φίλος (philos)
philos
friendly/friend
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 26 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective philos describes someone who is dear or beloved, functioning as a noun for "friend" or "companion." It denotes a close personal relationship marked by mutual affection and loyalty. In the New Testament, this term appears in contexts ranging from casual association to profound intimacy, such as when Jesus refers to his disciples as friends in John 15:14.
A key distinction arises in John 15:15, where philos is contrasted with doulos (slave). Jesus explains that a slave does not know the master's heart, but friends are given full knowledge and trust. This highlights that friendship involves voluntary closeness and shared purpose, unlike the hierarchical bond of servitude. The word also appears in Luke 7:34, where critics label Jesus a friend of tax collectors and sinners, illustrating its use for those who share social bonds across traditional boundaries.
The term carries significant theological weight when applied to God. James 4:4 warns that friendship with the world is enmity with God, while James 2:23 calls Abraham a "friend of God," echoing the Old Testament tradition where this word translates Hebrew terms for beloved companion. This usage underscores a relationship based on faith and obedience rather than mere social convenience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word philos invites us into the warmth of genuine connection. It describes a bond marked by mutual affection, loyalty, and shared purpose. In the New Testament, Jesus uses this term to describe the relationship He offers His followers. Unlike a master-slave dynamic where knowledge is withheld, friendship involves trust and open communication. When Jesus calls His disciples friends in John 15:15, He shares what He has heard from the Father, indicating a deep, voluntary closeness.
This concept extends beyond spiritual intimacy to our daily interactions. Jesus was called a friend of tax collectors and sinners (Luke 7:34), showing that true friendship crosses social boundaries to offer grace. Yet, the word also carries weight in how we live. James warns that friendship with the world stands in opposition to God, while Abraham is celebrated as a friend of God through faith. This reminds us that our closest relationships should reflect loyalty to Christ and love for others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 26 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- friends11×
- a friend6×
- friend3×
- friends,2×
- Friend,2×
- friends.1×
- a friend,1×
- [his] friends1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φίλος8×
- φίλους5×
- φίλων2×
- φίλοι2×
- φίλε,2×
- φίλων,1×
- φίλους.1×
- φίλους,1×
- φίλον,1×
- φίλον1×
- φίλοις1×
- φίλοι,1×
Key Verses
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John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
Jesus contrasts the secrecy of servitude with the open trust of friendship, revealing that He shares divine knowledge with those who follow Him.
-
Luke 7:34
The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
Critics label Jesus a friend of sinners, highlighting His willingness to form close bonds with those marginalized by religious society.
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James 2:23
So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
Abraham is called the friend of God, linking this intimate relationship directly to his faith and obedience.
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John 15:14
You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.
Jesus defines the condition of this friendship as obedience to His commands, grounding intimacy in faithful action.