TensesandsensesoftheGreek

()intheOT(Psalms),
() in the OT (Psalms)
asexplainedintheNT(James)
Calin Popescu
Phd student,UniversityofPitesti,
student, University of Pitesti,
(Romania)

Inordertomakeiteasiertofollowandunderstand,Iwillstartbytellingyouwhattriggeredthislittle
investigationofmine.Itwasareadingheardinthechurch,fromtheGospelaccordingtoLuke,chapter7.
Luke7(KJV)
36 AndoneofthePhariseesdesiredhimthathewouldeatwithhim.AndhewentintothePharisee'shouse,andsat
A d
f th Ph i
d i d hi th t h
ld t ith hi A d h
t i t th Ph i ' h
d t

downtomeat.
37 And,behold,awomaninthecity,whichwasasinner,whensheknewthatJesussatatmeatinthePharisee'shouse,
broughtanalabasterboxofointment,
38 Andstoodathisfeetbehindhimweeping,andbegantowashhisfeetwithtears,anddidwipethemwiththehairsof
herhead,andkissedhisfeet,andanointedthemwiththeointment.
,
,
39 NowwhenthePhariseewhichhadbiddenhimsawit,hespake withinhimself,saying,Thisman,ifhewereaprophet,
wouldhaveknownwhoandwhatmannerofwomanthisisthattoucheth him:forsheisasinner.
40 AndJesusansweringsaiduntohim,Simon,Ihavesomewhattosayuntothee.Andhesaith,Master,sayon.

Therewasacertaincreditorwhichhadtwodebtors:theoneowedfivehundredpence,andtheother
fifty.
42 Andwhentheyhadnothingtopay,hefranklyforgavethemboth.Tellmetherefore,whichofthem
willlovehimmost?
41

43 Simonansweredandsaid,Isupposethat

he,towhomheforgavemost.Andhesaiduntohim,Thouhast

rightlyjudged.
44 Andheturnedtothewoman,andsaiduntoSimon,Seest
,
,
thouthiswoman?Ienteredintothine house,thougavest
,
g
menowaterformyfeet:butshehathwashedmyfeetwithtears,andwipedthemwiththehairsofherhead.
45 Thougavest menokiss:butthiswomansincethetimeIcameinhathnotceasedtokissmyfeet.
46 Myheadwithoilthoudidstnotanoint:butthiswomanhathanointedmyfeetwithointment.
47 WhereforeIsayuntothee,Hersins,whicharemany,areforgiven;for sheloved much( ):
buttowhomlittleisforgiven,thesameloveth
g
little.
Onthefaceofit,thepassageseemsasifthetenseiswrong,becauseofeitheramistranslation,oranellipsis(asBible
Works9says).Wehavetoseeanotherpassage,inordertounderstandbetterthelogicofthisone.

Mark2(KJV) SeealsoMt.918,Lk.5,1726.
1

AndagainheenteredintoCapernaumaftersomedays;anditwasnoisedthathewasinthehouse.

2 Andstraightwaymanyweregatheredtogether,insomuchthattherewasnoroomtoreceivethem,no,

notsomuchasaboutthedoor:andhepreachedtheworduntothem.
3 Andtheycomeuntohim,bringingonesickofthepalsy,whichwasborneoffour.
4 Andwhentheycouldnotcomenighuntohimforthepress,theyuncoveredtheroofwherehewas:
and when they had broken it up they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay
andwhentheyhadbrokenitup,theyletdownthebedwhereinthesickofthepalsylay.
5 WhenJesussawtheirfaith,hesaiduntothesickofthepalsy,Son,thysinsbeforgiventhee.
6 Buttherewascertainofthescribessittingthere,andreasoningintheirhearts,
7 Whydoththismanthusspeakblasphemies?whocanforgivesinsbutGodonly?

8 AndimmediatelywhenJesusperceivedinhisspiritthattheysoreasonedwithinthemselves,hesaid
y
p
p
y
,

untothem,Whyreasonyethesethingsinyourhearts?
9 Whetherisiteasiertosaytothesickofthepalsy,Thysinsbeforgiventhee;ortosay,Arise,andtake
upthybed,andwalk?
10 ButthatyemayknowthattheSonofmanhathpoweronearthtoforgivesins,(hesaith

the sick of the palsy )

thesickofthepalsy,)

11 Isayuntothee,Arise,andtakeupthybed,andgothywayintothine

to

house.

12 Andimmediatelyhearose(),tookupthebed,andwentforthbeforethemall;

insomuchthattheywereallamazed,andglorifiedGod,saying,Weneversawitonthisfashion.

Wecanseetheremustbeanaorist,becauseitservesasaproof.Sodontrushtothinkitisjusta
Greek/Hebrewmannerofspeaking.(Anyway,itisthelanguageinwhichthedivineRevelationwas
transmittedtous,soitmustcontainapartofthetruth).Itisclearlyapasttense.

Now,howcomesitthatthelovecanbeinthepasttense?Isntiteternal?And,especially,isntitinthepresenttense?Itisstrikingto
seeinthePsalmsofSeptuagint(which manyseemtoforget isaJewish text,confirmedbyitsuseintheJewishcommunities
throughouttheworld,fromtheRometoJerusalem)directdeclarationsoflovetowardsGod, madeonlyinapasttense(indicative
aorist)andinthefuture.
(Ps. 114:1 LXX)
Ihavelovedthe Lord,because he will hear the voice ofmy supplication
(Ilove the Lord,because he hath heard my voice and my supplication KJV)
(Ps.
(Ps 17:1 LXX)
(Iwilllovethee,OLord,my strength KJV)
Iloveyou (thereareveryfewexceptions discussedlater)
Now, lets imagine how would these declarations sound towards a woman:
Do you love me, darling?
I will love you. Or: I loved you.
Or: I loved you. Marry me.
You must know the song of Elvis Presley, "It's Now Or Never
It's now or never,
come hold me tight
Kiss me my darling,
be mine tonight
Tomorrow will be too late,
it's now or never
My love won't wait.
In the love between man and woman, it is the present that matters

Letshavealookatwhathavebeensaidaboutthistwoloves.

Denis de Rougemont, in his influential Lamour et loccident analyses myths and love stories like Tristrams and
Romeo and Juliets, which he compares to the Gospel. He jumps to the conclusions (a little bit far-fetched, in my
opinion), that the heresy of cathares is connected with the courtly love of the troubadours
Lamistique dOccidentestuneautrepassiondontlelangagemtaphoriqueestparfoistrangementsemblableceluide
d
d
d
l l
h
f
bl bl l d
lamourcourtois.

and what I dislike more any

y form of mysticism
y
((which for him is something
g bad,, not serious)) derives from the
pagan worship of Eros (but he mentions only Meister Eckhart).
Hehasaveryinterestingandverywellwrittenfinalchapter,whichhasbeenreferredtobymanyotherimportantscholars:

rossauvparAgap
Alorslamourdecharit,lamourchrtien,quiestAgap,paratenfindanssapleinestature:ilestlaffirmationdeltre.Et
cestros,lamourpassion,lamourpaen,quiarpandudansnotremondeoccidentallepoisondelascseidaliste tout
ce quun Nietzsche injustement reproche au christianisme Cest ros et non pas Agap qui a glorifi notre instinct de mort
cequunNietzscheinjustementreprocheauchristianisme.Cestros,etnonpasAgap,quiaglorifinotreinstinctdemort,
etquiavoulul idaliser .MaisAgapsevengedrosenlesauvant.CarAgapnesaitpasdtruireetneveutpasmme
dtruirecequidtruit. Jeneveuxpaslamortdupcheur,maissavie.
*
rossasservitlamortparcequilveutexalterlavieaudessusdenotreconditionfinieetlimitedecratures.Ainsile
mmemouvementquifaitquenousadorons lavienousprcipitedanssangation.Cestlaprofondemisre,ledsespoir
dros,saservitudeinexprimable: enlexprimant,Agaplendlivre.Agapsoitquelavieterrestreettemporellene
mritepasd'treadore,nimmetue,maipeuttreacceptedansl'obissancelternel.Caraprstoutcesticibas
quenotresortsejoue.Cestsurlaterrequilfautaimeretrecevoirlepardon.Audel,ilnyaurapaslaNuitdivinisante,
mais le Jugement du Crateur
maisleJugementduCrateur.

Lhommenaturelnepouvaitpas limaginer.Iltaitdonccondamncroireros,cest direseconfierdanssondsirlepluspuissant,lui

demanderladlivrance.Etlrosnepouvaitleconduirequlamort.MaislhommequicroitlarvlationdelAgapvoit soudainlecercle
souvrir:ilestdlivrparlafoidesareligionnaturelle.Ilpeut maintenantesprerautrechose,ilsoitquilestuneautredlivrancedupch.
Etvoiciquelrosasontoursevoitrelevdesafonctionmortelleetdlivrdesondestin.Dsquilcessedtreundieu,ilcessed'treun
dmon. EtilretrouvesajusteplacedanslconomieprovisoiredelaCration,delhumain
Lepaennepouvaitautrementquedefaireundieudelros:ctaitsonpouvoirleplusfort,leplusdangereuxetleplusmystrieux,leplus
profondmentliaufaitdevivre.TouteslesreligionspaennesdivinisentleDsir.Toutescherchentunappuiparlmme,lepireennemidela
vie,lasductionduRien.MaisdslorsqueleVerbesenfaitchairetquilnousaparlenmotshumains,nousavonsappriscettenouvelle:ce
nestpaslhommequidoitsedlivrerluimme,cestDieuquilaaimlepremier,etquisestapprochdelui.Lesalutnestplusaudel,
toujoursplushaut,danslascensioninterminableduDsirquiconsumelavie,maisicibas,danslobissancelaParole.
*
Etquaurionsnousalorscraindredudsir?Celaseulement:quilnousdtournedobir.Maisilperd sapuissanceabsoluequandnous
cessonsdelediviniser.Etcestcequattestelexpriencedelafidlitdanslemariage.Carcettefidlitsefondejustementsurlerefusinitialet
juredecultiverlesillusionsdelapassion,deleurrendreuncultesecret,etdenattendreunmystrieuxsurcroitdevie.
Jessaieraidelefaireconcevoirparlexamendunfaitconnu.Lechristianismeaproclamlgalitparfaitedessexes,etceladelamanirelaplus
prcise:
Lafemmenapasautoritsursonproprecorps,maiscestlamari;etpareillementlemarinapasautoritsursonproprecorps,maiscestlafemme(ICor.7)

Lafemmetantlgaledelhomme,ellenepeutdonctrelebutdelhomme.Enmmetemps,ellechappealabaissementbestialquitt
outardestlaranondunedivinationdelacrature.Maiscettegalitnedoitpastreentendueausensmoderneetrevendicateur.Elle
procdedumystredelamour.EllenestquelesigneetladmonstrationdutriomphedAgapesurEros.Carlamourrellementrciproque
exigeetcrelgalitdeceuxquisaiment.DieumanifestesonamourpourlhommeenexigeantquelhommesoitsaintcommeDieuestsaint.
Etlhommetmoignedesonamourpourunefemmeenlatraitantcommeunepersonnehumainetotale, noncommeunefedelalgende,
midessemibaccante,rveetsexe.
Maisremontonsdecesprmissesgnralesalapsychologielaplusconcrtedelarelationdesgaux.Lexercicedelafidlitenversune
femmeaccoutumeconsidrerlesautresfemmesdunemaniretoutafaitnouvelle,inconnuedumondedelEros:commedespersonnes,non
pluscommedesrefletsoudesobjets.Cetexercicespiritueldveloppedesfacultsneuvesdejugement,depossessiondesoietderespect.

TheproblemisthatsometimesitseemsChristcametoEarthanddiedonthecrossjusttosaveDenisdeRougemont
p
j
g
fromdivorce notto
giveustheeternallife,wheretherewillbenomarriage.

Anotherimportantbook,byC.S.Lewis(onewhoseemtobeinfluentialinmanyfields hewas
evenamemberinacommissionfortherevisionofthePsalms),TheFourLoves,dividesthelove according
toits fourGreekverbs:,,/
,
, / and

//

acaseofexcessinrespecting
p
g
theoriginallanguageoftheRevelation.
Hehassomebrilliantobservationsandahandofanexcellentwriter.ButthechapteraboutAgape (or
Charity) istheshortestone,andbyfarthemostbanal.HeisverycarefultosaythattheactofVenusisnot
tootrivialtobetransformedinaworkofCharityandtodisagreethemedievalguidesbecausetheywere
f
f
y
g
g
y
allcelibates,andthereforecouldntunderstandErosandsexuality.Infacthetriestoprove,likeDenisde
Rougemont,whomhequotes,thatAgapeisasortofperfectioninmarriage.
Anyway,twoofhisremarksshouldbekeptforourinvestigation:
1))
ThedistinctionbetweentheNeedlove(ofachildforhismother)andtheGiftlove(ofamanwho
(
)
(
worksforthewellbeingofhisfamily) hedefendsbothaslegitimate.
2)
WhenNeedpleasuresareinquestionwetendtomakestatementsinthepasttense.Thethirstyman
whohasjustdrunkoffatumblerofwatermaysay,ByJove,Iwanted that.

D. A. Carson is one among those who noticed that the Greek dictionary has nothing to do with the nature of
love. Especially that the Bible itself seems sometimes to mix up and , (and even I will
show it below). He thinks was selected to be filled with a special signification because it was less used
(The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God).

AnotherimportantbookwhichhastobementionwaswrittenbyAndersNygren a
professorofsystematictheologywhowroteaserioustreaty(AgapeandEros),inthree
volumes about what he calls the Christian
volumes,aboutwhathecallsthe
Christianideaoflove
idea of love,or
or the
theideaofAgapein
idea of Agape in
Christianity,atechnicaltermintroducedbyPaul.Henotonlyseparatesitclearlyfrom
eros,
ItisafactbeyondcontradictionthattheideasofErosandAgapebelongtotwo
differentspiritualworlds.Theydonotstandforthesamethingintheirrespective
contexts,norcantheyunderanycircumstancesberightlytreatedassynonyms.
Theremustsurelybesomereasoninthederivationandtheprevioushistoryofthetwo
wordstoaccountfortheevidentfactthatwhileNTmakeslargeuseofthewordAgape,
itconsistentlyavoidsthewordEros.
butalsotrymakeitdenominationallycorrect(agapecanbefoundonlyinhisdenomination).
Allthiskindsofbookstreatloveasanabstractconcept(identified,withageneral
p (
g
Christianity),butseparatedfromcontext,andanalysed inthesamewayasanypaganterm.

As to define love is impossible, once we accepted that God is Love, the only thing we can do is to look at what
Scriptures tells us about it, and about managing it, in the sense of the command Love thy neighbour as
thyself (Lev. 19, 18)
In Genesis we find

()

((the difference from the hebrew ahev is minor)) describing

g human love or
mans most important desires/pleasures.
Genesis22:2 (
inKJV:whomthoulovest)
(Gen22:2LXX)
Andhesaid,Takethyson,thebelovedone,whomthouhastloved Isaac,andgointothehighland,andofferhimthere
forawholeburntofferingononeofthemountainswhichIwilltelltheeof. (Gen22:2LXXtranslation Brenton)

LXT Genesis24:67
LXT
Genesis 24:67

KJVGenesis24:67

AndIsaacbroughtherintohismotherSarah'stent,andtookRebekah,andshebecamehiswife;and
helovedher:andIsaacwascomfortedafterhismother'sdeath.
LXA Genesis24:67
LXA
G
i 24 67 AndIsaacwentintothehouseofhismother,andtookRebecca,andshebecamehiswife,andheloved
A dI
t i t th h
f hi
th
dt kR b
d h b
hi if
dh l d
her;andIsaacwascomfortedforSarrha hismother.
WeseethattheloveofIsaacforRebeccaisprovenbytheplacesheisgiven(thetentofIsaacsmother).SoIsaacdoesnt
know her(ratheradepreciativeword),butloves
her (rather a depreciative word) but loves her.
her
Know soundslikefindingoutwhatIvetriedtohide,myemptiness.AdamdoesntloveEve.Sheissimplythere,andbuild
tobenaturallyloved.Evelostsomething.SheisnomoresurprisingforAdam.ButIsaaclovesRebecca.

LXT
KJV
LXE

LXT
KJV
LXE

Genesis 25:28
Genesis 25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob
Genesis 25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because his venison was his food, but Rebecca loved Jacob.

Genesis 29:20
Genesis 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
Genesis 29:20 And Jacob served for Rachel seven years, and they were before him as a few days, by reason of his loving her.

LXT

Genesis
G
i 29:32
29 32

KJV Genesis 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath
looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
LXE Genesis 29:32 And Lea conceived and bore a son to Jacob; and she called his name, Ruben; saying, Because the Lord has
looked on my humiliation
humiliation, and has given me a son
son, now then my husband will love me
me.

KJV

Genesis 34:2-4 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her,
and defiled her. And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
AndShechem spake untohisfatherHamor,saying,Getmethisdamseltowife.
LXA Genesis 34:2-4 And Sychem the son of Emmor the Evite, the ruler of the land, saw her, and took her and lay with her, and
humbled her. AndhewasattachedtothesoulofDinathedaughterofJacob,andheloved()thedamsel,andhespokekindlytothe
damsel.Sychem spoketoEmmor hisfather,saying,Takeformethisdamseltowife.

LXT Genesis37:3
LXT
G
i 37 3
KJVGenesis37:3

NowIsraelloved Josephmorethanallhischildren,becausehewasthesonofhisoldage:andhemadehimacoatofmany

colours.
(Atleastthisiswhathisbrotherssaid).
LXTGenesis44:20
Genesis 44:20

KJVGenesis44:20 Andwesaiduntomylord,Wehaveafather,anoldman,andachildofhisoldage,alittleone;andhisbrotherisdead,andhe
aloneisleftofhismother,andhisfatherloveth him.

In Exodus, (before the receiving the commandment), we are told about the love for God

LXTExodus20:6

Andshewing
d h
mercyuntothousandsofthemthatloveme,andkeepmycommandments.
h
d f h
h l
dk
d
LXAExodus20:6 andbestowingmercyonthemthatlovemetothousandsofthem,andonthemthatkeepmy
commandments.
KJV Exodus20:6
KJV
d

and we are g
given the example
p of a man who loves his kind master,, his wife and children more than his liberty.
y

LXTExodus21:5

Andiftheservantshallplainlysay,Ilovemymaster,mywife,andmychildren;Iwillnotgooutfree:
LXA Exodus21:5
LXA
Exodus 21:5 Andiftheservantshouldanswerandsay,Ilovemymasterandwifeandchildren,Iwillnotgoawayfree;
And if the servant should answer and say I love my master and wife and children I will not go away free;

KJVExodus21:5

And his ear is to be pierced so that it wont hear any words about freedom anymore (a commentary from
Philokalia)

Conclusion 1:
Loves are all the same, as the soul of man is one.

Conclusion 2:
The first, the main danger for the man is to love others more than himself, not being selfish enough.

Then comes the second danger: to have no love for the poor, and for the weak.

LXTLeviticus

19:18

KJVLeviticus19:18
Leviticus 19:18

Thou shalt notavenge,norbearanygrudgeagainstthechildrenofthypeople,butthoushalt

Thoushalt
not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people but thou shalt lovethyneighbour
love thy neighbour asthyself:IamtheLORD.
as thyself: I am the LORD

LXELeviticus19:18

Andthyhandshallnotavengethee;andthoushalt notbeangrywiththechildrenofthypeople;andthoushalt lovethyneighbour asthyself;I

amtheLord.

LXTLeviticus 19:34

KJVLeviticus19:34

Butthestrangerthatdwelleth withyoushallbeuntoyouasonebornamongyou,andthoushalt lovehimasthyself;foryewerestrangersin

thelandofEgypt:IamtheLORDyourGod.

LXELeviticus19:34

Thestrangerthatcomestoyoushallbeamongyouasthenative,andthoushalt lovehimasthyself;foryewerestrangersinthelandofEgypt:
IamtheLordyourGod.

The exegetes have noticed that the the word neighbor refers to a wide range of persons with whom Israel would have had relationships.
The persons Israel is obligated to care for are described as:: the poor, the alien, the neighbour, the labourer, the deaf, the blind, the
fellow citizen (Balentine Leviticus.)
Here we could add, from the opposite perspective: thekind master, the wife,the other women, the children, the friends, and even, later, the lame
and blind, who were Davids enemies, and tried by touching his heart to deter him from doing his duty (2 Sam. 5, 8)

This command is put up against vengeance and grudge , says Basil Atkinson (The Book of Leviticus) . And only in the next book (Deutoronomy)
we will be taught in the about the love for God (the first commandment) without which, this second commandment may be misleading and
misunderstood. Only if we love God (and Gods image in the neighbour) we will want to share with the neighbor our good, not our evil or sin. (Ben
Azzai)

LXT

Deuteronomy 7:8

KJV Deuteronomy 7:8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your
fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of
Pharaoh king
g of Egypt.
gyp
LXE Deuteronomy 7:8 But because the Lord loved you, and as keeping the oath which he sware to your fathers, the Lord brought
you out with a strong hand, and the Lord redeemed thee from the house of bondage, out of the hand of Pharao king of Egypt.
LXT

Deuteronomy 7:13

LXE Deuteronomy 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee; and he will bless the off-spring of thy body, and the
fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the herds of thine oxen, and the flocks of thy sheep, on the land which the
Lord sware to thy fathers to give to thee.
LXT Deuteronomy10:12
LXT
Deuteronomy 10:12

LXEDeuteronomy10:12 Andnow,Israel,whatdoestheLordthyGodrequireofthee,buttofeartheLordthyGod,andto
walkinallhisways,andtolovehim,andtoservetheLordthyGodwithallthyheart,andwithallthysoul;

LXTDeuteronomy10:15

LXEDeuteronomy10:15
Deuteronomy 10:15 OnlytheLordchoseyourfatherstolovethem,andhechoseouttheirseedafterthem,evenyou,
Only the Lord chose your fathers to love them and he chose out their seed after them even you
beyondallnations,asatthisday.
KJVDeuteronomy10:15 OnlytheLORDhadadelightinthyfatherstolovethem,andhechosetheirseedafterthem,even
youaboveallpeople,asitisthisday.

LXT

Deuteronomy 10:18
executingjudgmentforthestrangerandorphanandwidow,andhelovesthestrangertogivehimfoodandraiment.
KJVDeuteronomy10:18 Hedothexecutethejudgmentofthefatherlessandwidow,andloveth thestranger,ingivinghimfoodandraiment.
LXT Deuteronomy 11:1


LXEDeuteronomy11:1 Thereforethoushalt lovetheLordthyGod,andshalt observehisappointments,andhisordinances,andhis
commandments,andhisjudgments,always.
LXT Deuteronomy 11:13

LXEDeuteronomy11:13NowifyewillindeedhearkentoallthecommandswhichIchargetheethisday,tolovetheLordthyGod,andtoserve
hi
himwithallthyheart,andwithallthysoul,
i h ll h h
d i h ll h
l
LXEDeuteronomy10:18

LXTDeuteronomy11:22

LXEDeuteronomy11:22 Anditshallcometopassthatifyewillindeedhearkentoallthesecommands,whichIchargetheetoobservethisday,
to love the Lord our God and to walk in all his ways and to cleave close to him;
tolovetheLordourGod,andtowalkinallhisways,andtocleaveclosetohim;
LXTDeuteronomy19:9

LXEDeuteronomy19:9 ifthoushalt hearkentodoallthesecommands,whichIchargetheethisday,tolovetheLordthyGod,towalkinallhis
wayscontinually;thoushalt addforthyselfyetthreecitiestothesethree.
LXTDeuteronomy30:16

LXEDeuteronomy30:16 IfthouwilthearkentothecommandsoftheLordthyGod,whichIcommandtheethisday,tolovetheLordthyGod,to
walkinallhisways,andtokeephisordinances,andhisjudgments;thenyeshalllive,andshallbemanyinnumber,andthe
lk i ll hi
dt k
hi di
d hi j d
t th
h ll li
d h ll b
i
b
d th LordthyGodshall
L d th G d h ll
blesstheeinallthelandintowhichthougoest toinheritit.
LXTJoshua22:5

LXEJoshua22:5 Buttakegreatheedtodothecommandsandthelaw,whichMosestheservantoftheLordcommandedyoutodo;tolovethe
LordourGod,towalkinallhisways,tokeephiscommands,andtocleavetohim,andservehimwithallyourmind,andwith allyoursoul.

LXT

Joshua 23:11
Joshua 23:11 And take ye great heed to love the Lord our God.
LXT Joshua 23:12

LXE Joshua 23:12 For if ye shall turn aside and attach yourselves to these nations that are left with you, and make marriages with
them, and become mingled with them and they with you,
LXE

LXT

Deuteronomy 30:6

LXE Deuteronomy 30:6 And the Lord shall purge thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Love can be commanded because it signifies not only an emotion or attitude, but also deeds Jacob Milgrom (Leviticus). To do good as you would do for youself,
Seeking for your brother what is good for him.
And it even carries precise legal meaning: preference and promotion to an exclusive status of primacy (among wives). While its antonym hate denotes the legal
status
t t off divorce.
di
Ones love towards ones lord or spouse requires some form of contractual obligation, whereas hate involves a formal renunciation of such responsibility

DeuteronomyisincreasinglyclearaboutthelovebetweenmanandGod.
We see that always claiming love is supported by evidence:
Man serves God and obeys his commandments. God protect the man with His mighty hand.
Because it cannot be conceived apart from its evidence, love has to be talked about in a past tense.

The Suffix conjugation qatal, which points to the past time, to a completed action, and expresses a fact (J. Sawyer), is almost
always translated by the punctiliniar aorist. While yiktol is translated mostly by future.

Buist Fanning (VerbalAspect inNewTestamentGreek)includes amongtheverbsofactivecognition,mentalattitude,oremotional

state.Iam happier with his good distinction between activities and performances, or, as he put it, actionswhichareunbounded
(activities) and actionswhicharebounded(performances).
thedifferencebetweenboundedandunboundedexpressionsfocusesonwhethertheexpressionincludesalimitorterminusfortheactionor
not.
aterminalpointatwhichtheactionisfinished,notjustended.
Thebiblicallove,orcovenantallovecanalsofallintothecathegory ofperformances.

TheBibleneverallowsustothinkloveisanemptyword.

InMalachiGodcanevenbeaskedhowdidheshowhisloveforhispeople
LXTMalachi1:23

,
LXEMalachi1:23

Ihavelovedyou,saith theLord.Andyesaid,Whereinhastthoulovedus?WasnotEsauJacob'sbrother?saith theLord:yetI

llovedJacob,andhatedEsauandlaidwastehisborders,andmadehisheritageasdwellingsofthewilderness?
dJ b dh t dE
d l id
t hi b d
d d hi h it
d lli
f th ild
?
(Forthisisnecessaryitisinthepasttense)

What is asked from us is to love God with all heart. So there will be no room left in our heart but to love others
as ourselves - as a rabbinic commentary says (Ben Azzai), because we are all one body.
We are given some examples of injustice done because men love others more than themseves a love taken
from the love of God.

WefindthefamouspassageOnlyherewefindthepresentindicativeform
LXT2Samuel13:4

LXE2Samuel13:4

Andhesaidtohim,Whatailstheethatthouartthusweak?Osonoftheking,morningbymorning?
wiltthounottellme?andAmmon said,IloveThemar thesisterofmybrotherAbessalom.

LXT1Kings3:3
1 Kings 3:3

LXE1Kings3:3

AndSolomonlovedtheLord,soastowalkintheordinancesofDavidhisfather;onlyhesacrificedand
burntincenseonthehighplaces.

LXT1Kings11:2

LXE1Kings11:2

ofthenationsconcerningwhomtheLordforbadethechildrenofIsrael,saying,Yeshallnotgointo
them,andtheyshallnotcomeintoyou,lesttheyturnawayyourheartsaftertheiridols:Solomonclavetotheseinlove.

LXT

Judges 14:16


LXE Judges
g 14:16 And Sampson's
p
wife wept
p before him,, and said,, Thou dost but hate me,,
and lovest me not; for the riddle which thou hast propounded to the children of my people
thou hast not told me: and Sampson said to her, If I have not told it to my father and my
mother, shall I tell it to thee?
LXT

Judges 16:4

LXE Judges 16:4 And it came to pass after this that he loved a woman in Alsorech, and her
name was Dalida.
LXT Judges 16:15

LXE Judges 16:15 And Dalida said to Sampson, How sayest thou, I love thee, when thy heart
is not with me? this third time thou hast deceived me, and hast not told me wherein is thy
great strength.
LXT

1 Samuel 1:5

LXE 1 Samuel 1:5 And to Anna he g
gave a p
prime p
portion,, because she had no child,, only
y
Helkana loved Anna more than the other; but the Lord had closed her womb.

David islovedbySaul(16,21)Jonathan(18,1), Michal(18,20),andallIsrael,becauseheledthemintheircampaigns(18.16).

And DavidcallsSaulandJonathan:
LXT 2 Samuel 1:23

LXE

2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan, the beloved and the beautiful, were not divided: comely were they in their life, and in their death they were not divided:
they were swifter than eagles, and they were stronger than lions.
And says, about Jonathan:
LXT 2 Samuel 1:26
LXE 2 Samuel 1:26 I am grieved for thee, my brother Jonathan; thou wast very lovely to me; thy love to me was wonderful beyond the love of women.
As for him, he anticipates the commandments of Christ:
2 Samuel 19:7

LXT

LXE

2 Samuel 19:6 forasmuch as thou lovest them that hate thee, and hatest them that love thee; and thou hast this day declared, that thy princes and thy
servants are nothing in thy sight: for I know this day, that if Abessalom were alive, and all of us dead to-day, then it would have been right in thy sight.

In the Psalms where Love is most present, in the Bible, Love is also conceptualized, Besides the direct declaration
mentioned, we find that God lovesconceptslikerighteousness andjustice,andhateswickedness,whilemanlovesGods
law,Godscommandments,Godssalvation andtruth.
Th two
The
t
main
i danger
d
for
f him
hi is
i to
t love
l
vain
i things,
thi
or th
the ultimately,
lti t l
XTPsalm51:5

LXEPsalm52:3 Thouhastlovedwickednessmorethangoodness;unrighteousnessbetterthan
to speak righteousness
tospeakrighteousness.

LXTPsalm4:3

LXEPsalm4:2 Oyesonsonmen,howlongwillyebeslowofheart?whereforedoyelovevanity,
andseekfalsehood?
And to love ,
without any proofs:
LXTPsalm77:36

LXE Psalm78:36
LXE
Psalm 78:36

Yet they loved him (only) with their mouth and lied to him with their tongue
Yettheylovedhim(only)withtheirmouth,andliedtohimwiththeirtongue.

Now,intheNewTestament,JesussaidthesetwoaretheessenceoftheLaw.Andagapao isstilleverywhere
(with some marginal mostly negative exceptions) The word is used in the same way) in the past tense Even
(withsomemarginal,mostlynegativeexceptions)Thewordisusedinthesameway)inthepasttense.Even
PeterdarenottoanswerJesus but , as hecouldshownoevidenceofit.
KJVJohn21:15 Sowhentheyhaddined,Jesussaith toSimonPeter,Simon,sonofJonas,lovest thoumemore
thanthese?Hesaith untohim,Yea,Lord;thouknowest thatIlovethee.
SCRJohn21:15
John 21:15
,
,
,
,

NowaboutJames.FirstletuswhoJameswas,toseewhetherwecanbelittlehimornot questioningeverythinghesaid,andevenhis
righttousethrice (mybelovedbrethren KJV),initsproper sense,notasanequivalenttoaformalgreeting,my
fellows,orasamark ofatransitiontonewsubjectmatter (LohHatton)
((Jam1:19BNT))
Hegesippus also,whoflourishednearestthedaysoftheApostles,inthefifthbookofhisCommentariesgivesthemostaccurateaccountof
himthus:ButJames,thebrotheroftheLord,who,asthereweremanyofthisname,wassurnamedtheJustbyall,fromthedays ofour
Lorduntilnow,receivedthegovernmentoftheChurchwiththeApostles.ThisApostlewasconsecratedfromhismotherswomb. He drank
neitherwinenorfermentedliquors,andabstainedfromanimalfood.Arazornevercameuponhishead,heneveranointedwithoil,he
neverusedabath.Healonewasallowedtoenterthesanctuary.Heneverworewoollen,butlinengarments.Hewasinthehabitof
enteringtheTemplealone,andwasoftenfounduponhisbendedknees,andintercedingfortheforgivenessofthepeople;sothat his
kneesbecamehardascamelsinconsequenceofhishabitualsupplication,and,indeed,onaccountofhisexceedinggreatpiety,hewas
calledtheJust,andOblias (orZaddick andOzleam),whichsignifiesjusticeandprotectorofthepeople.Someofthesevensectsofhe
peoplementionedbymeaboveinmycommentaries,askedhimwhatwasthedoortoJesus?AndheansweredthathewastheSaviour.
FromwhichsomebelievedthatJesuswastheChristTheycamethereforetogether,andsaidtoJames,Weentreattheerestrainthe
peoplewhoareledastrayafterJesus,forwehaveconfidenceinthee.Forweandallthepeoplebeartestimonythatthouart just,and
thourespectest notpersons.PersuadethereforethepeoplenottobeledastraybyJesus,forweallthepeoplegavegreatconfidencein
thee.StandthereforeuponawingoftheTemplethatthoumayest beconspicuousonhigh,andthywordsmaybeeasilyheardbyallthe
people.TheaforesaidScribesandPhariseesthereforeplacedJamesonawingoftheTemple,andcriedouttohim,Othoujustman,
whomweoughtalltobelieve,sincethepeopleareledastrayafterJesusthatwascrucified,declaretouswhatisthedoortoJesusthat
wascrucified?Andheansweredwithaloudvoice,WhydoyeaskmerespectingJesustheSonofman?Heisnowsittingintheheavens
ifi d? A d h
d ith l d i Wh d
k
ti J
th S
f
?H i
itti i th h
ontherighthandofgreatPower,andisabouttocomeonthecloudsofheaven.Andasmanywereconfirmedandgloriedinthis
testimonyofJames,andsaidHosannatotheSonofDavid,thesesamepriestsandPhariseessaidtooneanother,Wehavedonebadly
inaffordingsuchtestimonytoJesus,butletusgoupandcasthimdown,thattheymaydreadtobelieveinhim.Andtheycried out,Oh,
oh,Justushimselfisdeceived;andgoingup,therefore,theycastdownthejustman,sayingtooneanother,LetusstoneJamestheJust;
and they began to stone him and turning round he knelt down saying IIentreatthee,OLordGodandFather,forgivethem,for
andtheybegantostonehim,and,turninground,hekneltdownsaying,
entreat thee O Lord God and Father forgive them for they
they
knownotwhattheydo.Andoneofthem,afuller,beatoutthebrainsofJustuswiththeclubthatheusedtobeatupclothes.Thushe
sufferedmartyrdom.SuchisthemoreampletestimonyofHegesippus.SoadmirableamanindeedwasJames,andsocelebratedamong
allforhisjustice,thateventhewiserpartoftheJewswereofopinionthatthiswasthecauseoftheimmediatesiegeofJerusalem,which
happenedtothemfornootherreasonthanthecrimeagainsthim.Josephus,also,hasnothesitatedtosuperadd thistestimonyinhis
works: These
works:
Thesethings,
things sayshe,
says he happened
happenedtotheJewstoavengeJamestheJust,whowasthebrotherofHimthatiscalledChrist,and
to the Jews to avenge James the Just who was the brother of Him that is called Christ and
whomtheJewshadslain,notwithstandinghispreeminentjustice.FromM.F.Sadler, TheGeneralEpistlesofSsJames,Peter,Johnand
Jude.

Jude and Matthew, who wrote for the Jews, are the most non-dogmatic authors in NT, the most concrete and
practical. Which is natural, since there is no profet in his own country, and among his own. It was their only way
of faith. It would sound weird for James to say my brother made the heavens and earth. Is was more convenient
for him to say: My brother taught us virtue.
And his may theme, and the key in which his Epistle is to be read: the defiance of the tiranny of the present.
James is among the few books of new Testament without overt references to the Psalms. But the Psalms are here
in his exhortation to behave as lovers of God (1, 11), according to the law of liberty (1, 25) with the courage of the
man in
i P
Ps. 1
1, 1
1.
He speaks about Christians who were showing favoritism towards the rich, doing in this way injustice towards the
poor, who were blessing God with their tongue (and declaring their faith, probably for pleasing the Christs brother,
as well) but cursing men: (3, 9) and boasting. While those who follow the royal law (2, 8, quoting Lev. 19, 18)
should not to be deceived by
y their own desires (1,15)
( , ) here he expounds
p
the biblical view of love.
For a believer in Christ, true virtue consists of freely doing works of love of Gift-love. For him there is no such a
thing like now or never as a son of God, he has everything at his disposal.
Even James
James final recommendation to turn back a wanderer
wanderer from the truth
truth doesn
doesntt refer to the paranoia of
proselytism, since his truth he is speaking about in his Epistle is that this world which withers like grass, so very
good gift comes from above. He gave such an example by his own powerful testimony that made every Jew think
the siege of Jerusalem was caused by his killing such a big testimony for Christ!.
A believer cannot be bullied by anyone, to do anything, because he is freed by his faith. Jesus Himself put no
pressure on the sinful woman, but waited for her. to come at a time of her choice. And then He said, using the past
tense: She loved much like thirsty man who would say: O, How I needed this glass of water!

Acknowledgements.TheworkofCalin Popescu wassupported

bytheSOPHRD159/1.5/S/138963 PERFORM
(some people who loved me)
(somepeoplewholovedme)