Scholars define love as the affection one individual can have towards another individual. Love can also be directed towards things for pleasure purposes. This feeling can be based on personal ties or familial relationships. The Bible, in the New Testament, defines love as the greatest gift from God. In the Bible, several writers view love from a different perspective. The definition of love started in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. Other authors such as Saint Paul, Solomon, and John gave their view about love in the Bible. Jesus then defined love as the greatest commandment, which involves loving your neighbour as you love yourself. Nevertheless, coined from the Old and the New Testament love is defined using different relationships.
The Bible defines God’s love for man as selfless and unconditional. This is the most extravagant form of love as described by God giving His begotten son to man as a form of sacrifice; to save humans on earth. In John 3 verse 16, it is clearly illustrated that God sent his only son for whoever believed in Him shall not perish. Love for humans is shown by Jesus when he was willing to die for Christians to save them from their sin ( McGrath 2019 ). According to the book of 1 st John 4, verse 8, God is love. This is the most basic thing said about God’s love. However, the author did not mean to define God as love but that it is like God to love. Love towards God strengthens human relationships by helping man to strive and become a better person.
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From the Bible, love is defined as the relationship and affection within a family ( Geoffrey 2019, 107 ). This is illustrated from the scripture by the love from Jacob to his son Joseph. According to the Greek definition, love is referred to as Storge. In the Old Testament, from the book of Genesis 37 verse 3, the Bible states that Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons because he had him during his old age. This love was shown by the special treatment he gave to Joseph and the coat he made him. In the New Testament, love within a family is shown by the relationship between Lazarus and His sisters Mary and Martha ( Kendall 2018 ). John stated in the book of John 11, verse 15 that this was an unusual family as they lived in the same house and cared for each other. Jesus stayed at their home, and this showed the amount of care they had for the family. Relationships in families are built on love and how people are willing to sacrifice their feelings for each other.
Love in the bible has been expressed in the relationship between men with their friends ( Chi 2018, 421 ). According to Proverbs 17, verse 17, friends love at all times. The author of John in the 15 th chapter, verse 13, reports Jesus describing friendship live by stating that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend. Friendship is epitomized by the relationship between Jonathan and David. At the time Saul wanted to take away David’s life, Jonathan shielded him. In 1 st Samuel 18, verse 3, the verse states that Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as he loved his soul. The author in 1 st Samuel 1, verse 26 reports David’s statement on how his love for Jonathan was wonderful than how he felt for a woman ( Shepherd 2019, 25 ). Moreover, love in this relationship is shown by David choosing not to end Saul’s lineage. Friendship love is relevant for development between two individuals as the connection helps the two to anchor each other through life. This kind of love is important in building a society in which individuals co-exist.
Love towards earthly possessions in the Bible is expressed to be dangerous ( Summers 2018 ). This kind of love can take away Man’s love for God as they focus on possessions without giving thanks to God provided them. John says that if anyone loves the world, God’s love is not with them. The love for the world is used to illustrate worldly desires which occupy a man’s heart in place of God’s love. This definition of love helps people to get along by sharing their gifts on earth. Sharing serves as equality and helps in opening people’s hearts in God’s service.
In conclusion, several books define love as the greatest commandment. In Corinthians love is summarized as being patient, kind, is not jealous, does not envy, does not insist in its way, it is never ending, it is not resentful, and it is not boastful. Christian love only exists where love for Christ is known and trusted. These statements indicate that love is doing something despite all feelings against an individual. When you can deny these ill feelings against an individual and rejoice, then that is the clear definition of love.
References
Chi, M. Y. (2018). Faith-inspired praxis of love: a framework for helping. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought , 37 (4), 414-435.
Geoffrey, B. (2019). Toward a Christian Definition of Marriage: A Historical, Sociological, and Theological Approach. Journal of Sociology and Christianity , 9 (1), 105-110.
Kendall, H. A. (2018). One Greater Than Satan: A Christ-Centered Bible Study . Wipf and Stock Publishers.
McGrath, A. E. (2019). Christian theology: An introduction . John Wiley & Sons.
Shepherd, C. A. (2019). Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal? Heteronormativity and Worship in the Western Christian Church. In Bisexuality and the Western Christian Church (pp. 25-41). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Summers, J. (2018). George Herbert: his religion and art . Wipf and Stock Publishers.
