What Is God Definition of the Word "Friend"?

Main Entry: 1friend
Pronunciation: 'frend
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English frend, from Old English frEond; akin to Old High German friunt friend, Old English frEon to love, frEo free
1 a : one attached to another by affection or esteem b : ACQUAINTANCE
2 a : one that is not hostile b : one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3 : one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4 : a favored companion
5 capitalized : a member of a Christian sect that stresses Inner Light, rejects sacraments and an ordained ministry, and opposes war -- called also Quaker
- friend•less /'fren(d)-l&s/ adjective
- friend•less•ness noun
- be friends with : to have a friendship or friendly relationship with
- make friends with : to establish a friendship or friendly relations with


Main Entry: ac·quain·tance
Pronunciation: &-'kwAn-t&n(t)s
Function: noun
1 a : the state of being acquainted b : personal knowledge : FAMILIARITY
2 a : the persons with whom one is acquainted <should auld acquaintance be forgot -- Robert Burns> b : a person whom one knows but who is not a particularly close friend
- ac·quain·tance·ship /-"ship/ noun


Ex. 33:11
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

2 Ch 20:7
Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

Pr. 17:17
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

PR. 18:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

PR. 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Isai. 41:8
But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

John 3:29
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

James 2:23
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.


To me a friend is one who loves unconditionally, and sacrifically. An aquaintence is one whom you know but are not really close to as in confidant.

I believe you are a man and she is a woman, and thus she might not feel as close to you, as intimate relationship-wise as she would a close woman friend. She might define friendship as a state of being able to confide intimate details, with established trust.

She may have many aquintances who she likes, but maybe very few friends according to her definition. It is her definition which you have been given.

Pure sacrifical love is given to a friend, as in 1 Cor.13:
4: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.


She is your friend according to your definitions. The fruit of the spirit can instill trust and caring in those who we influence:

Gal. 5:
22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24: And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26: Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.


These are just a few ideas as I was reading your post, and only my perceptions. May God so bless your heart, and may many come to call you friend.

A servant of Christ,
Drew

 

John 15:

9: As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends .
14: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

The disciples had become His confidants, as He had revealed all that He had heard from His Father. This placed the disciples into a realm of intimacy which only they shared with Christ, until the Day of Pentecost and the indwelling presence with all believers.

The love of Christ was sacrificial, and in the years ahead the love of His children would be sacrificial for one another and for our Master our Friend.

A friend is a most trusted confidant, and the Philio shared is sacrificial and unconditional.

This is just my perspective and quick take on the verses. May God bless.

A servant of Christ,
Drew

 

Here is an interesting example for the meaning of the word "friend"....The Lord calls this man friend in verse 22:12, then....

...has this "friend" consigned to torment.

Here is another odd example:

Here, Jesus calls Judas "friend" after being betrayed by him.

I have also noticed that these examples are only found in the gospel of Matthew. Observations, anyone?

 

Would the intimacy of friendship be offered on the part of He who used the word friend, and the one who is called friend betrays that trust.

1) Coming to the marriage the one called "friend" has entered without being worthy to do so. We can only enter into the Marriage of the Lamb by being clothed in the righteousness of Christ. The one sitting without marriage garmets was unworthy to be present.

2 Cor. 5:
3: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.


2) Judas as a disciple, an intimate of Christ, has betrayed the trust. Christ calls him "friend" because Judas was given the position and status of friend by Christ.

Matt. 26:
47: And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48: Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49: And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50: And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.


A servant of Christ,
Drew

 

Perhaps it is that Jesus wants so much to be friends, but many do not want to be His friend. He is the friend of the sinner, but is He the sinners friend?

 

Why do you think people shun others who self-lessly try to befriend them by helping them, caring about them, and protecting them?

Is it hard-heartedness? Insecurity, maybe?

Just wondering.

J5Grand

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Brother I do not have any pat answers, an I do not know the persons or specifics.

We do not know if there might be past wounds, a reactionary sense of fear of vulnerability.

All I can say is to love others with the pure love of Christ, and to do unto the least of "these" as we would do unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and to lift others up in our hearts and in our prayers.

May God bless and lead.

A servant of Christ,
Drew