What Does Love Mean? The Meaning of Love in the Letters of John
The Bible is filled with references to love. On almost any page, you will find a verse about love. In books, large and small, love is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. From Genesis to Revelation, from Proverbs to Philemon, the Bible overflows with descriptions of love. But what is the meaning of love? The Greek word used most often for “love” in the New Testament is agape – an unconditional love that focuses not on ourselves but on what is best for the other person. In fact, agape is used some 90 times in the New Testament; that’s more than any other word referring to love! But what exactly does agape mean? Keep reading to find out…
What does the Bible mean by love?
As we’ve seen, the most common word for “love” in the New Testament is agape. This is a love that flows from the will, not the emotions. It is not a feeling but a choice — a decision to put the needs of others above our own. Agape is other-regarding, unconditional love. It is a willingness to go to any length to promote the welfare of others, even at the cost of our own advantage. This love is a response to God’s love for us, which gives rise to gratitude and a desire to respond in like manner to our neighbor. This love is seldom, if ever, felt as a feeling but is a conscious decision to act and serve another.
The Meaning of Love in 1 John 2:3-11
The Bible often describes faith, hope, and love as the three great virtues. In this passage, John describes the relationship between these virtues. The connection between love and faith is seen in the first verse: “This is the message we have heard from him and announces to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” The Greek word for “message” is logos, which is often translated as “truth” or “reality.” So faith is the reality of love. We have seen that love is an action, but what is the action of love? The answer is that love is an action that seeks the best for the other person.
The Meaning of Love in 1 John 3:11-24
This passage is often called “the gospel in a nutshell” because it so beautifully summarizes the basic gospel message. At the same time, it summarizes what love is. Verse 12 reads, “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” This passage tells us that love has a transformative effect on our lives. It is the only thing that can change our hearts.
The Meaning of Love in 1 John 4:7-21
In this passage, John uses three images to describe the nature of love: love is light, love is life, and love is a gift. A light in a dark place reveals the beauty of the world and what is around us, but it also reveals the ugliness that is hidden in the darkness. John uses the image of light to show how love reveals the true beauty of the world, but he also shows how love reveals the lies and deception that exist in the darkened world. Life is the most precious gift we have, and love is the greatest gift we can give to another. Love is the gift of life, showing others that they are valuable and have worth. This passage also shows that love does not stop at our borders. It reaches out to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live.
The Meaning of Love in 1 John 5:1-5
John begins this passage by saying, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” So love begins with a decision to believe in Jesus Christ. Then John goes on to say that this decision brings with it “clean” or “pure” love. This love is a gift from God, which means that we can’t love this way on our own: only God’s love inside us can bring us to this “clean” love.
The Meaning of Love in 2 John 1:1-6
This passage begins by stating that love is not only something we do but also something we are. Indeed, love is the mark of God’s people. It is love that makes us different from the world, and it is love that brings others to Christ.
The Meaning of Love in 3 John 1:1-4
John concludes his letters by saying that love must be present in the church if it is to be a church of Christ. This love is not an abstract, idealistic love that exists only in our heads but a genuine, practical love in our hearts and actions.
Key Verses to Remember in the Letters of John
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
1 John 2:6Whoever loves their brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
1 John 2:10No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
1 John 3:6Anyone who does not love remains in death.
1 John 3:14We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19This love means living in obedience to whatever God commands us. For to walk in love toward one another is the unifying commandment we’ve heard from the beginning.
2 John 1:6It is the greatest joy of my life to hear that my children are consistently living their lives in the ways of truth!
3 John 1:4
Final Thoughts
Love is the mark of a Christian. It is the most essential thing in the world and is something we can all learn more about. The letters of John are great places to start, for, in them, we find beautiful descriptions of love and God’s love for us. The Bible is a love story. It’s the story of God’s love for His people and the story of His people’s love for Him. You can’t understand the story unless you understand love. So go find out what the Bible has to say about love. And may God’s love flood your heart and fill your life as you read His words.
