“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). This is one of the best definitions of love that can be found in the New Testament. It gives a deeper meaning to the theme that love plays throughout the Bible. One of the strongest words that to this day some people may not fully grasp the concept of love, which is vital live. Highlighting the need for love in the first letter to the Corinthians, is seen when Paul states the phases, “but do not have love, I am nothing… I gain nothing.”(13:1-3) Love is the universal theme found in both the New and the Old Testament, it is the main source behind life and faith.
To Love translated as “ahav”, is used frequently in the Old Testament. Love can be associated with friendship, loyalty and kindness (Blickenstaff 713). These are most relating in human relationships such as love of family, friends, any necessities in life. People may love one another, have a materialistic love, but the main reflection of love is for God. The love between a man and women is of a sexual attraction that may lead to marriage between them to sanctify their love for each other. In the story of Jacob’s love for Rachel, “And Jacob being in love with her, said: I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter…Jacob served his seven years for Rachel: and seemed but a few day, because of the greatness of his love.” (Genesis 29:18,20)
In the story of Jacob claiming he would work seven year with the father of Rachel, for her love, shows how powerful love can drive one to do anything to be with and love another person. Linking back to the reading of the first book of the Corinthians beginning chapter 13, love is said to be patient. Being able to wait on something means it is worth the pain and suffering one may need to go through to get what they truly love, there is no obstacle that can come between the love for another person.
In the Old Testament, God’s love can be seen through a passage from Hosea 3:1-5, God give a prophet an order to love a woman who is seen in Israelite culture as an adulteress, they are to have kids. (Brown 75) God shows His love for Israel through what God asked the prophet to do. Describing God as the prophet, He has given his love to people who he does not seem fitting for such love, hence the unflattering women, and as he tells him to have her not give herself up to no other man, just as God does not want his people to turn to false prophets and hold anything about him. After trail of reformation of the women, she will be able to restore herself such as Israel will extend there love for God once again. (Blickenstaff 716)
Going back the beginning quote for love, “it is not irritable or resentful,” God loves the world unconditionally, no matter how out of line it maybe. Israel was becoming something God did not want them being, something unappealing and with acts of sin, but God continues to love because He knows he will always love them and they will come to their senses and love God back. The theme of love can be seen as the love one parent would have to their child, no matter what a parent will love their own. Love does not need to be shown by multiple parties, but if there is love involved, love will overcome all.
The recurring word “agapao”, translated “to love” is seen in the New Testament, this is seen through actions and the attitudes of human beings, God and Jesus Christ. (Renn 611) In the New Testament we find many sayings concerning love, one found in Luke 6:31, also known as the Golden Rule, “And even as you wish men to do to you so also do you to them” They way one wants to be treated, they should treat others the same way.
Showing love to others will eventually lead to people loving them back. This rule is still being incorporated in today’s society. Following the golden rule, Luke also states one must love there enemies and help others without relying on anything in return, because God loves us unconditionally and does not expect anything in return. In the Gospel of Mark, he talks about the greatest commandment of them all which is the first one, “The Lord our God is one God, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart.
