Love in the Bible Archives -

God is love. So often quoted, said with casual certainty, this three-word statement is so much more. Biblical love, God’s love, goes beyond human understanding of the word.

Men and women use the word interchangeably to mean “like,” or “desire.” One might say “I love music,” treating music as an object of affection. Or they say “I love food,” when talking about a delicious meal.

But the word “love” most always is devalued when people use it to describe attraction, or preference. The word “love” becomes a figure of speech, a hollow, meaningless term of endearment.

What does Love in the Bible mean?

Biblical “love” is entirely different, because in order to understand love in the Bible, one must see the world the way God sees the world. Because we are human, that’s very difficult, if not impossible, but we are able to grasp a portion of its full meaning.

Imagine love as a deep, unshakable, never-ending, absolute and consuming desire for something. God desires our love and companionship. Then imagine that He will spare nothing to achieve a perfect relationship, even when we turn away and mock Him.

In John 3:16, Jesus tells Rabbi Nicodemus:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

“Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Greek words for LOVE

The New Testament highlights three of the Greek words for love, Eros, Philos and Agape. Eros, from which we get the word erotic, is a physical or emotional attraction. Therefore, it is the kind of love a man and woman have in marriage.

Philos is “brotherly” love. We regard Philadelphia as the city of brotherly love. It suggests comradeship, friendship, loyalty.

Agape is an absolute and unquestioning love, the kind of love that God has for people. The late psychotherapist Carl Rogers termed it “unconditional positive regard” in his writings.

Love in the Bible: Jesus questions Peter about LOVE

In the Gospel of John, Jesus has three questions for Peter after dinner. Peter was the disciple who had rejected Jesus three times during the trial after Jesus was arrested. But it was Peter who Jesus selected to lead the new church. The conversation begins in John 21:15:

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love (eros) me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love (philos) me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him:

“Simon son of John, do you love (agape) me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.””

Three meanings for LOVE are clarified

You can see that there are three different meanings to His questions. First He asks, are you attracted to me and my message? Then He follows with are we friends/brothers? Finally He finishes with do you love me above all things, all others?

We are commanded to love God in Deuteronomy 6:5:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

LOVE God with ALL of your heart

Jesus would offer an updated version in Matthew 22:37-40, “Jesus replied:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

For more on God is LOVE, below is an excellent sermon: Understanding God’s Love by Tony Evans.

The Most Important Book

The Bible is an amazing book. It’s the most important book in human history. It defines existence. It is our story, regardless of race, gender or national origin. It’s God’s revelation of Himself to His creation.

No other book in human history has had the kind of scrutiny, has been debated more, or has been the cause of as much social upheaval.

The Bible represents ABSOLUTE TRUTH about how we were created, why we exist and how we should live. Although parts of it were written more than 3400 years ago, it is completely relevant for today.

The Bible represents COMPLETE LOVE, because God is willing to communicate to us through His word. He shows us how to live through His Law, and because of His mercy, He sends His only Son to us so that we can live forever with Him.

The Bible represents UNAVOIDABLE JUSTICE for all. He rights the wrongs that have been committed by the world, delivering the perfect penalty to those who deserve it.

The Bible represents an INFINITE RESOURCE that we can study our entire lives and still find new and exciting revelations in, every day.

Bible Verse

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1

Description

The Bible is the manual for human life. It gives insight and clarity into human behavior by examining man’s psychological makeup, and like no other book ever written, explains why we are the way we are. It is the story of how we came into being, but more importantly, WHY we came into being.

The Bible is not a history book, yet its history is accurate and at times strikingly detailed. It is not a science book, yet its scientific information is solid. It is the story of the relationship between God and man, written over a 1400 year period by over 40 different authors.

“The Good Book“

By some, the Bible is considered “the good book,” while others consider it to be the inspired word of God. Some consider every word to be the literal truth, while others view it as truths contained in stories of people. Its wisdom is undeniable, and its commandments are the basis of all Western Law.

For some, the Bible may seem too difficult to understand and therefore not useful for practical, every day matters. Still others consider it vital to those mundane aspects of human life and rely on its guidance and directives to avoid calamity.

For some it’s all about religion, rules and regulations, and how to act. Some others view it as the gentle teachings of a loving parent. It was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, but translated into nearly every written language on the globe.

To set one important fact in place before you go any further, we not trying to prove the existence of God. For the followers of the Bible, namely Jews and Christians, it is a matter of faith more than fact, despite the overwhelming evidence it presents.

The Bible Chronicles Israel and the Life of Christ

The Hebrew texts of the Old Testament chronicle the amazing development of Israel, and the land that God promised to His people. For Christians, the story in the New Testament continues with the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, written about by the Prophets.

The books of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, are one continuous story. Old Testament writings are considered by many Christians to be the very foundation of Christianity, essential to the faith and of equal importance to the New Testament writings. More specifically, Christians see the entire Bible as being the story of Jesus and God’s plan for mankind. It is God’s unfolding plan that can be seen beginning in the opening chapters of Genesis. As the history unfolds, so does insight into the nature and character of God, as he uses human events to shape the future of the world.

God Does Not Change

Human nature never changes. Science and technology certainly do, as does culture, but human nature is the constant. This is important to know because what was true of men and women 6000 years ago, is true today. The emotions are the same, the aspirations the same and the motivations are the same. It’s like the old saying, “the more things change the more they stay the same.”

The accounts of the Israelites in the desert can be easily applied to the motivations of people today, no matter what country they live in. That’s what makes the Bible amazing. It’s amazing because God was the inspiration and God does not change. He is the same—yesterday, today and tomorrow. The people he created are likewise the same and will be tomorrow.

We will try to give you reliable information and at times direct you to authoritative places to gain more knowledge and insight. We do not claim to be apologists (defenders of the faith), nor do we want you to consider our point of view as non-negotiable.

Read The Bible

We invite you to read the Bible for yourself and make up your own mind about what it means. God gave us free will and invited us to use reason to understand the relevance of His word. We just want to meet you where you are at and help your along your spiritual journey.

This site is a brief summary of an enormous topic, and will give you an introduction into the Bible. It is very likely to become the most important and enduring book of your life.

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Love in the Bible