Love And Fellowship
Introduction
The scope of my research is to understand Marriage and the Family, how it is supported and its role in supporting our society. How does Marriage and the Family relate to the whole body of Christ, including singles, the divorced, childless, widows, the elderly and orphans? Ultimately, what is God’s idea of the Christian community.
Meaning of Companionship
It is not good for man “to be separate and isolated”[i]
Genesis 2:18
According to this verse, the first interpersonal relationship among humans was companionship, deemed vital to it’s underlying premise - that of “goodness”. This premise of “goodness” is further defined and enhances the relationship with such terms as “more good, best, better, most, beautiful, bountiful, joyful pleasant” in other words - “pleasure”.[ii] God hadn’t made a mistake in making a single and whole person, but once that person was established it became increasingly more beneficial for a relationship to take place. And that relationship was a good and pleasurable companionship. This relationship mirrors an older, already established relationship - that of the Creator and the created; along with all of Creation, man was created for His pleasure.
“You are worthy, Adonai Eloheinu, to have glory, honor and power, because you created all things — yes, because of your will they were created and came into being!” Revelation 4:11
Companionship was deemed a necessary component for the continuation and increase of God’s and man’s good pleasure!
It is important to note the rich depth and quality of this word “good” as it relates to “pleasure”. It is also translated as “purpose” and “will” “the result of the will . . . an expression or inclination of pleasure towards that which is liked, that which pleases and creates joy”[iii] According to Strong’s the Hebrew intent of this Greek word is “ to delight in: desire . . . intend, and love [iv]
Love as it relates to friendship and family. The Greek word is Agape, which means beloved or dearest one, the Hebrew word for God’s love is Ahabah and is all encompassing. God only has ONE word - LOVE
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Dt. 6:5) “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18)
These commands give relationships legal definition, but also result in a law that transcends law . . .
“Love in the OT is a spontaneous feeling . . . self-giving, to . or that which causes pleasurable activity. It involves the inner person. . . directed supremely to persons. Love has a spontaneous and irrational character, as in the case of Jonathan and David (1 Sam. 18:1, 3; 20:17, 2 Sam. 1:26. He is as closely related to Jonathan as to his own soul The aim of the command is to make the most positive force in religion fruitful for covenant faithfulness. In the long run, however, everything depends on the free impulsion of love itself. The final concern is to foster neighborly feeling as the true basis of legal relations - informed and empowered by the paradoxical law of love
Next time more on Mishpachah: “the extended family”
Even God’s promise to Abraham had reference to all the nations: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3).
The narrow meaning of mishpachah is similar to our usage of “family” and similar to the
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[i]Harris, R. L., Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1999, c1980). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (090). Chicago: Moody Press.
[ii]Strong, J. (1997, c1996). The new Strong's dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words (H2896). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[iii]Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G2307). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.
[iv]Strong, J. (1997, c1996). The new Strong's dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words (H8674). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.