Struggling with interpreting love in the Bible
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Thank you all so much for your response! I am so terribly sorry to leave it so long to reply, I have recently moved into a new shared house, and I have been completely without internet for quite a while. You have all been so kind and welcoming whilst providing such wise and helpful responses. I have started reading the Gospel of John, and I am definitely finding this to be a better place to start. Thank you again for your kindness!
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It’s wise to fear Gods power.
think of it as Jesus taught . We don’t want to look for God in the Old Testament until we find Jesus on the new. We want to know this stuff first and foremost
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 KJV
My understanding should begin here that God loves everyone enough to lay down his only begotten don to save our souls from hell.
many would think “ why is God sending all these people to hell “
about the truth is he is trying to save us all from hell and we won’t listen to what he’s saying.
If a father has two children and raises then both really well teaches then the same things but then one ignores him the other listens the outcome will be different based on which bekieved and followed and which rejected and rebelled the good lessons from the living father
In the old testement it’s hard to see God for who he truly is like this isn’t how God is it’s an illusion
“And they that found him gathering sticks ( on a sabbath ) brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Numbers 15:33, 35-
this isn’t How God is to people we have to look at Jesus to see God for true
Not this this isnt love
“And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
Leviticus 20:10 KJV
But this is love
“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
John 8:3-5, 10-11 KJV
You can see how one would offer no hope to a sinner but certain execution and death . But the other is an act of love towards the sinner an act of pardon according to the law . Mercy facing a death sentence the woman is guilty but she is loved by the lord more
if anyone wants to know Gods love we have to look at the gospel of Matthew mark Luke and John and focus on Jesus he’ll reveal true love to believers
think of it as Jesus taught . We don’t want to look for God in the Old Testament until we find Jesus on the new. We want to know this stuff first and foremost
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 KJV
My understanding should begin here that God loves everyone enough to lay down his only begotten don to save our souls from hell.
many would think “ why is God sending all these people to hell “
about the truth is he is trying to save us all from hell and we won’t listen to what he’s saying.
If a father has two children and raises then both really well teaches then the same things but then one ignores him the other listens the outcome will be different based on which bekieved and followed and which rejected and rebelled the good lessons from the living father
In the old testement it’s hard to see God for who he truly is like this isn’t how God is it’s an illusion
“And they that found him gathering sticks ( on a sabbath ) brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Numbers 15:33, 35-
this isn’t How God is to people we have to look at Jesus to see God for true
Not this this isnt love
“And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
Leviticus 20:10 KJV
But this is love
“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
John 8:3-5, 10-11 KJV
You can see how one would offer no hope to a sinner but certain execution and death . But the other is an act of love towards the sinner an act of pardon according to the law . Mercy facing a death sentence the woman is guilty but she is loved by the lord more
if anyone wants to know Gods love we have to look at the gospel of Matthew mark Luke and John and focus on Jesus he’ll reveal true love to believers
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Please give examples of verses that give you these feelings, and then we have something to talk about. I've read through the Bible many, many times and have never had such a feeling. Maybe, you might train your mind rather than your feelings to listen to the words of the Bible, because God inspired them.
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In today`s world we are very emotional. We view `love` as lovely feelings. In the language of Greek, (what the New Testament was written in) they have 4 words to describe different kinds of `love.`
- Friendship or sexual, or family, or giving of yourself.
The last one `giving of yourself,` is what God`s love is. `He gave...Himself.`
The problem of sin is a very serious matter and God had to come as a man, humble Himself, and die a very cruel death. He didn`t give over to the pain even when it was excruciating.
I suggest reading Luke for there we read of the Lord touching the Leper, feeling for the mother whose son died, weeping, caring, etc. Each book in the Gospels was written to a specific group of people, that is why they seem different.
Matthew was written to the Jews and shows that Jesus was their King and fulfilled the Law.
Mark was written for the Romans who just wanted the main story and not all the detail of Jesus early life.
Luke was written for the Greeks, to whom Jesus was presented as the mediator, the one who gave His life for mankind.
John was written to reveal Jesus as the Son of God, the Word from the beginning.
- Friendship or sexual, or family, or giving of yourself.
The last one `giving of yourself,` is what God`s love is. `He gave...Himself.`
The problem of sin is a very serious matter and God had to come as a man, humble Himself, and die a very cruel death. He didn`t give over to the pain even when it was excruciating.
I suggest reading Luke for there we read of the Lord touching the Leper, feeling for the mother whose son died, weeping, caring, etc. Each book in the Gospels was written to a specific group of people, that is why they seem different.
Matthew was written to the Jews and shows that Jesus was their King and fulfilled the Law.
Mark was written for the Romans who just wanted the main story and not all the detail of Jesus early life.
Luke was written for the Greeks, to whom Jesus was presented as the mediator, the one who gave His life for mankind.
John was written to reveal Jesus as the Son of God, the Word from the beginning.
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I suggest that you look up with a good concordance or Bible dictionary the word "love" in all the passages where it is found in the Bible. Read those verses in the contexts in which you find them. That's called a word study.
The word "love" in the New Testament translates the Greek word "agape" much of the time. That word means a decision to act for the benefit of other people without having concern about their negative or positive reactions. It's acting to help others unconditionally. It's exactly what Jesus did for us believers when he died of us, since not one of us is worthy of his death in our place and for our benefit.
Notice that love is not primarily an emotion the way secular culture defines it as a synonym for "romance" or "sex." It is a decision of our human will, primarily. If that leaves you cold, pray that God will change your thinking to define words the way the Bible, God's Word, does, not the way the culture around you does.
The word "love" in the New Testament translates the Greek word "agape" much of the time. That word means a decision to act for the benefit of other people without having concern about their negative or positive reactions. It's acting to help others unconditionally. It's exactly what Jesus did for us believers when he died of us, since not one of us is worthy of his death in our place and for our benefit.
Notice that love is not primarily an emotion the way secular culture defines it as a synonym for "romance" or "sex." It is a decision of our human will, primarily. If that leaves you cold, pray that God will change your thinking to define words the way the Bible, God's Word, does, not the way the culture around you does.
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