This study is on love, the subject of the two great commandments, and the means of our salvation. Love is difficult to define, but from a christian standpoint, love is best understood through scripture. Clearly fairness and equal treatment are biblical principles. The ancient languages differentiate among sexual, brotherly, and familial love, and also the kind of love that god has for creation and that we may have for him. A christian understanding of the significance of love of oneself in. God is very clear in the bible that eros love is reserved for marriage promiscuity of all types was rampant in ancient greek culture and was one of the obstacles the apostle paul had to battle when planting churches in the eastern mediterranean. Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations used in this book are from the. But there is another aspect of interpersonal love that is very important in the bible.
Love in the form of eros seeks its own interest and satisfactionto possess the object of love. Love definition, a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. Agape ajgavph, the love theme of the bible, can only be defined by the nature of god. Yet this view is not compatible with the way the bible uses the word christian. As with things, loving persons may mean simply enjoying them and taking pleasure in their personalities, looks, achievements, etc. Paul compares faith, hope, and love, and concludes that the greatest of these is love 1 cor. Hebrew word ahab spontaneous, impulsive love 250 times in ot 2. There is the aspect of love for persons who are not attractive or virtuous or productive. Bible study series a comprehensive lesson on love love according to the world love, by dictionary definition, is described as. The bible read the bible popular bible stories reading plans search bible words by language bible word meanings spirit and life bible study videos bible commentary pdf files about the bible. Love definition is strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties. Is this everyday use of justice what the bible means by that term. A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child. The classical definition of love was first expressed by st.
The sense is probably to be prompt, free, willing, from leaning, advancing, or drawing forward. This capacity for love is one of the ways in which we are created in the image of god. Likewise, god has endowed us with the capacity for love, since we are created in his image. Entry for love vines expository dictionary of nt words one of 28 bible dictionaries freely available, this timeless classic, with over 3,400 entries, is the reference guide to new testament greek words.
Love vines expository dictionary of nt words bible. This love speaks of affection, fondness, or liking. The languages in which the bible was written, hebrew and greek, are more precise in that they utilize different words for the different types of love. Many christians talk of the god of the old testament as a god of holiness. God is love and has demonstrated that love in everything that he does. The bible s definition of christian the christian and discipleship there is a view prevalent today that claims a person can be a christian without being a disciple of jesus christ, that he can accept jesus as savior without accepting him as lord a word which means master. When directed toward things, love means enjoying or taking pleasure in those things.
All of us may think we know what love is until we are asked to define it. Hebrew word hesed deliberate choice of affection and kindness 3. What is the definition of love, according to bible scripture. Hebrew word raham to have compassion, brotherly love b.
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