A Biblical Picture of Love
Overestimating the significance of love in relation to God and Christianity may be impossible. We know that love is a defining characteristic of God and His actions toward mankind (1 John 4.7-12). Love is the essence of the two greatest commandments from God and provides a lens to view all others (Matthew 22.36-40). Despite its centrality in the Christian religion, the very concept of love is often misunderstood.
The idea of love is often studied through what I call a Greek word construct. Many of us know that there are several Greek words that are all translated by the English word love. Therefore, it is often thought that a thorough understanding of the nuances of these words will help define the idea inherent in each word. While there is certainly a benefit of understanding these original words used by biblical writers, space does not permit me to fully engage in the shortcomings to this approach. However, consider the following brief thoughts.
First, this approach can easily fail to appreciate the complexity of language. Consider the English word love within the following two statements. I love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. I love my family. The English word love is adequate for each of these statements but means something very different. My wife may disagree with the following based on my view of peanut butter and chocolate, but the meaning of that word is drastically different in each statement despite being sufficient and understood in each instance.
Second, this often creates an oversimplification of each word. After determining the difference in each Greek word, a narrow definition is regularly forced into an individual context because we may assume, “that is what the word means.” The context and intent of the original author can be easily overlooked.
Third, priority is given to differences, and similarities are often missed. There are times when different Greek words are used to represent the exact same idea in a given parallel passage. We need to realize that different words in certain contexts could be used interchangeably.
I could go into a deeper analysis, but my hope, rather, is for you to focus on something different. I challenge you to focus on the author’s intent on how a given word is used. That may sound challenging, but realize that you do it every day in every conversation. Part of conversation is interpretation. This does not mean that we are left to interpret the various words by Matthew, Luke, or Paul, and whatever conclusion we reach is the meaning of the passage. Instead, it means that Paul and other writers of the Bible did have a specific meaning and intention behind every word used. We will understand their writings much better when we attempt to understand their intentions instead of dictating various definitions for them.
Now we come back to the word love. I challenge you to study every use of this word in the New Testament. I encourage you to put away your Greek tools. Don’t concern yourself with which Greek word is used. After all, there are very good reasons why the English translation is still love for multiple Greek words. Pay attention to common characteristics of the word as seen through the intent of the individual writer. Try to understand why it is impossible to understand any of God’s commandments if we cannot understand how this concept relates. Finally, think about how you can apply what you have learned to all of your relationships – including your relationship with God.
Next week I will add to this study. I will share with you a “lightbulb moment” for me in my effort to better understand love from a godly perspective. Understanding, embracing, and practicing the kind of love described by God is necessary for the strength of our homes, relationships, and church family. Let’s strive to live up to God’s expectation.