The Love Commandment in Scripture and Christian Ethics
The love commandment in Christian ethics is rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing love for God and love for neighbor as foundational principles [1, 2]. Jesus identified love for God as the "first great commandment," requiring devotion "with all the heart" (Matthew 22:37-38; Deuteronomy 6:5) [1]. This love for God is understood as producing obedience to divine commands, which are not considered burdensome [1, 4, 6].
Love for humanity is presented as the "second great commandment" (Matthew 22:37-39) [2]. This love is described as originating from God and is commanded by both God and Christ [2]. Jesus specifically commanded his followers to love one another, providing his own example as the standard (John 13:34; 15:12; Ephesians 5:2) [2]. The Apostle Paul further explains that "faith works by love" (Galatians 5:6) and that love is a "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22) [2].
The New Testament epistles frequently elaborate on the nature and implications of this love. First Corinthians 13:4-7 provides a detailed description of Christian love, highlighting its willingness to prioritize the good of others over personal desires [2, 11]. This love is an active and abiding principle, without which even supernatural gifts are considered meaningless (1 Corinthians 13:1-2, 8, 13) [2].
The connection between love and obedience is consistently emphasized. John states, "This is love, that we walk according to His commandments" (2 John 1:6) [3, 5]. This means that love is not merely an emotion but is demonstrated through adherence to God's will [8]. The "new commandment" of brotherly love, though present in earlier teachings, was renewed and given new emphasis by Christ, who provided a new argument and example for it [7, 9]. This commandment is seen as a singular, encompassing principle, where faith in Christ and love for one another are "indissolubly united" [10]. One cannot truly love others without faith in Christ, nor can one truly believe in Him without love [10].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to God — Commanded -- De 11:1; Jos 22:5. The first great commandment -- Mt 22:38. With all the heart -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Better than all sacrifices -- Mr 12:33. Produced by The Holy Spirit. -- Ga 5:22; 2Th 3:5. The love of God to us. -- 1Jo 4:19. Answers to prayer. -- Ps 116:1. Exhibited by Christ -- Joh 14:31. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 5:11. Should produce Joy. -- Ps 5:11. Love to saints. -- 1Jo 5:1. Hatred of sin. -- Ps 97:10. Obedience to God. -- De 30:20; 1Jo 5:3. Perfected in obedience -- 1Jo 2:5. Perfected, gives boldness -- 1Jo 4:17,18. God, faith”
- 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”
- II John “II John 1:6 (BSB) — And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.”
- I John “I John 5:3 (Rotherham) — For, this is the love of God—that, his commandments, we be keeping, and, his commandments, are not burdensome;”
- 2 John “This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. -- 2 John 1:6”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 5:3: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments,.... Keeping of the commandments of God is an evidence of love to God; this shows that love is not in word and tongue, in profession only, but in deed and in truth; and that such persons have a sense of the love of God upon their souls, under the influence of which they act; and such shall have, and may expect to have, greater manifestations of the love of God unto them: and his commandments are not grievous; heavy, burdensome, and disagreeable; by which are meant, not so much the precepts of the moral law, w”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 2:8: a new commandment--It was "old," in that Christians as such had heard it from the first; but "new" (Greek, "kaine," not "nea": new and different from the old legal precept) in that it was first clearly promulgated with Christianity; though the inner spirit of the law was love even to enemies, yet it was enveloped in some bitter precepts which caused it to be temporarily almost unrecognized, till the Gospel came. Christianity first put love to brethren on the new and highest MOTIVE, instinctive love to Him who first loved us, constraining us to love all,”
- 2 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 John 1:6: And this is love - That is, our love is shown and proved by our walking according to the commandments of God; for love is the principle of obedience.”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 2:8: Again, a new commandment I write unto you,.... Which is the same with the former, considered in different respects. The command of brotherly love is a new one; that is, it is an excellent one, as a new name is an excellent name, and a new song is an excellent one; it is renewed by Christ under the Gospel dispensation; it is newly explained by him, and purged from the false glosses of the Scribes and Pharisees; see Mat 5:43; and enforced by him with a new argument, and by a new example of his own, even his own love to his people; and which is observed by them in a new m”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:23: Summing up of God's commandments under the Gospel dispensation in one commandment. this is his commandment--singular: for faith and love are not separate commandments, but are indissolubly united. We cannot truly love one another without faith in Christ, nor can we truly believe in Him without love. believe--once for all; Greek aorist. on the name of his Son--on all that is revealed in the Gospel concerning Him, and on Himself in respect to His person, offices, and atoning work. as he--as Jesus gave us commandment.”
- 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).”