Towards an Adventist doctrine of Christian love

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop the foundations of a theology of Christian love. The LORD’s command in Lev 19:18 enjoins believers to have love for one’s neighbor as they do for themselves—a command affirmed by Jesus Christ in Matt 22:39. The apostle Paul in Eph 3:14-19 prays on behalf of the Christians in Ephesus, that they may be strengthened with might through the Holy Spirit, and for the indwelling of Christ in their hearts through faith. These conditions enable them to be firmly rooted and grounded in love. Paul suggests that this is so that they may corporately comprehend the vast dimensions of the love of Christ, and have an experiential knowledge of the love of Christ which surpasses understanding. This will result in their being filled with the fullness of God. The love of Christ is the basis on which this study establishes the importance of Christian love. The call for Christians to understand the love of Christ recognizes the tension between the limitation of human knowledge, and the infinity of Christ’s love, hence the need for Paul to makethis study of Christ’s love the subject of prayer. This study attempts to pursue the admonition of Paul to understand the love of Christ which ‘passeth all knowledge’ through which Christians can experience the fullness of God. Chapter 1 reveals the emphasis that the pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist church placed upon an understanding of the love of God upon humanity, and several appeals for that emphasis to constitute a more fundamental part of the Adventist message. Chapter 2 explores the Hebrew terms אהבand חסדfrom the Old Testament and the Greek definitions of love as ἔρως, φίλειν, and ἀγάπη in order to develop an understanding of the love of God as a basis for a doctrine of Christian love. The historical development of the understanding of divine love is surveyed in the works of some thinkers and theologians. The relational considerations of Christian love are set forth in the context of love’s supremacy above all virtues, the transformative impact of love, and the role of love in keeping the law. Finally, the relational considerations of Christian love are also presented in the context of the risky—and yet fundamental—need for freedom in order for love to exist. An analysis of Lev 19:18 and Eph 3:14-19 as Old Testament and New Testament bases for the development of a doctrine of Christian love in chapter 3 reveal that love is a foundational tenet of Christianity and that it plays a pivotal role in the soteriological reality of believers. The attainment of missiological achievements within the SDA church is directly linked to the church’s understanding and fervent application of Christian love upon all people with no respect to race, religion, caste, nationality, gender, age, education, or economic standing. The outcomes of Christian love include the believers’ exhibition of the sign of love, as well as their observance of the sign of sanctification. The ultimate purpose of the apostle Paul’s prayer in Eph 3:14-19 is that Christians attain to spiritual maturity.