Love of God in Christianity

The love of God is a prevalent concept both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Love is a key attribute of God in Christianity. In the New Testament, the expression "God is love" explicitly occurs twice: 1 John .

The love of God has been the center of the spirituality of a number of Christian mystics such as Teresa of Avila.

Old Testament

The Old Testament uses a rich vocabulary to express the love of God, as a concept that appears in many instances.Theology of the Old Testament, Volume One by Walther Eichrodt 1961 pages 250-251 For example, the prophet Isaiah states, "For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel" (), using the analogy of a husband-wife relationship to describe the intimate love between God and Israel (or the love between God and the individual created by him). Likewise, the prophet Hosea saw God's love as the basis for the election of Israel (cf. )Zondervan NIV (New International Version) Study Bible, 2002, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; footnote to Hosea 11:1. and describes Israel's idolatry (worshipping other gods) as spiritual adultery (). In , God expresses his love for individuals as well. Many Christians see the relationship between Solomon and the Shulamite woman from the Song of Songs as symbolizing Christ's relation to his church. The love of God appears in a number of texts (e.g. , and then in and , etc.); however, modern scholars claim that the exegesis of the love of God in the Old Testament presents problems for them in resolving the references to produce a consistent interpretation, which has been subject to debate.Theologies in the Old Testament by Erhard Gerstenberger 2007 page 87

New Testament

Both the terms love of God and love of Christ appear in the New Testament. In cases such as in and their use is related in the experience of the believer, without asserting their equality.Romans 8:39The Epistle to the Romans by Douglas J. Moo 1996 page 547 In Jesus expresses his love for God the Father.John 14:31 This verse includes the only direct statement by Jesus in the New Testament about Jesus' love for the God the Father.Preaching the Gospel of John: proclaiming the living Word by Lamar Williamson 2004 page 192 The love of the Father for his Son (Jesus Christ) is expressed in Matthew 3:17 by a voice from Heaven during the Baptism of Jesus.Mathew 3:17Lectures in Systematic Theology by Henry C. Thiessen 1989 page 86 The same sentiment is later expressed during the Transfiguration of Jesus in , where a voice from Heaven tells the three disciples: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"Mark 9:7

Love is a key attribute of God in Christianity. and 16 state that "God is love; and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."1 John 4:8 and 16Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson 1998 page 318 John 3:16 states: "God so loved the world..."

In the New Testament, God's love for humanity or the world is expressed in Greek as agape (). The same Greek word agape is used also of the love of Christians for one another and for other human beings, as in : "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else." The corresponding verb agapō () is used not only of God's love and of the mutual love of Christians, but also of Christians' love for God, as in : "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Christian mysticism

The experience of God's love is a central part of most traditions of Christian mysticism. This experience of God's love plays a central role in the Spiritual Exercises, which are the foundation of Ignatian spirituality. God's love also plays an important part in the writings of Medieval German mystics, such as Mechthild of Magdeburg and Hildegard von Bingen, who describe divine love as a burning passion. Julian of Norwich expresses the same sentiment in her Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love (c. 1393).

Thomas Aquinas taught that the essence of sanctity lies in the love of God, and Thérèse of Lisieux made the love of God the center of her spirituality.The Story of a Soul

In scholastic philosophy, God is love, and Trinitarian love, according to Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, is mutual, selfless, and radically removed from all selfishness—a static state. Love is essentially ecstatic, for it excludes all selfish desires and even involves renouncing the self to lose oneself in the beloved. This interpretation was represented by Bernard of Clairvaux, Abelard, and Richard of Saint Victor, and found its symbol in the seraphic figure of Francis of Assisi. The Father's love is said to be freely given, since God is agape love, understood as pure relationship, He tends to give His love in charity, and what gives God his essence is His love. It is also said that human love is not the love of God and cannot be the same. And, in turn, human love for oneself is different from love for others when it springs from self-love.

Love of God in Christianity

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