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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มิ.ย. 2017
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What does the Bible mean when it speaks about love, and how does this stand in contradistinction to what our culture means when it uses the same word? In today's Seven Minute Seminary, Dr. Scot McKnight helps explain the biblical meaning of love, and why it is so central to the Christian faith.
I agree that "rugged commitment" is a part of what agape love is all about. Here's another way to think about agape, which I've concluded can be defined as follows: Agape love is the application of understanding for the benefit of someone other than oneself (e.g., your neighbor, your brother, or Jesus, or God, or even your enemy). The reason I find this definition useful is because it allows us to understand how agape love is similar to wisdom but with an important distinction: Wisdom is the application of understanding for the benefit of oneself. This explains why wisdom is so important -- for if we don't love ourselves, it makes no sense to love our neighbor equally. It also explains why wisdom by itself proved insufficient for both Lucifer (who was filled with wisdom on the day he was created) and for Solomon (who loved his wives more than he loved God). How did I arrive at these conclusions: I began with a long-term routine of studying Proverbs on a daily basis until I could call to mind a Proverb that was relevant to many practical situations in my own life; however, I wasn't consistently applying what I knew to be wise. I then notice the Proverb which goes like this: A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like the legs of the lame -- in other words, if you're able to recite a proverb but not able to apply it, you're a fool and not wise at all. Therefore, wisdom is the APPLICATION of understanding, not just understanding by itself. Secondly, I noticed the proverb which goes like this: If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. I also noticed that according to Solomon, "Wisdom is the principal thing" (Proverbs 4:7), but agape love is really the principal thing according to Jesus, first toward God and then toward our neighbors. I also noticed that Jesus described the unscrupulous servant who gave away his master's assets to ensure some return favors after being fired as being "wise." Yes, wise for the self, but certainly not applying understanding for the benefit of his master. Bottom line: the similarity between wisdom and agape love is that both involve the application of understanding -- but the key distinction is that wisdom is self-serving whereas agape love is the willingness to apply understanding for the benefit of others even if it entails self-sacrifice. Therefore I've concluded that wisdom is self-love -- which is important to cultivate so we can also apply understanding for others -- but self-love is clearly insufficient by itself. This is why it is "better" (read: higher, loftier, more noble) to give than to receive. Amen?
Mr. McKnight is right to point out the challenges with understanding the meaning of the word "love." It is a word burdened by a great many bad ideas from modern culture. Some of the worst has "love" meaning something more akin to "desire."
One of the best definitions I've seen is from Dallas Willard, where he defines love as an orientation of the will to do what is right, good, and best for the other. God's love for us always demonstrates this, and does so perfectly: throughout the Bible we see Him striving to do what is right, good, and best for people who, often, are resisting Him at every turn.
The reason I like this formulation is because it addresses one of the key challenges people have: "How can I love that person when I don't like them." To them, "love" is a superset of "like," and if the emotion of "like" is not present, then "love" is impossible. But Willard's formulation helps: even if I do not like someone (an "enemy"), I can orient my will to do what is right, good, and best for them. It is not easy, but it is possible, through discipleship to Jesus, to progress in that direction.
By the way, "love your neighbor as yourself" was actually superseded by a new commandment. John 13:34 has Jesus telling his disciples: "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. *As I have loved you,* so you also must love one another." (Emphasis added.) The bar is raised: no longer are we to love one another as we might love ourselves (a weak measure for many), but to love one another *as Jesus loves us.*
I like your reply! While I concede that "rugged commitment" spoken by Scot McKnight is a part of what agape love is all about, here's another way to think of it: Agape love is the application of understanding for the benefit of someone other than oneself (e.g., your neighbor, your brother, or Jesus, or God, or even your enemy). The reason I find this definition useful is because it allows us to understand how agape love is similar to wisdom but with an important distinction: Wisdom is the application of understanding for the benefit of oneself. This explains why wisdom is so important -- for if we don't love ourselves, it makes no sense to love our neighbors equally. It also explains why wisdom by itself proved insufficient for both Lucifer (who was filled with wisdom on the day he was created) and for Solomon (who loved his wives more than he loved God). How did I arrive at these conclusions: I began with a long-term routine of studying Proverbs on a daily basis until I could call to mind a Proverb that was relevant to many practical situations in my own life; however, I wasn't consistently applying what I knew to be wise. I then notice the Proverb which goes like this: A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like the legs of the lame -- in other words, if you're able to recite a proverb but not able to apply it, you're a fool and not wise at all. Therefore, wisdom is the APPLICATION of understanding, not just understanding by itself. Secondly, I noticed the proverb which goes like this: If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. I also noticed that according to Solomon, "Wisdom is the principal thing" (Proverbs 4:7), but agape love is really the principal thing according to Jesus, first toward God and then toward our neighbors. I also noticed that Jesus described the unscrupulous servant who gave away his master's assets to ensure some return favors after being fired as being "wise." Yes, wise for the self, but certainly not applying understanding for the benefit of his master. Bottom line: the similarity between wisdom and agape love is that both involve the application of understanding -- but the key distinction is that wisdom is self-serving whereas agape love is the willingness to apply understanding for the benefit of others even if it entails self-sacrifice. Therefore I've concluded that wisdom is self-love -- which is important to cultivate so we can also apply understanding for others -- but self-love is clearly insufficient by itself. This is why it is "better" (read: higher, loftier, more noble) to give than to receive. Amen?
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13. Love is giving of oneself for the benefit of another, isn't it? That's why Christ's death on the cross is the ultimate act of God's love--the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate benefit.
Great stuff!
Love this!
1John ch4 v16; ‘…GOD IS LOVE, and whoever lives in love lives in union with God and God lives in union with him.’
1John ch4 v20-21; ‘If someone says he loves God but hates his brother, he is a liar. For he cannot love God, whom he has not seen, if he does not love his brother, whom he has seen. The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love his brother also.’
Definition starts at 3:57