Love
From Theopedia
- "In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10)
Christianity is a religion of love. The Christian God is a God of love (2 Cor 13:11; 1 John 4:8) who so loved the world that he gave his only Son for it (John 3:16). Christians are called to love God above all, and to love their neighbours as themselves (Matthew 22:37-39). Nor does God leave Christians to try to work up this love by themselves – he sends the Holy Spirit with gifts (1 Cor 13) and fruits (Gal 5:22) of love.
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Biblical love
Biblical love is multi-faceted; it:
- embraces self-sacrifice (Jn 15:13, 1 Jn 3:16)
- leads one to esteem others higher than oneself (Phil 2:3, Rom 12:10)
- encompasses heart, soul, and mind (Matt 22:37)
- increases in proportion to how much you realize you have been forgiven (Lk 7:42)
- is faithful to the commandments of Christ (Jn 14:15, Rom 13:10, 1 Jn 2:5, 2 Jn 1:6)
- leads you to "feed" the people of God (Jn 21:15-17, 1 Jn 3:17)
- is a work of God (Rom 5:5, Gal 5:22, 1 Jn 3:1, 1 Jn 4:7)
- is not concealed or feigned (Rom 12:9)
- can be proven (2 Cor 8:8, 2 Cor 8:24, 1 Jn 3:18)
- is the means by which our faith works, and by which we serve one another (Gal 5:6, Gal 5:14)
- leads us to speak the truth (Eph 4:15)
- gives knowledge and discernment (Phil 1:9)
- binds us together (Col 2:2)
- is part of our spiritual armor (1 Th 5:8)
- gives others joy and consolation (Phm 1:7)
- is in direct opposition to loving the world (1 Jn 2:15)
- brings boldness, casts out fear (1 Jn 4:17, 1 Jn 4:18)
- rebukes and chastens (Rev 3:19)
Hebrew and Greek
Awhab ([Strong's ]), with its derivatives, is the Hebrew verb "to have affection for" which has the same range of meanings as the English word love. This is the verb in Deuteronomy 6:4 "Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."
Agape ([Strong's ]) is the Greek word for unconditional love, such as a parent has for a child. This is the love that God has for His people (Romans 8:35 "who will separate us from the agape of Christ?") and it is the greatest of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:31 - 13:13 "now faith, hope, and agape abide, and the greatest of these is agape"). Jesus calls his people to agape their enemies (Luke 6:27). When Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:4 in Matthew 22:37 the gospel writers use the Greek word agape.
Phileo ([Strong's ]) is the Greek word for affection or fondness, as in Peter's response to Jesus in John 21, when he said ""Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." This word is used in two difference compound forms in Romans 12:10 "Love (philostorgos, [Strong's ]) one another with brotherly affection (philadelphia, [Strong's ])". The word also means "affection for an inanimate thing" (Matthew 6:5 "the hypocrites phileo to stand and pray") which is consistent with its use in English as a root for words such as philosophy – the phileo of wisdom.
Classical Greek had a separate word Eros for sexual or romantic love but this word does not appear in the New Testament.
Fulfillment of the Law
This is a section stub. Please edit it to add information.Liberal misuse
A common false teaching, particularly among some liberal Christians, is that God is only a God of love (2 Cor 13:11) and not a God of judgement nor a God of wrath. Orthodox belief sees rather that the love of God is made richer and deeper when seen in the context of his whole person.
Related passages
- Deuteronomy 6:4-5
- Matthew 5:43-48
- John 21:16-18
- 1 Corinthians 13
- Ephesians 5:25-33
- 1 John 4:7-21
References
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, James Strong, 1890, (ISBN 0-687-40028-7)
Books
- The Four Loves, by C.S. Lewis, 1960 (ISBN 0-15-132916-8)
