Revelation 2:1-7
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Revelation 2:4
Hello friend! Again, I apologize for the temporary lag in posting in this series. Time in the day is limited, and sometimes other things have to take priority.
As readers may recall, we have been in verse 4 of the letter to the church at Ephesus, and have been discussing what it might mean that they had lost, or abandoned, their first love. In the first post on that, we discussed the loss of this love as sort of a fading of fervor such as married couples sometimes experience in the later years of their relationship. Next, we discussed how perhaps our love for doctrine, while important, might actually have taken the place of love for one another and for the love of Jesus and our personal relationship with Him.
I want to lead with a comment from ourladyofblahblahblah, on a previous post in this series. Incidentally, I think that wins the prize for blog name of the century. Anyway she had this to say:
“Im not entirely sure i would agree that the first love that they lost was their love for the Lord. Out of curiosity, I checked a Greek interlinear for the word we render as “love” in the english translation – it is *agapen*, which suggests charitable love, service towards one another, and that suggests to me that it refers to the brotherly love they once had for each other (which Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians mentions they are well known for). This fits – they’ve got their doctrine down, they work tirelessly, they do all the things that would seem to indicate that their love for the Lord is alive and well…but perhaps they are not loving each other particularly well. (As a member of a church body known for its concern for purity of doctrine, i can tell you i have seen how concern for doctrine, when put above love for neighbour, can tear a church apart. When doctrine is being used like a hammer to crush those beneath it…well, something has gone terribly wrong.)”
I have no problem with the above statement at all. We certainly can’t say dogmatically what the “first love,” really was; that is precisely why we are poking around in various possibilities. It could be one of them, some of them, or all of them. I agree with what my dear friend said, and want to expand on it a bit.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up” 1 Corinthians 13:4
I include that because follows next is an excerpt from a series I wrote on 1 Corinthians 13. It’s actually most of the entire post:
“I am going to stir up a spot of trouble right away today. I am a King James Bible guy. After you all throw things at me, please hear me out. I also like lots of other translations and find them useful. I have numerous translations as well as numerous Study Bibles by different Bible teachers. It’s all good. I, however, do all of my reading from the King James Bible and that is what I use in this Blog. The main reason I do that is simple: those King James translators knew how to use some English! King James English is often difficult, but it is also often very accurately descriptive as well. We have a great case of that descriptiveness in the verses above.
1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4 are the two biggest descriptions of love found in the Bible and a verse from each is included in this article. See anything that arouses your interest? Of course, you do! In 1 John the translators consistently used the word “love” to describe love; it is used some 27 times. In 1 Corinthians, the translators used the word “charity” to describe love; there it is used 9 times. What we have to understand is that the original word in all cases is some form of “agape”
Sometimes when we read 1 Corinthians 13, we tend to dismiss the word used by simply saying, “Oh, that just means love there.” Is it possible that there is more meaning there? Let’s look at that quickly. The King James translators were not stupid, they surely knew they could have just used our word “love” in each case; they didn’t just become confused. Additionally, language translation is sometimes both art and science and word for word translations do not always work. Translators sometimes have to look at the original intent of meaning they see in the original language and put the same meaning in the new language.
Let’s look briefly at the English language usage of the words, “Love” and “Charity.” I think in most of our minds a difference would come to mind immediately; it does in mine. The use of the word “Charity” seems to imply an action; it seems to apply that something is happening versus something simply being felt. Does that sound familiar?”
So, this church was busy; this church nailed doctrine. Had they forgotten another reason our Lord formed the church as a local, called out assembly? Friends, love is far more than just a mushy feeling; I would maintain that in some ways, feelings don’t even matter. Putting actions behind our profession of love is what really matters. I can’t will myself to love the unloveable, but I can will myself to put my supposed impression in action and take care of the unloveable. That action, propelled by the power of the Holy Spirit to change me, will result in real love, every time.
Are we so wrapped up in “doing,” and doctrine that we forget that we are a body composed of real people, with real issues and real needs? If we have, then we may have abandoned our first love.
September 25, 2019 at 13:19
I agree. I compare all transulations to the KJV as we must have a proven base for His Word.:)
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September 25, 2019 at 13:22
Yep gotta dig sometimes. Even my trusted KJV doesn’t nail it perfectly sometimes.
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September 25, 2019 at 13:41
I agree. I have another version, ESV, that helps me to understand more clearly.
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September 25, 2019 at 14:35
I like that one, although I don’t own a hard copy of it yet, but use it online some.
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September 25, 2019 at 15:07
Thank you.
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September 25, 2019 at 14:20
Reblogged this on a simple man of God and commented:
I do not disagree with what is said here. I would argue that forgetting to show love/charity to others IS forgetting their love of Christ. “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” “A new command I give you: love one another.” “The [two] greatest commandment[s]: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength. . . . Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Our youth group has a set of guidelines to follow. I have stressed they are not necessarily hard and fast rules, unless they need to be. We have grace that flows from a love people and wanting them present to learn from the Word. It would take something severe to be told not to return, and it would (usually) come after one-on-one conversations.
It strikes me that Jesus’ reprimand in Revelation is against the Ephesians making sure the doctrine was perfect, even if it pushed people away and/or they neglected caring for the needs of others.
Like when my family left the Catholic Church when I was two, because the priest was so adamant that my parents follow a local rule for the congregation that he publicly shamed my pregnant mother. (Seriously, it is a fun story! *ahem*)
So, again, I do not disagree. I have added thoughts to explain how everything else said on Wally’s post is true, but it could also be deeper, as so often happens with the Bible. I am happy someone pointed out this often overlooked fact of charity being integral to agape love!
Daniel
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September 25, 2019 at 14:28
Excellent! The two things are inexorably linked. If we don’t love our brother, then we don’t really love the Lord! Thanks for expanding the thought, Daniel!
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September 26, 2019 at 06:43
Wally this is good and you certainly gave me something to think about. I read KJV but I prefer NLT and AMP😊. Rarely do I study with one translation. I have found studying with more than one gives me a broader understanding of what is being said. You did an excellent job here as always brother. God bless you.
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September 26, 2019 at 06:46
Thanks Efua. I agree. I rather like the NLT myself
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