Talk of JESUS . com

Tag: paul

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
```
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. 
```
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
```
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. 
```
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
```
Strong's Number G27 matches the Greek ἀγαπητός (agapētos), which occurs 61 times in 60 verses in the MGNT Greek.
```
Outline of Biblical Usage

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

Peter, for example:
```
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
```
And the Apostle Paul in several epistles: 
```
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.]
```
And recalling love from the Scriptural roots of Jesus and the Apostles in the Hebrew Bible: 
```
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
```
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. 
```
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)
```
It's all Greek to me too, so let me help you out. 
```
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?
```
And, dear friend, here's one to make it yet more personal
```
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

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
February 22, 2025
Your Communions in Church and in Christ
Communions, gatherings, worship services, church services — call them whatever you like. But the Apostle Paul provides some pointed correction for the church as we continue in 1 Corinthians 11.
```
Communion - TOPIC on TalkofJesus.com  

Although our frequent focus on communions often points toward Good Friday, Christians frequently place Holy Communion at the center of our controversies between Protestants and Roman Catholics. However today we will apply the Apostle Paul's exhortation of the Corinthian church in the context of his first letter to these saints. 
```
Communion – Sharing in the Lord’s Supper

What’s the Apostle Paul saying to the Church?

It’s an Exhortation

“..your gatherings do more harm than good.
1 Corinthians 11:17b Berean Standard Version

Pretty strait-forward

Paul addresses these communions (as the idolatrous feasts of Corinth he has already addressed) presenting a clear choice for godly saints of the Church at Corinth.

v.17 In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. – BSB

for the Church
```
Would you like to hear Paul's introduction in another way? 
```
1 Corinthians 11:18
- For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. – NKJV
- In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. – NIV
- For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. – HNV
  - Source
This is simply Paul’s FIRST POINT following the Apostle’s exhortation about sanctified living AND following his FIRST POINT about ROLES in Christian Worship within this section of his Epistle ordering Christ’s instructions for worship.

The Apostle Paul specifically points to times when we assemble [or come together] συνέρχομαι – synerchomai as a CHURCH ἐκκλησίᾳ – ekklēsia.
```
Many of you know this Greek word for church. 

LOOK at its definition
(nothing specifically yet about communion here. But read on.) 
```
The Apostle then continues in his outline for Christian gatherings.

Sharing in the Lord’s Supper ( 11:17⁠–⁠34 )

An exhortation for social and festive meals in the church community

Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.

21 For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.

22 Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?

What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this?

No, I will not!

The Apostle’s transition into this section had been:

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. – 1 Cor 11:1 KJV
```
Paul's focus:
```
Our communions other than Holy Communion

In order to view the seriousness in Paul’s challenge, let’s back-up a moment to view Paul’s instructions concerning DIVISIONS [*schisma] from the King James Version.

For there must be also heresies among you,

that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

1 Corinthians 11:19 KJV

* In the first major schism of the Church in the A.D. 11th century the Roman Church divided from the Orthodox Church. See the Timeline in the link above.
```
Common Era christians dare not mention such things as HERESY, lest we offend some unbeliever in our gathering or sharing in breaking bread with us at an occasional community evangelism feast. 

We prefer a gentler approach of translations of αἵρεσις - hairesis like: factions or divisions or differences.
 
```
11:20 συνερχομένων οὖν ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ οὐκ ἔστιν κυριακὸν δεῖπνον φαγεῖν

When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:20 KJV

Does the Apostle then instruct the Church NOT to share in Holy Communion?

NO, certainly not.

Only not to participate in such a community meal alongside unbelievers (EVEN ‘at church’ ), including those who are not in Christ in this Holy Sacrifice of Communion as worship.

The Lord’s Supper
```
Many worshipping Christians can recite some of several Gospel references from various communions celebrated either casually or as rites by various Christian factions or divisions or differences. 
```
You may want to READ some of the Gospel including these Holy Scriptures, but I urge you for now to remain focused on the Apostle’s INSTRUCTION specifically to saints of the Church at Corinth (in ~ A.D. 55).

Gospel cross-references to the Lord’s Supper

– King James Version
```
FURTHER STUDY of 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 (various versions) 
```
a HOLY Communion in Christ celebrated by the Body of Christ

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you..
1 Corinthians 11:23a KJV
```
Before we forget, although many rites of communions of some churches treat this text formally, the Apostle is instructing believers in Corinth this time by LETTER (an epistle).
```
Paul here reiterates from the Gospel accounts that which the Apostle had already instructed in person.

.. That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:

this is my body, which is broken for you:

this do in remembrance of me.

The APOSTLE PAUL just reminded those saints faithful to Christ in the Corinthian Church of JESUS’ instruction for disciples (followers) to break BREAD as His body would be broken for us.

THEREFORE, remember our Lord Jesus in this dedicatory communion. BUT Christ continues His command of the New Covenant with taking the same cup.

After the same manner also he took the cup,

when he had supped, saying,

This cup is the new testament in my blood:

this do ye, as oft as ye drink it,

in remembrance of me.

First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:23-25 King James Version

An Apostolic Application

Again, I remind us that Paul proclaims that which the Apostle has already taught to the saints of Corinth.

And now he will apply it their challenging current situations where some communicants of Corinth no longer observe the Communion commanded by Christ as HOLY – that is SEPARATED, for Holy saints of the Lord set apart from the festive communions of their pagan community.

Once again, Paul has already WRITTEN:
- NOT to eat Food Sacrificed to Idols AND taught lessons of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt concerning their idolatry.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV

The Apostle had reminded the saints of Corinth earlier in his letter of both his authority and humility in Christ confirming:
- I have applied these things to myself [THEREFORE] learn from us not to go beyond what is written.
- Paul’s instruction consequently will require the saints of Corinth:
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

1 Corinthians 11:28 ESV

Note the Apostle’s CAUTION to communicants:

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. – BSB

Commentary – Study Bible [below]
- The term “unworthy manner” suggests a lack of reverence or self-examination
- The “bread” and “cup” symbolize the body and blood of Christ, and partaking in them requires a heart of humility and repentance.
- To be “guilty of sinning” implies a serious offense, akin to profaning something holy.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:29 King James Version

If we would judge ourselves
```
The Apostle offers a few additional reasons to examine ourselves before these communions with the world and the Holy Communion of the saints of our local church. 
```
- That is why many among you are weak and sick,
- and a number of you have fallen asleep.
- Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.
- But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
In conclusion, Paul reiterates about their divisions over their communions.

ἐκδέχομαι – ekdechomai

33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat,

tarry one for another.

translates the King James
1. to receive, accept
2. to look for, expect, wait for, await: ἀλλήλους ἐκδέχεσθε wait for one another, namely, until each shall have received his food, 1 Corinthians 11:33, cf.
PAUL closes this section of his letter about divisions stating that he has more to say about other issues later in person.

“.. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.

Judge for yourself

Is ANYTHING wrong with the Communions of your local church?

What do the Apostles and Christ instruct?

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
February 13, 2025
The Idolatry of Baptism – the Idolatry of Communion – 2
TODAY we continue in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians continuing to apply the communion of the body of Christ as ceremony, community and witness.

Paul has just compared Moses leading the Hebrews through the sea to baptism in Christ and communion in Christ.

First Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians 10:
```
2 They were all baptized into Moses.. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink..
```
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

a Contemporary Look at Communion
```
And NOW, continuing in Paul's BIBLICAL TEXT, although not as the Apostle sequenced it to his first century Corinthian audience, PLACE yourself in a comfortable contemporary 21st century church for the Apostle's Sunday sermon.
```
Picture Paul Podcasting to your Common Era church gathering..

WORSHIP will begin soon.

PLEASE silence your mobile devices.
```
Today's BIBLICAL references and paraphrases taken mostly from the Berean Standard Bible or New International Readers Version. PLEASE open the BIBLE on your silenced mobile device to 1 Corinthians 10.
```
Good morning, beloved saints.

I’m Paul and have been chosen to be an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. And our brother Sosthenes joins you in person at your local gathering today.

Today I will begin by addressing you, along with all of the saints sharing in the Lord’s Supper and communion in your community.

Following my broadcast message for you and your church, Sosthenes will lead you in the breaking of the bread of Holy Communion, along with your beloved local pastor and your fellow saints sharing in the sacrifice of Christ our only Savior.

I speak to you as reasonable people.

So judge for yourselves what I say.

God was not pleased with most of the church of Moses (if you will), because most of them desired the sins of worshipping idols once their GOD-appointed PREACHER Moses went up the hill to receive the LORD’s Holy LAW.

It is God’s LAW, the LORD’s Commandments meant to sanctify and separate a Holy people from an evil world overflowing in sin from every city and nation.

YOU have been chosen to separate IN CHRIST JESUS as a Holy People to be in communion with a HOLY LORD GOD – our merciful Father.

My dear friends, run away from statues of gods. Don’t worship them.

1 Corinthians 10:14 NIRV

I know through your own pastors, shepherds of your faith, that most of you do not.

You don’t have little Buddhas in your home OR place some Pope or Prophet on a pedestal.

Yet every unholy message on your numerous devices reaches to lure you saints of the Lord into the inclusion of innumerable IDOLS.

IDOLS of:
- of self and sport,
- inner-self and gods of nature,
- sexual indulgence and sensual entertainment,
- ageless health and never-to-be mentioned DEATH and then the Judgement.
Our Lord Jesus, who sent me to YOU with the Gospel urges YOU:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Gospel of John 5:24 LSB

Good NEWS in the palm of your hand.

GO ahead and LOOK at it on your device, (the Apostle would urge you IF he could).

There’s much MORE

2 RESURRECTIONS !

and not one jot or tittle of the Good News JESUS proclaims is idolatry;

but rather, Christ speaks truth.

23 You say, “I have the right to do anything.”
```
(After all, you're a FREE CHURCH because of JESUS and the CROSS.)
```
But not everything is helpful.

Again you say, “I have the right to do anything.”

But not everything builds us up.

So what’s a Common Era christian to do?

In fact, my fellow saint of Christ and in Christ, regardless of all of our songs praising SELF – MY god and MY lord and MY royal blessings as part of JESUS’ resurrection —

I can tell you (AND I SAW THE LORD JESUS AS ONE CALLED – an Apostle to YOU) – The Lord did not CALL you to celebrate His Kingdom as your own (as the pagans do when WE wander off to celebrate with their gods at their feasts and festive occasions).

Christian Evangelism by Example

24 No one should look out for their own interests. Instead, they should look out for the interests of others.
```
Do YOU do that for those the Lord seeks? 

In fact, as Jesus commanded, 

Do YOU put your fellow saints FIRST in loving one another, even as Christ JESUS has loved US? 

Therefore, 
```
25 Eat anything sold in the meat market. Don’t ask if it’s right or wrong.

26 Scripture says,

“The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

YES, the earth and all creation belong to the Lord’s!

And JESUS IS Lord!

IF you are a humble saint of His body the Church.

NOT Mother Nature (who has no realm of wind or fire, NO majesty over seed and sinew from dust).

NOT some fanciful angelic cherub of erotic love.

NOT some Bacchus of Mardi Gras beads for debauchery.

NOT even some dead saint of our own or any Super-PASTOR of the big screen broadcasting christian charity or podcasting christian politics into every cultural corner of the world.

NO, we worship the One Lord Jesus, God from God, begotten not made and One with the Spirit.

NO idol has power over us.

SO WHY WOULD WE honor that which is not?

Let us not test Christ as some of ‘Moses’ church’ did. (And do not grumble as some of them did.)
```
And here's your Common Era application little different than with the Corinthians.
```
Paul would ask a 21st century christian:

Are Hindu gods false?

How about Buddha and a worldly yoga of SELF?

Would the Mormons Moroni and Smith of the Utahpian christian sect?

And Mohammed, false prophet veiled in hatred opposing YHWH, Jacob and Christ, with adherents bowing only to their god of Allah?

Is Mary, mother of our Lord Jesus and James and Jude our mediator before the Holy Spirit?

Should we plea though dead Saints of the Church already with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

Must you consult and hold high a Pope to interpret God’s Holy Scripture?

Is God’s Earth your IDOL or the Heavens HE created IN THE BEGINNING?

Does some philosophy or practice of the past fill your head and weekly routines of this mortal life? Has that become YOUR idol?
- idolatry – formal sacrificial feats held in honour of false gods
- of avarice, as a worship of Mammon
Just as baptism is a PUBIC witness of YOUR permanent CHANGE to our faith, why do YOU imagine that participation in the PUBLIC ceremonies of their idolatrous false faith is not witness against our Lord Jesus Christ into whose Name YOU have been baptized?

And so too of

Holy Communion.

Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?

1 Corinthians 10:18b BSB
```
And allow me to ask you this:
```
- Do we saints of Christ LITERALLY drink HIS mystery of cleansing by that shed for us on the CROSS?
- Must communicates of CHRIST LITERALLY eat a mysterious leaven broken unceremoniously for us on a bloody cross of Calvary?
- AND is this the purpose of an Apostle to point out a prescribed practice to ‘Do this in remembrance of Jesus as often as we share in the feasts and cup of blessing?
Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

1 Corinthians 10:17 BSB

Christ’s Body the Church

And that BODY is the Church

of which Christ is the Head — Jew, Greek, Asian, African, American;

YET ONLY those called to the communion of the saints of Christ Jesus our Lord, whose blood was shed and body broken for us.

You can’t drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You can’t have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he?

1 Corinthians 10:21-23 NIRV

If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.

But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own.

For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?

If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

1 Corinthians 10:27-30 BSB

In whatever you do…

do it all to the glory of God.

Do not become a stumbling block.. to [worshipers of other religions] or to the church of God—

Follow my apostolic evangelical example:

as I also try to please everyone in all I do.

For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many,

that they may be saved.
- excerpt paraphrase from 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 BSB
Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 NIRV

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
February 3, 2025