quote by Chemnitz:
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First off there is no such thing as a Greek translation, because Greek is the original language of the NT.
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No duh, but in the translation from Greek to English some words have lost thier meaning. If you study Greek you'd know there are (12 or 13 I believe?) different translations for the word love in the NT.
quote by Chemnitz:
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Second, in Jn 3:16 agapasen is a verb. Therefore, it does not have any gender.
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The word agapasen is not in the e-Sword dictionary. Do you have a web link to a site where I can find this info also?
quote by Chemnitz:
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Third, since agape was used in Greek poetry to describe rape, I hesitate to give it any special significance.
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I was taugh growing up in a Baptist church that Peter used 3 words for love when speaking to Jesus. One was translated agape.
John 21:15-17
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(I think it is the one I have in bold.) Is this true?
quote by Chemnitz:
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Fourth, while love is a theme that runs the course of the Bible, it is not The Theme.
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I was taught growing up that it was Love. The main thing is that the Lord loved us enough to die for our sins so that we can have eternal life if we believe on Jesus.
quote by Chemnitz:
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Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection are The Theme of the Bible; the OT points towards it and the NT points us back to it.
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Which brings us back to John 3:16
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
and then......
1John 4:7-9
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.
Love~
music4Him