I have an extrapolation to make. Please tell me if it’s solid. The Bible says God is love. Thus we can replace God with the word love in 1 Corinthians?
I. E. God hopes all things….
It’s kind of mathematical logic but I think it works. And it gives me comfort.
No
God is love but love is not God
He also many other things. Just comes to mind. There are many others. Depends what the passage is talking about. And not all love is of God. Love itself can evil if all that God say is not considered.
(1 Corinthians 13:1,13)
Where does it say God is love?
1st. John chapter 4 verse 8. And in verse 16. Which is interesting by the way, 8 representing infinity (new beginnings) and 16 being evenly divided by 8. And this being within a 21 verse chapter which is divisible by 7 (complete or perfection) 3 (Trinity) times.. maybe I’m being a little silly but oh well…
So, let’s bring context into focus of these amazing Words you quoted… before we transfer this label of love into another place….and into another Author’s writings…
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
(1 John 4:7-21 KJV)
Ok, we don’t have to give any explanation because John did this for us. But..
To Reiterate, (Love) is a command from God and an indicator to where we can label a person a born again child of God. John is a cut and dry kinda guy… it either is or it isn’t… no middle ground for this guy!
Now….
Where is it in 1st. Corinthians…. chapter 13 I think…?
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:2-13 KJV)
Here, Paul, first uses Love to exemplify humility, a characteristic which causes willful service toward one another and attacks the puffing up Of our flesh because of some spiritual gift.
So, I judge this, that your replacing the Word Love with God, is a wonderful way to gain insight to the heart of God and the Will He has toward His people.
John and Paul are consistent with their definition and use of this Word (Love). They are in agreement, so, This idea of taking an idea from one author and interjecting it into another author’s writings is safe. In fact, this backs up the idea of The Holy Scriptures being of Only One Author, The Holy Spirit.
And to cap off this response, I would like to bring your attention to verse 13…
And now abideth faith, hope and charity (love), and the greatest of these three is…
Charity (Love).
Abideth=continually being=infinity. Love is forever, just like God.
Love is eternal, just like God.. and Once we Truly Love, We then experience an act that truly is (E)eternal. 8/16
His essence is all that and more. I get what you’re saying. And I’m glad it brings you comfort. It brings me comfort as well. Thanks for sharing.
God doesn’t hope.
1 Corinthians 13 in its context is about the proper use of spiritual gifts among the body of believers, and the whole letter was written to address some serious sins in that church. What you’re extrapolating could be the gospel hook of a sermon where the ultimate reality is seen in God’s actions, especially through Christ’s narrative. But it’s not the point of 1 Corinthians 13. Clearly teach the point of the text first before jumping into the Bible’s grander theological matrices.
God is agape love.
God is love like I am a man. I’m also 5’4”, I’m also happy, I’m also a Christian, and also white…
God is love, but He’s many things
love is AGAPE.. it meant walk in the COMMANDMENT
God is THEOS
Charity is a better replacement for love because it is the kind of love that moved you action. In fact KJV uses charity.
The word of God is not reason. You need revelation to come to a helping understanding and insight. Yes, He is love because love is naturally his nature and no-one can genuinely love without him.
Dont short change God. He is just as much a God of love as he is wrath. He is just as much a God of mercy as he is judgment.
There are many words you can supplement other than love.
Solid
I’ve heard that teaching before… I have no problem with it..
Cool exercise
Max Lucado did that too. Replace love with Christ in me. Then live it!
[…] I have an extrapolation to make. Please tell me if… […]
Comments