A Change in Direction

Those tough verse lessons started to get a bit lame

There are a few things that a bit more engaging, a bit more interesting—at least for me—and more productive overall

We can’t deal fully with every word, but will get the most bang for the buck

This week is a lesson in Love

It Makes the Word Go ‘Round

Within our own language, there is a broad semantic range of the word

I love my wife, I love my kids, I love the rest of my family, my church family…my new truck, certain foods

It can be understood in relationship to affection, affinity, passion

It must be understood in context

To say “I love,” without an object or qualifying phrase, is somewhat meaningless

The purpose behind the group of lessons is to raise our own awareness that there may be nuances withing the original language that our English does not quite to justice to

Lexham Theological Wordbook Love

In the Bible, love is the central attribute of God, the primary fruit of the followers of God, and the defining characteristic of the kingdom of God announced in Jesus.

OT Words for Love

Old Testament writers use several terms related to love or a beloved person:

We will not exhaust the list, nor will will we exhaust the range of usage for them; some common ones • דּוֹד (dod), which means “uncle” (e.g., Lev 10:4; 1 Sam 10:14) or “beloved” when used between a man and a woman (Song 1:13, 14) • חָשַׁק (chashaq), which means “to desire” and can occur in both theological and nontheological contexts; generally refers to one’s desire for a woman (Deut 21:11), but can also refer to God (Ps 91:14)• רַעְיָה (ra'yah), which means “beloved” or “lover” and is used interchangeably with דּוֹד (dod) in the Song of Solomon • יָדִיד (yadid), which means “beloved” when used as a noun (Jer 11:15).

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (General Terms)

The most frequent verb for “love” אָהֵב, ahev

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (General Terms)

occurs over 200 times in both its noun and verb forms. It refers to the relationship between two people, either a parent and a child (Gen 22:2; 25:28; 37:3) or a husband and a wife (Gen 24:67; 29:18).

A more-common word is for “loyal love” or “steadfast love”

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Loyal Love (חֶסֶד, chesed

חֶסֶד, chesed)

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Loyal Love (חֶסֶד, chesed))

used in reference to people, it represents a type of fidelity or loyalty that leads to action.

We see this repetitively in the Psalms…His steadfast love endures forever

NT Words for Love

There are four Greek words; two do not appear: eros and storge, erotic love and familial love—though storge does appear compounded with philios in Ro. 12:10.

Lexham Theological Wordbook (ἀγαπάω)

ἀγαπάω (agapaō). vb ἀγάπη (agapē). n.

Lexham Theological Wordbook (ἀγαπάω)

It can, for example, describe love in terms of affection, whether God’s love for believers (e.g., Eph 2:4) or the Father’s love for the Son (e.g., John 8:42).

Lexham Theological Wordbook (φιλέω)

φιλέω (phileō). vb. φιλία (philia) friendship/fondness. n. or φίλος (philos). n. masc. friend, loved one

R. P. Nettelhorst, “Love,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).

Lexham Theological Wordbook (φιλέω)

This verb expresses a kind of love that expresses affection and, often, mutual interest.

In the NT phileō often describes love or affection for a person

We have to look at John 21:15–17 “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

There are two schools of thought:

John uses the terms interchangeably— and we must recall that he is recording in Greek a conversation that most likely took place in Aramaic

He uses the two terms to drive home the point

Do you love me? Yes, I like you

Do you love me? Yes I like you

Do you even like me..?