Best Books on Love & Charity
Love and charity concern the Christian's call to love God supremely and love neighbor as self, expressed in practical self-giving, forgiveness, and care for others. In Reformed thought this love is not mere sentiment but the fruit of grace, flowing from gratitude for Christ's own sacrificial love toward sinners.
Start Here
basic
The Mark of the Christian
Top pickFrancis Schaeffer · 1970
A short, potent argument that visible love among believers is Christ's given apologetic to the world.
The Greatest Thing in the World
Henry Drummond · 1874
A short, beloved meditation on 1 Corinthians 13 and the nine marks of love.
Loving the Way Jesus Loves
Philip Graham Ryken · 2012
Uses the life of Christ to fill 1 Corinthians 13 with fresh, concrete meaning.
Caring for One Another
Edward T. Welch · 2018
Eight short, practical lessons on how ordinary Christians love and care for each other.
Go Deeper
intermediate
Christian Love
Top pickHugh Binning · 1735
A Puritan classic showing that visible love for one another marks Christ's true disciples.
The Four Loves
C.S. Lewis · 1960
Distinguishes affection, friendship, romantic love, and self-giving charity with lasting insight.
Practicing Affirmation
Sam Crabtree · 2011
Shows how God-centered praise of others is a concrete, teachable expression of Christian love.
Love in Hard Places
D.A. Carson · 2002
Tackles the hardest applications of Christian love, including enemies and forgiveness.
For Study
advanced
Charity and Its Fruits
Top pickJonathan Edwards · 1738
Edwards's classic sermon series expounding 1 Corinthians 13 in full theological depth.
The Nature of True Virtue
Jonathan Edwards · 1765
A demanding philosophical treatise arguing true virtue is love to God above all else.
Agape and Eros
Anders Nygren · 1930
A landmark academic study contrasting self-giving divine love with self-seeking human love.
Principles of Conduct
John Murray · 1957
A scholarly study of biblical ethics that grounds Christian conduct in love as fulfillment of the law.
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A tiered reading guide of the best books on Love & Charity.