John 13

Read John 13 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come when He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world; He loved them to the end. Joh 13:1

The Greek word translated “love” is Strong’s G25, ἀγαπάω, agapaō, a primary verb meaning, “to love.” The following is editied from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words:

Agapaō and the corresponding noun agape (the abstract concept of love) present the characteristic word of Christianity, and since the Spirit has used it to express ideas previously unknown, inquiry into its use, whether in Greek literature or in the Septuagint, throws but little light upon its distinctive meaning in the Greek Testament. Agapaō and Agape are used in the Greek Testament

(a) To describe the attitude of God toward His Son (Joh 17:26); the human race, generally (Joh 3:16; Rom 5:8); and to such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly (Joh 14:21);

(b) To convey His will to His children concerning their attitude one toward another (Joh 13:34) and toward all men (1 The 3:12; 1 Cor 16:14);

Agape Love can be known only from the actions it inspires. God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son (1 Joh 4:9-10). But this is not the love of affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects (Rom 5:8). It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself (Deu 7:7-8). Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 2:4; 5:2). Agape love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments (Joh 14:15, 1 Joh 5:3). Pleasing self is the negation of love to God. Christian love, whether exercised toward the brothers in the faith, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only on those for whom there is an affinity. Agape Love seeks the welfare of all (Rom 15:2), and works no ill to any (Rom 13:8-10); love seeks an opportunity to do good to all men, and especially toward those who are ‘of the household of the faith’ (Gal 6:10).

The Greek agapaō was used to translate the Hebrew Strong’s H157 אהב ahab, a primary verb, meaning “to desire, to breathe after.” The ancient pictographs are the aleph + hey + bet:

aleph א = the ox head, thus strength, power, leader
hey ה = man with upraised arms, thus look, reveal, wonder, worship, breath
bet ב = the house, thus house, household, family, in, within

The parable the Hebrew Root Word is telling: the base root of ahab is hey + bet. Thus, the sense of wonder, even astonishment, and appreciation the man feels when beholding (hey) his family (bet). We do not choose the family into which we are born. And even the man’s wife, in those days, was not chosen by him, but was chosen for him by his father. So in the Hebraic way of thinking, the family–parents, siblings, wife, children, extended family and tribal clan–is a gift chosen for him and given to him by God. Thus the verbal root of hey + bet means “to give.” The concrete root means “a gift.” The abstract root means “love;” from the complex emotion, desires, and protectiveness which is inspired in the heart for one’s cherished gifts; i.e., one’s family. The addition of the aleph intensifies the meaning: strong (aleph) love (hey + bet). God’s love for man is the strongest love in the universe.