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1.
(
1
, 25) and the corresponding noun
(B, No. 1 below) present
“the characteristic word of Christianity, and since the Spirit of revelation has used it to
express ideas previously unknown, inquiry into its use, whether in Greek literature or in
the Septuagint, throws but little light upon its distinctive meaning in the NT. Cf, however,
Lev. 19:18; Deut. 6:5.
“
*
and
are used in the NT (a) to describe the attitude of God toward His
Son, John 17:26; the human race, generally, John 3:16; Rom. 5:8, and to such as believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ particularly John 14:21; (b) to convey His wiil to His children
concerning their attitude one toward another, John 13:34, and toward all men, 1 Thess.
3:12; 1 Cor. 16:14; 2 Pet. 1:7; (c) to express the essential nature of God, 1 John 4:8.
“Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God’s love is seen in the gift of
His Son, 1 John 4:9, 10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection,
that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Rom. 5:8. It was an exercise
of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies
in the nature of God Himself, Cf. Deut. 7:7, 8.
“Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 5:14;
Eph. 2:4; 3:19; 5:2; Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the Christian, Gal. 5:22.
“Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in
implicit obedience to His commandments, John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; 1 John 2:5; 5:3; 2
John 6. Selfwill, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God.
“Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is
not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor
does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the
welfare of all, Rom. 15:2, and works no ill to any, 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do
good to ‘all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,’ Gal.
6:10. See further 1 Cor. 13 and Col. 3:12-14.”*
In respect of
as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant “love” and
interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a
reverential “love” in them towards the Giver, and a practical “love” towards those who
are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver. See
BELOVED
.
2.
(
!
, 5368) is to be distinguished from
in this, that
more
nearly represents “tender affection.” The two words are used for the “love” of the Father
for the Son, John 3:35 (No. 1), and 5:20 (No. 2); for the believer, 14:21 (No. 1) and 16:27
(No. 2); both, of Christ’s “love” for a certain disciple, 13:23 (No. 1), and 20:2 (No. 2).
Yet the distinction between the two verbs remains, and they are never used
indiscriminately in the same passage; if each is used with reference to the same objects,
as just mentioned, each word retains its distinctive and essential character.
8
is never used in a command to men to “love” God; it is, however, used as a
warning in 1 Cor. 16:22;
is used instead, e.g., Matt. 22:37; Luke 10:27; Rom.
8:28; 1 Cor. 8:3; 1 Pet. 1:8; 1 John 4:21. The distinction between the two verbs finds a
conspicuous instance in the narrative of John 21:15-17. The context itself indicates that
in the first two questions suggests the “love” that values and esteems (cf. Rev.
* From
Notes on Thessalonians,
by Hogg and Vine, p. 105.