The Necessity of First Love in Christian Ministry

The concept of "first love" in Christian ministry is rooted in the biblical emphasis on love as a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith. Jesus commands his followers to "love one another" (John 13:34; 15:12; 1 John 3:23) ^[1]. This command is reiterated in various New Testament writings, including 2 John 1:5, where believers are urged to "love one another" as a commandment they have had from the beginning ^[3].

The importance of love in Christian ministry is highlighted in Paul's writings, particularly in 1 Corinthians 14:1, where he exhorts believers to "earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy" ^[2]. This emphasis on love is not limited to personal relationships but is also essential for effective ministry. According to Matthew Henry, the apostle Paul presses believers to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, with love being the great gospel precept ^[8].

The biblical concept of love is multifaceted, encompassing love for God, love for Christ, and love for one another. Love for God is characterized by devotion, obedience, and a deep affection for Him (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37) ^[4]. This love is not merely a feeling but is demonstrated through obedience to God's commandments (1 John 5:3). Love for Christ is similarly characterized by devotion and a willingness to follow His example (Ephesians 5:2) ^[1].

In the context of Christian ministry, love is essential for building and maintaining healthy relationships within the community of believers. As noted by Tyndale House, the church in Ephesus was commended for their orthodoxy and perseverance but rebuked for losing their "first love" (Revelation 2:4) ^[7]. This loss of first love is characterized by a decline in the dynamic, selfless love that is essential for Christian community.

The Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes the importance of brotherly love in Christian community. Henry notes that this love is not limited to a general affection for all humanity but is a special and spiritual affection that ought to exist among believers (Hebrews 13:1) ^[9]. This love is characterized by a deep concern for one another's well-being and a willingness to serve and support one another.

In Christian ministry, the necessity of first love is evident in the way it fosters unity, cooperation, and a sense of community among believers. As John Gill notes, God's love for His people is prior to their love for Him, and it is this love that enables believers to love one another (1 John 4:19) ^[6]. The edification of the church is also dependent on love, as it is the means by which believers are built up in their faith and encouraged to grow in their relationship with God (Ephesians 4:12-16) ^[5].

The various Christian traditions represented in the sources agree on the importance of love in Christian ministry. While there may be differences in emphasis or interpretation, the biblical emphasis on love as a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith is a common thread throughout. As Torrey's Topical Textbook notes, love is a fruit of the Spirit, a characteristic of saints, and essential for effective ministry (Galatians 5:22; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3) ^[1].

The historical development of the doctrine of love in Christian ministry is evident in the writings of the early church fathers and the Reformers. The emphasis on love as a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith has been a consistent theme throughout Christian history, with various traditions and interpretations emerging over time.

Sources

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”
I Corinthians “I Corinthians 14:1 (BSB) — Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.”
II John “II John 1:5 (BSB) — And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.”
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: Edification — Described -- Eph 4:12-16. Is the object of The ministerial office. -- Eph 4:11,12. Ministerial gifts. -- 1Co 14:3-5,12. Ministerial authority. -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. The Church's union in Christ. -- Eph 4:16. The gospel, the instrument of -- Ac 20:32. Love leads to -- 1Co 8:1. Exhortation to -- Jude 1:20,21. Mutual, commanded -- Ro 14:19; 1Th 5:11. All to be done to -- 2Co 12:19; Eph 4:29. Use self-denial to promote, in others -- 1Co 10:23,33. The peace of the Church favours -- Ac 9:31. Foolish questions opposed to -- 1Ti 1:4.”
1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 4:19: We love him, because he first loved us. Lest love to God, and so to one another, should be thought to be of ourselves, and too much be ascribed unto it, the apostle observes, that God's love to us is prior to our love to him; his love is from everlasting, as well as to everlasting; for he loves his people as he does his Son, and he loved him before the foundation of the world; his choosing them in Christ as early, and blessing them then with all spiritual blessings, the covenant of grace made with Christ from all eternity, the gift of grace to them in him before the w”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 2:4: 2:4 You don’t love me or each other as you did at first: When the church was first established, their love for Christ and for each other had been strong. Struggles with false teachers and persecution had caused that original love to grow cold. Correct theology, action, and even suffering (2:2-3) are just an empty shell of Christian life if dynamic love is absent (1 Cor 13).”
Philippians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Philippians 2:1: The apostle proceeds in this chapter where he left off in the last, with further exhortations to Christian duties. He presses them largely to like-mindedness and lowly-mindedness, in conformity to the example of the Lord Jesus, the great pattern of humility and love. Here we may observe, I. The great gospel precept passed upon us; that is, to love one another. This is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family. This he represents (Phi 2:2) by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. We are ”
Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 13:1: The design of Christ in giving himself for us is that he may purchase to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Now the apostle calls the believing Hebrews to the performance of many excellent duties, in which it becomes Christians to excel. I. To brotherly love (Heb 13:1), by which he does not only mean a general affection to all men, as our brethren by nature, all made of the same blood, nor that more limited affection which is due to those who are of the same immediate parents, but that special and spiritual affection which ought to exist among the ”

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