He first defines friendship as the "that love which is together with benevolence, when, to wit, we love someone so as to wish good to him." He further states that this "well-wishing" has its foundation in the relationship between both men. This is opposed to any other type of love which has its source in the ego or the self. This, he says, is not truly love of all, but a result of concupiscence. So, therefore, all love is that which one friend wishes well to another friend on account of some sort of communication. There is no other type of love according to St. Thomas, and this is the beginning, the ground-work for all true love.
Finally, the most important point made in this question which will be expanded upon later in Robert Hugh Benson's Friendship of Christ: namely, that since this love is based off of some sort of communication, the love of God must be based in the same way. In fact, it is the prototype for all other loves. In the Old Testament, God revealed himself through prophets, judges, kings, the Mosaic Law, and in other ways as well. According to Thomists and other Thomistic philosophers, God continually reveals Himself to us in creation in that we can know Him in a "bottom-up" way. Creation is related to God and depends upon Him. This is why Ar
istotle alluded to and Thomas completed the proof of God's existence from motion. Finally, God sent His only Son to die for our sins. This was the epitome, the prime example, the definit
ive revelation of His love.
And as we shall see later, this love takes on the name friendship when, at the last supper, Jesus calls His disciples no longer slaves, but friends.
