ministry of evangelism. In Romans chapter 16, from verse 1 to verse 16, the Apostle Paul introduced 29 dear friends of his to the believers in Rome (among them 10 women). The first five friends were introduced in the first six verses: "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. Greet Priscilla 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. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you" (Romans 16:1-6).

Today, in Christianity, we—the believers of Christ—are all dear friends with one another, and our friendship is even far more noble compared to the types of friendship that the philosopher Aristotle listed in this world. We love and help one another because we together revere God, who loves us unconditionally, and He teaches us to love everyone unconditionally. When we follow His teaching, God gives us the privilege of being friends with Him, as Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do what I command you" (John 15:14). King David also mentioned this promise during his time of difficulty to encourage him to trust firmly in God: "The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant" (Psalm 25:14). How blessed and encouraging it is to know that we are friends with our beloved God, for this friendship is eternal in a world that is passing away! Thank God, He who always cares for and tends to us, gives us brothers and sisters, fellow workers, dear friends in His everlasting love! Praise be to the Name of the Father, glorious throughout all the heavens, above all names! We pray that God help us cherish these friendships in Christ; may His eternal love overflow in our hearts, so that we love one another as He always loves us; may God unite us as one, live strong, walk in God's way, and be witnesses to His redemptive love to all people! Amen!

In the love of Christ, we are friends, Loved and bound together as one, Caring, tending, sympathizing, By the source of grace that never fades! And most of all, God gives us Christ, A Friend intimate, close forever, For all who trust and obey, Praise and thank the Love of Heaven so vast!

Ngoc Huynh Bich

(1) Emily Katz, "Three Lessons From Ancient Greek Philosopher Aristotle on Friendship", January 11, 2025, https://greekreporter.com/2025/01/11/three-lessons-aristotle-friendship/

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