Do you love me?

Originally posted by stellspalfie
does this apply to all love, or just love within the context of the passage?

Yes, I think so. ".., Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

It's what one does. We obviously love ourselves because we spend a lot of time taking care of ourselves. Just think of all the things we do each day caring for ourselves.

Do whatever we can to help our neighbor with the same enthusiasm and motive we have in helping ourselves.

It's basically no more complicated than that.

Originally posted by Suzianne
Thus claimeth the Greek "master".

I thought it as common knowledge among those who study the Bible, obviously not common enough.

Originally posted by Rajk999
Well now you are confusing two things. Love in the sense that Christ used it means brotherly love [demonstrated by compassion for others in need] and has very little to do with human affection [like the type you have for siblings].

A neighbour is anyone that that crosses your path.

Me personally? I do not answer personal questions on the internet.

so when we say god loves me, or jesus loves me are we referring to 'brotherly love'?

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
Sir you seem unaware that for the Greeks and the early Christians there were four types of love, three of which are mentioned in scripture. agape (love based on principle) philio (love among friends) , storge (family love) and eros (romantic love between the sexes)

I was indeed unaware, would I be correct in saying that it is agape we are discussing. if so it seems out of place with the other uses - family, friends and romantic are all emotional, where as principle is not. seems odd that they would all have the same etymology.

ill ask you the same questions as rajk999, which of those types of love does god feel for people?

Originally posted by josephw
Yes, I think so. ".., Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

It's what one does. We obviously love ourselves because we spend a lot of time taking care of ourselves. Just think of all the things we do each day caring for ourselves.

Do whatever we can to help our neighbor with the same enthusiasm and motive we have in helping ourselves.

It's basically no more complicated than that.

I'm not a big fan of people saying they love themselves, it seems odd to feel loving thoughts about oneself.

Originally posted by karoly aczel
Yeah, i love my neighbours. Why not? It's not the same as liking someone

it appears the word 'love' in a biblical context can have less 'emotional' meaning than liking somebody.

Originally posted by stellspalfie
so when we say god loves me, or jesus loves me are we referring to 'brotherly love'?

Generally yes. Gods love is a helping and guiding type of love. It certainly not erotic or emotional.

Originally posted by stellspalfie
I'm not a big fan of people saying they love themselves, it seems odd to feel loving thoughts about oneself.

I have to say that this was a problem for me as well when it became popular some years ago. Everybody was talking about the Oprah Winfrey type of self-love. I still cannot get my mind around the concept.

Originally posted by Rajk999
Generally yes. Gods love is a helping and guiding type of love. It certainly not erotic or emotional.

I'm genuinely surprised by this, I have always assumed gods love was supposed to be a fatherly love. a guiding, less emotional love doesn't sound as powerful as the love we have for our children or partners.

Originally posted by stellspalfie
I'm genuinely surprised by this, I have always assumed gods love was supposed to be a fatherly love. a guiding, less emotional love doesn't sound as powerful as the love we have for our children or partners.

I would say that as children we grow up with the concept you describe. As one continues to read and understand the Bible more, that fatherly love business [like human fatherly love] somehow does not apply. God can be a very harsh and demanding God .. certainly equivalent to worse fathers of the human type. But the explanation for that is that as humans we understand very little and know very little about all the facets of Gods love.

Originally posted by whodey
In the story of the Good Samaritan, notice the two men never converse. All that is known is that the Samaritan knew he was helping a foe.

Oh, I get it.

Thank you

Originally posted by stellspalfie
it appears the word 'love' in a biblical context can have less 'emotional' meaning than liking somebody.

I dont like hardly anyone.

'Cept my kids.

Originally posted by stellspalfie
I was indeed unaware, would I be correct in saying that it is agape we are discussing. if so it seems out of place with the other uses - family, friends and romantic are all emotional, where as principle is not. seems odd that they would all have the same etymology.

ill ask you the same questions as rajk999, which of those types of love does god feel for people?

Professor William Barclay in his New Testament Words says: “Agapē has to do with the mind: it is not simply an emotion which rises unbidden in our hearts; it is a principle by which we deliberately live. Agapē has supremely to do with the will.” In this context, agape is love that is governed, or guided, by principle, but it is often accompanied by strong emotion.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
Professor William Barclay in his New Testament Words says: “Agapē has to do with the mind: it is not simply an emotion which rises unbidden in our hearts; it is a principle by which we deliberately live. Agapē has supremely to do with the will.” In this context, agape is love that is governed, or guided, by principle, but it is often accompanied by strong emotion.

and how is the strong emotion that accompanies it best described?