The word “love” appears very often in the New Testament—commonly counted in the range of a few hundred times—though the exact number depends on the translation and on whether related forms are included.
Because different English Bibles render the underlying Greek in different ways, any single total should be treated as translation-dependent rather than absolute.
What can be said
A careful, accurate way to answer the question is to say that “love” is mentioned many times in the New Testament and is commonly counted in the range of a few hundred occurrences. At the same time, the precise total differs from one translation to another, so published counts can vary without anyone necessarily being “wrong.”
Why counts differ
The main reason exact numbers vary is that translations do not always render the same underlying Greek term with the exact same English word. Some translations may use “love” where another uses a different English expression, and some counting methods include related forms while others count only the exact word “love.” As a result, the “how many times” question depends on (1) which translation is being counted and (2) what is being counted as an occurrence (only the exact word, or also related forms).
Theme and emphasis
Even without a single fixed number, the New Testament’s emphasis is clear: love is one of its central themes. This is especially noticeable in the writings of John and Paul, where love is frequently discussed and applied. That repeated emphasis is part of why “love” is commonly counted so often when people tally the word across the New Testament.
Greek behind “love”
The Greek behind “love” includes agape, a term often associated with self-giving love. In Christian understanding, this self-giving love is shown supremely in Christ. Because English translations may represent this Greek vocabulary in different ways, word counts can shift depending on translation choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one exact number?
No single number can be given as universally “the” total, because the precise total differs from one translation to another. Counts also change depending on whether related forms are included.
What is a responsible way to answer the question?
A responsible answer is that “love” appears very often in the New Testament and is commonly counted in the range of a few hundred times, while also noting that the exact figure depends on the translation and on what the count includes.
Why do different translations produce different totals?
Translations render the underlying Greek differently. One Bible may translate a particular Greek term as “love,” while another might use a different English wording, changing the raw count of the word “love.”
Does the New Testament especially stress love in certain writers?
Yes. Love is one of the central themes of the New Testament, especially in the writings of John and Paul.
What does agape have to do with the word “love”?
Agape is one of the Greek terms behind “love,” often associated with self-giving love shown supremely in Christ. Because translations vary in how they render such terms, counts of “love” can vary as well.