God: What does it mean to love Him?
Our Lord was once asked about the greatest of all commandments. Let’s begin this study by noting His answer.
Matthew 22:36-38
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt LOVE [AGAPE = love] the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment. [Emphasis added]
What is called KOINE Greek is probably the most exact language in all the world. It is, therefore, a very good thing that the “New Testament” portion of our Bible was written in that language. This provides us with a means to understanding exactly what is said in the text. But isn’t it interesting and even frustrating to realize that despite this, there are so many different translations and interpretations of the Bible. How is one to know for sure exactly what is being said in any given passage of Scripture? Some people in our time have claimed that all that’s needed by anyone is a copy of what is called the King James Version of the Bible. Is that true? There’s so much controversy about this subject that I have multiple articles about it on this website. Here are links to several of them. If you’ve not read them, I hope you will soon—
Bible: Does the Apocrypha belong as a part of it?
Bible: How can one gain the truth?
Bible: How should one study it?
Bible: How is it that it is inspired?
Bible: Must one know the original languages to study it?
Bible: What are we to think of the King James Version (KJV)?
Bible: What authority does it have?
The Bible was written to provide us with perfectly accurate information about God and His will for us.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God [THEOPNEUSTOS = God-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Among other things this is telling us that some of our best time spent will be in reading and studying our Bible.
17 That the man of God may be perfect [TELEIOS = made mature], thoroughly furnished unto all good works. [Emphasis added]
It is by habitually “feeding” on the Word of God that anyone can come to have a correct understanding of their Bible.
Matthew 4:4
4 But he answered and said, It is written [in Deuteronomy 8:3], Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. [Emphasis added]
We need not be concerned about the Bible itself, but we do need to be concerned about how words and phrases have been translated into our language from what is called the Textus Receptus [Latin for the Received Text]. In this case, there’s not one but FOUR different words for LOVE in the Greek language that are typically translated with the word love. Three of these words are in our Bible. In this study we’ll look at just two of them. They are both found in John 21 where our Lord addresses the subject of this article—
1—AGAPE (the noun form) [AGAPAO (the verb form)] This is an impersonal love that’s dependent upon the character of the subject, not the object. The attention is on the one expressing love, not the recipient of it.
John 3:16
16 For God so LOVED [AGAPAO = impersonal love] the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [Emphasis added]
Here the focus is on God and His character, not man’s. Man is generally unworthy of God’s personal or friendship love.
Romans 5:8
8 But God commendeth his LOVE [AGAPE = love] toward us [the undeserving], in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. [Emphasis added]
Then we have a second kind of love mentioned in the Bible—
2—PHILOS. This is sometimes called personal love or friendship love. In this case the object of this love is thought to merit or deserve love. The attention is on the quality and worthiness of the recipient, not the one expressing it. Now we’ll look at a passage where our Lord uses both of these words for love.
John 21:13-17
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them [His disciples], and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [AGAPAO = mental attitude love] thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [AGAPAO = mental attitude love] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the SECOND time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [AGAPAO = mental attitude love] thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [PHILEO = friendship love] thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Please notice that here Peter changes words on Him. He now says something quite different. If all we had was an English translation there’s no way we could know this important truth our Lord is teaching. Peter wants to declare that he has a more personal love and a more mature love for Him than what AGAPE love expresses. It is this PHILOS love that needs to be our goal in how we love God. However, this love demands that we know and appreciate the attributes of the recipient. In this case, it is a love that has to be developed in us as we get to know God better. This means then that any new believer can have AGAPE love for God but only a mature believer who knows God intimately can have PHILOS love for Him. This is the believer who has come to know God through his faithful study and application of His teachings.
17 He saith unto him the THIRD time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [PHILEO = friendship love] thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest [PHILEO = friendship love] thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love [PHILEO = friendship love] thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. [Emphasis added]
The emphasis here is on feeding because this is the only way a person grows and reaches spiritual maturity. Spiritual growth ONLY comes through consistent “feeding” on God’s Word. This always involves more than a casual interest in it. Apart from studying the Scriptures, a believer remains spiritually immature and only has the capacity to “love” God with AGAPE love.
The Bible terminology for such a situation is carnality. It was lack of spiritual growth and the resultant carnality that made the Corinthian church Paul dealt with so unruly. They had not grown to “love” [PHILEO] God as they should have. These people were saved but quite ignorant of His teaching. Then, too, there were things they had been taught but weren’t applying.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren [brothers and sisters in Christ], could not speak unto you as unto spiritual [as mature believers], but as unto carnal [ones dominated by their sinful nature], even as unto babes in Christ.
For more information about “carnal” Christians, please see my article about them—
Carnality: Why do some Christians act like unbelievers?
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: [he then speaks of some of the evidence for this] for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men [you think and act like unbelievers]? [Emphasis added]
I’ve heard people claim that there’s no such thing as a carnal Christian. But that belief doesn’t line up at all with the teachings of Scripture. Note how Paul speaks of these saved, heaven bound brethren in the Corinthian church about this.
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are SANCTIFIED [set apart as ones who have become God’s people] IN Christ Jesus, called TO BE saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s:
The phrase “to be” is nowhere found in the Greek text of this passage. That means it really isn’t a part of the Bible. These people weren’t going “to be” saints; they already were! They just weren’t thinking and acting like it.
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [Emphasis added]
Anytime you see some comments about love in your Bible, you need to be sure you know and understand what kind of love is under discussion. For instance, we’re commanded to LOVE the brethren [fellow members of the family of God].
Galatians 5:13-14
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by LOVE [AGAPE] serve one another. [Emphasis added]
So, HOW is it that we’re to LOVE one another? Are all fellow believers to be loved with a PHILOS love? Are ALL fellow believers worthy of our personal love? They are not! But they are ALL worthy of being the objects of our impersonal AGAPE love. AGAPE love is only expressed with the absence of mental attitude sins on our part. We of course can commit sins and still be saved, but we’re to work at avoiding them.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love [AGAPAO = mental attitude love] thy neighbour as thyself. [Emphasis added]
This means we’re to learn to make a habit of treating people the way we’d like to be treated. This is one of the ways we as believers can demonstrate to others our love for God. You’ll find another article on this website about this—
Love: How is it that we demonstrate ours for God?
Even when we were unbelievers and God’s enemies, He loved us with this AGAPE love, wanting only the best for us.
Again, Romans 5:8-9
8 But God commendeth his LOVE [AGAPE = love] toward us [the undeserving], in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
But notice how He loves us even more now that we’re justified and saved.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from WRATH through him. [Emphasis added]
Among other things this means we won’t be at what’s called the last judgment –- the Great White Throne judgment. That judgment is only for those who are unsaved, those who’ve never placed their faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the sole basis for their salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel [EUAGGELION = good news] which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Paul says this in this last phrase as he does because since he was there some false teachers have come in who were teaching that Christ’s resurrection did not occur.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
You’ll see me refer to this passage in many of my articles because it is such a clear statement expressing the means to people’s salvation in our time. Another such passage with some more details is this one—
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit [that is to say], that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
That one phrase I’ve underlined in verse nineteen is typically rejected by Christendom. What we’re clearly told here is that man’s sins are not being held against him because they were ALL held against Christ and judged when He was on the cross of Calvary. It is man’s unbelief and his rejection of Jesus Christ as the sole basis for his salvation that will be the reason for his eternal condemnation in the Lake of Fire [Revelation 20:11-15]. Man’s works for salvation are all corrupt and unacceptable to God. For more information about all this, please see my video—
#195 ~ The Great White Throne Judgment
There are also my articles about this—
Judgment: Who will be at the last one?
Rewards: For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 continued—
20 Now then we [as believers] are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
It is God’s righteousness that He credits to anyone who accepts this gospel message. It is only HIS righteousness that’s been credited to the believer that is acceptable to Him. OUR works of righteousness have nothing to do with it.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Hopefully you now see by this one of many examples how it is important for your studies in the Bible to either know something about the original languages of Scripture and/or to study under someone who does. For an even better understanding of this important truth, please see my articles about it. Here are the names of two of them—
Bible: Must one know the original languages to study it?
Bible: What are we to think of the King James Version (KJV)?
Conclusion—
Never be so foolish as to minimize the importance of the original languages of the Scriptures. It is at least partially for lack of such knowledge that we have so much controversy and division among believers. If we’re to be obedient to the command to be diligent in our studies of the Scriptures, some familiarization with this is essential.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
By being diligent to learn the actual meaning of a text and by learning and applying the principle of right division a person is equipped to advance to spiritual maturity and please God. This then fulfills the principle of renewing one’s mind.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Emphasis added]
For some helpful information about this, please see my article about it.
