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Tag: love

To have and to hold Christian Love
Dearly beloved, Paul writes earlier – a greeting of agape love NOT inappropriate for a marriage, but the Apostle’s intent in this section addresses spiritual gifts and love of the CHURCH specifically.

we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 KJV

ἔχω – echō
- to have, i.e. to hold
- to have i.e. own, possess
So think of it this way:

WE (referring to the Church) hold the mind of Christ. And WE possess the mind of Christ as HIS body, the Church.
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AND, of course, don't miss this application to our vows of Christian marriage as well, (not to mention our relationship to a dearly beloved local church family). 
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Do our marriage vows model a Common Era witness of christianity to an uncommitted world? 
 
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to HAVE and to HOLD

used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage or friendship or duty or law etc., of attendance or companionship

Strong’s G2192 – echō

Dearly beloved,

Do you take this bond of your church (etc.) to:

have and to hold?

OR do WE just want to try out relationships of LOVE and church es — NOT having or holding any commitment to Christ Jesus and His body the Church?

But because of sexual immoralities, each man is to have^G2192 his own wife, and each woman is to have^G2192 her own husband.

Paul has already pointed the Corinthians to a higher standard.

Abide in Marriage, Singleness and Christ – 1 Corinthians 7

Yet HERE the Apostle continues to apply this love to the body of the CHURCH.

So what is this agape LOVE?

The Lord Jesus had warned those who would follow:

And because iniquity shall abound, the love G26 of many shall wax cold.

Matthew 24:12 KJV

The Apostle had opened this section by listing what agape LOVE is NOT.

Love’s clear contrasts in the love of believers
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Paul now proceeds to list a few of the insufficient adjectives which describe the love of God in Christ Jesus - both what LOVE is and what agape LOVE is NOT. 
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Love Charity
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◄ 1 Corinthians 13:4 ►
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- is patient
  - long-spirited
  - forbearing
  - suffereth long
  - is long-suffering,
- is kind
  - gentle
  - gracious
  - benevolent
  - desires to do good to others
- does not envy
  - zeloi or jealousy
  - burn with zeal
  - 1 Cor 3:3
- does not boast
  - brag
  - vaunt itself
  - employ rhetorical embellishments in extolling one’s self excessively
- is not proud.
  - puffed up
  - inflated with self-importance.
  - arrogant
  - 1 Corinthians 5:2
◄ 1 Corinthians 13:5 ►
- Doth not behave itself unseemly
  - behave rudely
  - act unbecomingly
  - dishonor others
  - is not disrespectful
  - or inconsiderate.
- It is not self-seeking
  - seeketh not her own
  - himself, herself, itself, themselves
- is not easily provoked
  - irritable
  - resentful
  - angered
  - gets annoyed
  - aroused to anger
- thinketh no evil
  - does not keep an account of a wrong suffered
  - no record of being wronged
  - love that forgives and forgets
◄ 1 Corinthians 13:6 ►

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

but rejoices with the truth.

1 Corinthians 13:6 ESV
- ἀδικία – wrongdoing
  - injustice, of a judge
  - unrighteousness of heart and life
  - a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness
The Greek word for “truth” is “aletheia,” which signifies not only factual accuracy but also sincerity and integrity.

In the biblical narrative, truth is often associated with God’s character and His revelation to humanity.

John 14:6

source: BibleHub Study Bible

Agape rejoices with the truth;

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:7 BSB
- It always protects,
  - always trusts,
  - always hopes,
  - always perseveres.
- Love never gives up,
  - never loses faith,
  - is always hopeful,
  - and endures through every circumstance.
ἀγάπη agapē never fails,

1 Corinthians 13:8a
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And again, the Apostle's list and concern is for spiritual gifts.
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If I.. How NOT to worship

BUT..
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Paul continues, 
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- As for prophecies,
  
  they will pass away;
- as for tongues,
  
  they will cease;
- as for knowledge,
  
  it will pass away.
- 9 For we know in part
- and we prophesy in part,
- 10 but when the perfect comes,
  
  the partial will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:8b-10 ESV
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And let's not forget, the Apostle's instruction to the Corinthians is to contrast these to our agape love in Christ as His body the Church. 

Now Paul, their teacher for a year and a half concludes his settling of their differences by essentially telling the Corinthian saints to:
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Grow up!

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

but

when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV

Have YOU, dearly beloved, 21st century saint?

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part,

but then I shall know just as I also am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV

Take a look in the mirror

TalkofJesus.com post [2 min.] from September 11, 2013

and now abide
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νυνὶ δὲ μένει
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menō – not to depart
- to continue to be present
- to be held, kept, continually
to remain as one, not to become another or different
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These are just a few of the meanings when the Apostle pleas with his beloved church to have and to hold Christ -- the love of God for saints chosen to abide in the love of the Lord. 
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What Paul writes here sounds like a benediction — a closing thought. But is not since the Apostle has more to say about spiritual gifts.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love [ἀγάπη agapē].

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV
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NEXT: (with an interruption for Lent 2025 CE) in chapter 14 the Apostle Paul will conclude this section of his epistle on order in worship and spiritual gifts.
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March 4, 2025
If I.. How NOT to worship
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, …

Modern Translations of 1 Corinthians 13:1

And though I have .. so that I .., but have not love, I am nothing.

Classic Translations 1 Corinthians 13:2

and if I give away all .. and if I give up my body.., and do not have love, I am profited nothing.

Literal Translations `1 Corinthians 13:3

IF I – Paul’s conditional approach to God’s love & ours

WE worshipers typically overlook conditional statements where WE ought to evaluate and discern OUR own approach to Jesus Christ, worship and others in OUR church.

In fact, the Apostle’s entire first letter to the Corinthians seeks to heal divisions between factions of Corinthian saints of Christ by exposing the conditions of our spiritual refining in the Lord.

Before we get to OUR favorite part of Paul’s letter (so often emotionally recited over christian marriages), let’s look briefly at where the Apostle fits love into the overall themes of his instructive letter to the saints of Corinth.

First Corinthians overview

John MacArthur :: Bible Introductions – 1 Corinthians

This epistle was most likely written in the first half of A.D. 55 from Ephesus. His departure for Corinth was anticipated even as he wrote
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The Apostle Paul ministered  in Corinth for over a year and a half (Acts 18:11)
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Unable to fully break with the culture from which it came, the church at Corinth was exceptionally factional, showing its carnality and immaturity.

John MacArthur commentary

So far Paul has addressed:
- His Calling and Benefits of Sainthood for the Corinthians
- Disunity in the Church
- Immorality in the Church
- Marriage in the Church
- Liberty in the Church
Are ANY of these challenges for YOUR 21st c. Common Era christian CHURCH?

NOW (as MacArthur points out), the Apostle’s focus moves on to:

Worship in the Church (11:2–14:40)
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with focus on three separate, yet related points
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1. Roles of Men and Women in the Church
2. The Lord’s Supper
3. Spiritual Gifts (12:1–14:40)
  - 3 chapters, in which so far we have only covered 1 Corinthians 12.
What IF YOUR fruit is rotten?
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First of all,  ἐὰν - IF.. which the Apostle uses in this letter 48 times!
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For if^G1437 you were to have countless tutors in Christ,

1 Corinthians 4:15

If G1437 I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1 LSB

ἐάν;
I. a conditional particle (derived from εἰ ἄν), which makes reference to time and to experience, introducing something future, but not determining, before the event, whether it is certainly to take place;

Each of the Apostle’s conditional references here point toward the evident sweetness of what ought to be the fruit of our salvation in Christ.

If I speak..

λαλέω – A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb

Yet we do speak G2980 wisdom among those who are mature.. But we speak G2980 God’s wisdom in a mystery..

I Corinthians 2:6a,7a LSB
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And you mature saints will likely know some translation of this to which Paul will proceed soon:
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When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11
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AND note: this too points to a conditional change. 
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Human or Angelic tongues

Though I speak with the tongues of men [the KJV translates] and of angels,

Men [anthrōpos – both men and women] of course have tongues [glōssa] in order to speak [regardless of what language].

and angels [angelos ] – a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God

If I shall speak with every human and Angelic language and have no love in me, I shall be clanging brass or a noise-making cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Aramaic Bible in Plain English
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"If I shall speak with every human and Angelic language.." 

Perhaps like me you had never read this translation; making the conditional connection so clear. 

The 'IF' we speak -- even messages supposedly from God -- conditionally connects to the sound that proceeds into the ears of others.
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ἔχω – the familiar sounding echo

to have and to hold…

13:1 – Though I ..have G2192 not charity,

13:2 And though I have G2192 the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have G2192 all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have G2192 not charity, I am nothing.
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It's ALL conditional -- Spiritual Gifts yet no fruit
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Spiritualities – ‘I would not have you ignorant’

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have G2192 not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:3 KJV
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AGAIN, It's ALL conditional --
EVEN IF YOU have Spiritual Gifts 
BUT bear no fruit, which is the love and charity of God and Christ. 
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ἀγάπη – agapē

the LOVE of Paul’s “love chapter”

LOVE is so misunderstood by 21st c. C.E. ears that I have recently addressed agape as ‘Biblical jargon’ READ more

agapē a fruit of Love from a Higher Branch

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love G26 one to another.

Gospel of John 13:35 KJV from the command of Jesus – fruit

What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, G26 and in the spirit of meekness?

1 Corinthians 4:21 KJV

Knowledge puffeth up, but charity G26 edifieth.

1 Corinthians 8:1b KJV

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, G26 I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 13:1 – KJV

Charity [ἀγάπη – agapē] suffereth long..

KJV translation of 1 Corinthians 13:4a

MORE on agape love

NEXT time, God-willing, concluding the LOVE Chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 in the apostle’s instructions about spiritual gifts, we will THEN be ready to apply these fruits to the WORSHIP of the Church the Apostle will address in 1 Corinthians 14.

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February 28, 2025
agapē a fruit of Love from a Higher Branch
Charity (agape)

This is our chief aim, the unconditional love of the Father given to us through his Son. Affection, friendship and romantic love are each the training ground for charity to grow. It’s also a rival to the three.

C.S. Lewis – Four Types of Love

Even with a half-dozen mentions of the agape love including definitions last time, as you can see from Lewis’ quote this is a fruit of a higher UNCONDITIONAL LOVE – a gift of God the Father through Jesus Christ.

All you need is Love Love Love

ἀγάπη – agapē

– feminine noun

The KJV translates Strong’s G26 in the following manner: love (86x), charity (28x), dear (1x), charitably (with G2596) (1x), feasts of charity (1x).

From ἀγαπάω (G25)

We also followed a relational connection between some of ‘The 4 Loves’ last time, but let’s see some of the connecting branches of the love agape as well.

ἀγαπάω (G25) – agapaō

verb

The KJV translates Strong’s G25 in the following manner: love (135x), beloved (7x).

You may say, ‘God is love,’ a use of agape as a noun; but the relational verb for love — agapaō requires an action of personal relationship.

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

First Letter of the Apostle John 4:8 LSB

a LOVE of persons OR of things
- of persons
  - to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
- of things
  - to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing
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Lewis also cautions that these could become idolatry as well, rather than the intended love of God the Father through His only Son Jesus Christ. 
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Root Word (Etymology)
Perhaps from agan (much) [or cf φιλέω (G5368) phileō, also a verb to love or to kiss ]

Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

the Apostle Paul writing to the churches

or

Greet one another with a kiss of love.

the Apostle Peter writing to the churches
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We certainly cannot avoid the worldly love-connection to the idolatries of Eros attributed to the genuine signs of affection the Lord and Apostles modeled for the saints of our local churches. 
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The KJV translates Strong’s G5384 in the following manner: friend (29x).

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Gospel of John 15:13 KJV

How would you describe your LOVE for a friend?

Agape embraces another with affection like no other love.

ἀγαπητός – agapētos

the adjective from From ἀγαπάω (G25) agape
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Strong's Number G27 matches the Greek ἀγαπητός (agapētos), which occurs 61 times in 60 verses in the MGNT Greek.
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Outline of Biblical Usage

beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love
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God the Father, Jesus and all the Apostles use it. 

Peter, for example:
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Therefore, beloved G27, since you are looking for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our beloved G27 brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, \

2 Peter:3:14-15 LSB
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And the Apostle Paul in several epistles: 
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I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved G27 children.

Therefore, my beloved G27, flee from idolatry.

Therefore, my beloved G27 brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:14, 10:14, 15:58 LSB

For the Love of God [O.T.]
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And recalling love from the Scriptural roots of Jesus and the Apostles in the Hebrew Bible: 
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A song. A psalm of David.

(WLC 108:5)כִּי־גָדוֹל מֵעַל־שָׁמַיִם חַסְדֶּךָ וְעַד־שְׁחָקִים אֲמִתֶּךָ׃

For your faithful love is higher than the heavens,

and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Psalm 108:6 CSB

Yet from the root word חֶסֶד
ḥeseḏ:

For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the skies.

Ps 108:6 NASB95

For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the clouds.

Ps 108:6 NKJV

Do you see the high relational LOVE between God the Father, Jesus the Son and those who in and by the Spirit love the Lord?

Mercy, Lovingkindness and agape love cannot be simply jargon among those saints saved in Christ Jesus.

agapētos agapaō .. agapē
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Finally, your search for LOVE in New Testament Greek will draw you to one holy Scripture penned in a letter of the one Jesus loved. 
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ἀγαπητοί ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀγαπῶν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ γεγέννηται καὶ γινώσκει τὸν θεόν

Α΄ Ιωάννη (1 John) 4 :: Morphological Greek New Testament (MGNT)
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It's all Greek to me too, so let me help you out. 
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Beloved

Strong’s G27 – agapētos From ἀγαπάω agapaō (G25)

let us love

g25 agapaō

one another,

allēlōn

for love

hoti agapē (G26)

is from God;

eimi ek θεός theos

and everyone who loves

kai pas ho agapaō (G25)

has been [begotten] born of God

gennaō ek θεός theos

and knows God.

kai ginōskō θεός theos

1 John 4:7 LSB

INTERLINEAR MORPHOLOGICAL Greek New Testament

Questions of Agape Love

source: BibleHub.com STUDY Questions

Beloved,

In what ways can you demonstrate “agape” love to those in your church community this week?
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And, dear friend, here's one to make it yet more personal
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How does the command to love one another serve as evidence of being “born of God” in your personal spiritual journey?

more from 1 John 4:7 study

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February 22, 2025