Is the Golden Rule in the Bible? Yes, it is. It can be found in Matthew 7:12 and in Luke 6:31. It can also be found in other places. Most major religions have a version of the Golden Rule. You could say it is practically universal.
There are three major versions:
1. Positive, e.g. Do to others as you would have them do to you
2. Negative, e.g. Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you
3. Neutral, e.g. What you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself
What difference does it make how it is worded? As it turns out, quite a bit, actually.
Apparently, the neutral version is the oldest. It implies some measure of reciprocity. Relationships are transactional.
Then came the negative version. It is individualistic and self-centered. You can do whatever you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, it seems to say. The big question is, how do you know when and how your actions impact others? Self-centered individualists aren't likely to recognize that everything you do impacts someone somewhere.
The gospel writers both use the positive version. It exemplifies the command to love one another. It is other-centered, pointing to the community. It is not just aiming at maintaining peace or cordial relationships, but actively being a blessing for others, to enhance their lives, a relationship like that of family.
The difficulty is that humans, by nature, have a survival instinct that causes compassion to yield to self-preservation at the slightest hint of attack. How do you eliminate this fear of attack? By loving one another. Recognize that love is an action, not a feeling. Actions can be controlled, feelings cannot.
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