Love One Another

April 12, 2015 Background Scripture: 1 John 3:11 – 24 Lesson Passage: 1 John 3:11 – 24 Our brains retrieve many things through word association. A word can cause a particular image to appear in the mind of one person and a totally different image in the mind of another. Some of this is due to the method in which we learned a language through rote memory. Yet the usage of a word can vary from one language to another depending on the method of translation. Some languages have words that convey thoughts that are not easily captured in another language through the use of a single word. I feel the need to express this whenever a discussion is going to ensue concerning the use of the word love as it is translated into English from Greek. The Grecian language uses three different words that tend to all be translated into English by using the single word love. The understanding then that is transferred from Greek to English is highly dependent on the proper context being established in the subsequent English text. In other words, when we read the English text and see the word love, then we should strive to ensure that we understand the proper context that conveys the Grecian thought. In our lesson today, John is writing about the mandate Christians are under to demonstrate love towards each other as an outward expression of the redemptive work of God in us. John declares that this message was delivered from the beginning of the Christian movement. Indeed, we see in the gospel account that Jesus taught this principle concerning love. So John is not making a progressive statement but instead giving a reminder of the basics of Christianity. Besides just using the word love, John went on to discuss how this love is demonstrated through righteous actions. From this it is clear then that John is not merely talking about an emotional response or display of affection. In fact, John spends little time discussing the emotional state of the one who expresses love to other Christians. John was writing about acting on behalf of others based solely on their need. This love is motivated externally by the needs of others. It is confirmed internally by the abiding Spirit of Christ in us. Obviously this is not a common or everyday usage of the word love in the English language. In English, love is often motivated internally by the emotions or the anticipated emotions of the one displaying or experiencing love. In English we can love people and they don’t even know it because this type of love does not have to be expressed through action. It can remain internalized. Perhaps this is why we sometimes lean on the excuse: God knows my heart! That’s internal and what we are suggesting is that we don’t have to express it externally. John’s use of the word is the exact same as the usage Jesus made of it when he gave the commandment for his followers to love one another. Jesus said that the proof the world has that we are his followers is the love we express one for another. It is good to hear that someone loves you but it is better to experience it in a tangible way. English does not require concrete proof for the existence of the emotion of love. The Greek usage of the word love that is translated in today’s lesson cannot exist without concrete proof. Robert C. Hudson March 10, 2015