Spiritual Attachment of Love in Christian Relationships

In Christian relationships, spiritual attachment, often referred to as affection or love, is a profound bond rooted in divine principles and exemplified by Christ's relationship with the Church ^{[8, 15]}. This attachment is distinct from mere natural feelings, being characterized by spiritual depth and purpose ^[1].

The concept of "affection" in a biblical sense encompasses feelings and emotions, with distinctions drawn between "vile affections" and "inordinate affection" on one hand, and "spiritual or gracious affections" on the other ^[1]. Christians are exhorted to direct their affections toward "things above" [1, Col. 3:2]. This includes supremely setting one's affections upon God, His commandments, His house and worship, and His people ^[2]. The love for God is to be sincere, with the whole soul, and supreme, reflecting His love for humanity ^[5].

Love (ἀγάπη, agape) is presented as the ultimate bond of perfectness, surpassing other virtues like faith and hope because it is the quintessential nature of God himself ^{[4, 13]}. This divine love is commanded by God and Christ, taught by God, and serves as an active, abiding principle ^[6]. It is a fruit of the Spirit and works through faith ^[6].

In the context of human relationships, this spiritual attachment manifests in several ways:

Brotherly Affection and Love The apostle Peter encourages believers to add "brotherly affection" (φιλαδελφία, philadelphia) and then "love" (ἀγάπη, agape) to their godliness, indicating a progression in spiritual development ^[3]. This brotherly love is a characteristic of saints and an evidence of adoption ^[5].
Marital Love The marital relationship is presented as a profound reflection of Christ's union with the Church ^{[8, 9]}. Husbands are commanded to love their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the Church and gave His life for it ^{[14, 15]}. This love involves a willingness to give up one's own desires for the good of the spouse ^[10]. Wives are called to submit to their husbands, showing them respect, mirroring the Church's obedience to Christ ^[9]. Sexual intimacy within marriage is a mutual right and responsibility, not to be withheld, and involves yielding authority over one's body to the spouse ^[12].
Social and Communal Bonds Beyond marriage, spiritual attachment extends to broader social ties. The warmth and sympathy derived from social bonds are compared to the spiritual ties among Christians ^[11]. This is evident in the practice of the "holy kiss" or "kiss of love" among early Christians, which symbolized brotherly love and accompanied social worship ^[7]. Christians are encouraged to love one another with brotherly affection [2, Rom. 12:10].

The love that forms the basis of spiritual attachment is not merely an emotion but an active principle ^[6]. It is manifested in seeking Christ, obeying Him, ministering to Him, and preferring Him above all others, even to the point of taking up the cross ^[5]. This love should not grow cold ^[2]. The description of Christian love emphasizes patience, kindness, humility, selflessness, and endurance, highlighting a willingness to prioritize the good of others [14, 1 Cor. 13:4-7].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Affection — Feeling or emotion. Mention is made of "vile affections" (Rom. 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Col. 3:5). Christians are exhorted to set their affections on things above (Col. 3:2). There is a distinction between natural and spiritual or gracious affections (Ezek. 33:32).”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affections, The — Should be supremely set upon God -- De 6:3; Mr 12:30. Should be set Upon the commandments of God. -- Ps 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167. Upon the house and worship of God. -- 1Ch 29:3; Ps 26:8; 27:4; 84:1,2. Upon the people of God. -- Ps 16:3; Ro 12:10; 2Co 7:13-15; 1Th 2:8. Upon heavenly things. -- Col 3:1,2. Should be zealously engaged for God -- Ps 69:9; 119:139; Ga 4:18. Christ claims the first place in -- Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26. Enkindled by communion with Christ -- Lu 24:32. Blessedness of making God the object of -- Ps 91:14. Should not grow cold -- P”
2 Peter “and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. -- 2 Peter 1:7”
Colossians “Colossians 3:14 (LITV) — And above all these, add love, which is the bond of perfectness.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Christ — Exhibited by God -- Mt 17:5; Joh 5:20. Exhibited by saints -- 1Pe 1:8. His personal excellence is deserving of -- Song 5:9-16. His love to us a motive to -- 2Co 5:14. Manifested in Seeking him. -- Song 3:2. Obeying him. -- Joh 14:15,21,23. Ministering to him. -- Mt 27:55; 25:40. Preferring him to all others. -- Mt 10:37. Taking up the cross for Him. -- Mt 10:38. A characteristic of saints -- Song 1:4. An evidence of adoption -- Joh 8:42. Should be Sincere. -- Eph 6:24. With the soul. -- Song 1:7. In proportion to our mercies. -- Lu 7:47. Supreme. -- ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Man — Is of God -- 1Jo 4:7. Commanded by God -- 1Jo 4:21. Commanded by Christ -- Joh 13:34; 15:12; 1Jo 3:23. After the example of Christ -- Joh 13:34; 15:12; Eph 5:2. Taught by God -- 1Th 4:9. Faith works by -- Ga 5:6. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22; Col 1:8. Purity of heart leads to -- 1Pe 1:22. Explained -- 1Co 13:4-7. Is an active principle -- 1Th 1:3; Heb 6:10. Is an abiding principle -- 1Co 13:8,13. Is the second great commandment -- Mt 22:37-39. Is the end of the commandment -- 1Ti 1:5. Supernatural gifts are nothing without -- 1Co 13:1,2. The greates”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Kiss — Of affection (Gen. 27:26, 27; 29:13; Luke 7:38, 45); reconciliation (Gen. 33:4; 2 Sam. 14:33); leave-taking (Gen. 31:28, 55; Ruth 1:14; 2 Sam. 19:39); homage (Ps. 2:12; 1 Sam. 10:1); spoken of as between parents and children (Gen. 27:26; 31:28, 55; 48:10; 50:1; Ex. 18:7; Ruth 1:9, 14); between male relatives (Gen. 29:13; 33:4; 45:15). It accompanied social worship as a symbol of brotherly love (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Pet. 5:14). The worship of idols was by kissing the image or the hand toward the image (1 Kings 19:18; Hos. 13:”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:31: For--The propagation of the Church from Christ, as that of Eve from Adam, is the foundation of the spiritual marriage. The natural marriage, wherein "a man leaves father and mother (the oldest manuscripts omit 'his') and is joined unto his wife," is not the principal thing meant here, but the spiritual marriage represented by it, and on which it rests, whereby Christ left the Father's bosom to woo to Himself the Church out of a lost world: Eph 5:32 proves this: His earthly mother as such, also, He holds in secondary account as compared with His spir”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:22: 5:22-33 Christian wives are to submit to their husbands, showing them respect. Equally important, Christian husbands are to love their wives (see Col 3:18-19). Christian marriages become a reflection of the union and relationship between the Lord and the church. 5:22 Submission is part of the life to which the wives’ Christian commitment calls them (see 1 Cor 11:3-10; 14:34-35; Col 3:18; 1 Tim 2:11-12; Titus 2:5; 1 Pet 3:1-6).”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 13:4: 13:4-7 This description of Christian love emphasizes the willingness to give up one’s own desires for the good of others (see also 8:1–10:33; Rom 5:6-8; 15:3; 2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:4-8).”
Ecclesiastes (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ecclesiastes 4:11: (See on Kg1 1:1). The image is taken from man and wife, but applies universally to the warm sympathy derived from social ties. So Christian ties (Luk 24:32; Act 28:15).”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 7:3: 7:3-4 Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, married Christians must always be considerate of the sexual needs of their spouses. Sexual intimacy is a mutual right for both spouses in a marriage and must not be withheld. Marriage includes yielding the authority over one’s body to one’s spouse, though such authority is clearly not to be abused.”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 13:13: 13:13 Faith, hope, and love are more important than spiritual gifts because they last forever (see also Rom 5:1-5; Gal 5:5-6; Col 1:4-5; 1 Thes 1:3; 5:8). Of the three, the greatest . . . is love, because love is the quintessential nature of God himself (see 1 Jn 4:7-12, 16-21). So love should epitomize our relationship with him and others.”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:25: "Thou hast seen the measure of obedience; now hear also the measure of love. Do you wish your wife to obey you, as the Church is to obey Christ? Then have a solicitude for her as Christ had for the Church (Eph 5:23, "Himself the Saviour of the body"); and "if it be necessary to give thy life for her, or to be cut in ten thousand pieces, or to endure any other suffering whatever, do not refuse it; and if you suffer thus, not even so do you do what Christ has done; for you indeed do so being already united to her, but He did so for one that treated Hi”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:25: 5:25-33 Christian husbands are to love their wives just as Christ loved the church—that is, sacrificially, for Christ gave up his life for her (5:2; cp. Col 3:19; 1 Pet 3:7).”

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