Love One Another

Jon R. Venema 104412.344 at compuserve.com
Wed Sep 22 12:00:13 EDT 1999


 
>I heard a teaching that said you can love someone but you don't
>have to like them. It seems to me that this flies in the face of
>agape. It seems to me that the lexicons are saying that agape must
>not only decide someone has value, but that decision must affect
>their feelings and actions.
>
>Am I corrrect in your opinion?

I do not doubt that feelings are affected.

However, Luke 6:27 "Love your enemies" and the parallel "do good to
those who hate you" (AGAPATE TOUS ECQROUS, KALWS POIEITE 
TOIS MISOUSIN hUMAS) seems to place a premium on the kind of
behavior that in 6:31 is defined by the "golden rule" (as does the theme
of the teaching in 6:27-36) which ultimately finds its model in the
treatment
of the Father.

Comparing this with Paul's invocation of the second great commandment
in the progression of Romans 10:8-13, we find the intriguing clarification:
"Love does no wrong to a neighbor" (hH AGAPH TW PLHSION KAKON 
OUK ERGAZETAI).

Feelings may follow, but a kind of action toward the neighbor that focuses
on treatment of another as guided by a standard or guideline each person
can appreciate (the golden rule/the second great commandment: "as 
yourselves") and ultimately a standard defined by the kind of treatment
God extends to the unworthy (Luke 6:35-36) seems fundamental to AGAPE
as it appears in these two contexts.

Jon R. Venema, PhD
Western Seminary





More information about the B-Greek mailing list