TensesandsensesoftheGreek () in the OT (Psalms) ()intheOT(Psalms),

asexplainedintheNT(James)Calin Popescu

Phd student, University of Pitesti,Phd student,UniversityofPitesti,(Romania)

Inordertomakeiteasiertofollowandunderstand,Iwillstartbytellingyouwhattriggeredthislittleinvestigationofmine.Itwasareadingheardinthechurch,fromtheGospelaccordingtoLuke,chapter7.

Luke7(KJV)36A 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 t36AndoneofthePhariseesdesiredhimthathewouldeatwithhim.AndhewentintothePharisee'shouse,andsatdowntomeat.37And,behold,awomaninthecity,whichwasasinner,whensheknewthatJesussatatmeatinthePharisee'shouse,broughtanalabasterboxofointment,38Andstoodathisfeetbehindhimweeping,andbegantowashhisfeetwithtears,anddidwipethemwiththehairsofherhead,andkissedhisfeet,andanointedthemwiththeointment., ,39NowwhenthePhariseewhichhadbiddenhimsawit,hespake withinhimself,saying,Thisman,ifhewereaprophet,wouldhaveknownwhoandwhatmannerofwomanthisisthattoucheth him:forsheisasinner.40AndJesusansweringsaiduntohim,Simon,Ihavesomewhattosayuntothee.Andhesaith,Master,sayon.41Therewasacertaincreditorwhichhadtwodebtors:theoneowedfivehundredpence,andtheotherfifty.42Andwhentheyhadnothingtopay,hefranklyforgavethemboth.Tellmetherefore,whichofthemwilllovehimmost?43 Simonansweredandsaid,Isupposethat he,towhomheforgavemost.Andhesaiduntohim,Thouhastrightlyjudged.44Andheturnedtothewoman,andsaiduntoSimon,Seest thouthiswoman?Ienteredintothine house,thougavest, , , gmenowaterformyfeet:butshehathwashedmyfeetwithtears,andwipedthemwiththehairsofherhead.45 Thougavest menokiss:butthiswomansincethetimeIcameinhathnotceasedtokissmyfeet.46Myheadwithoilthoudidstnotanoint:butthiswomanhathanointedmyfeetwithointment.47WhereforeIsayuntothee,Hersins,whicharemany,areforgiven;for sheloved much( ):buttowhomlittleisforgiven,thesameloveth little.g

Onthefaceofit,thepassageseemsasifthetenseiswrong,becauseofeitheramistranslation,oranellipsis(asBibleWorks9says).Wehavetoseeanotherpassage,inordertounderstandbetterthelogicofthisone.

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

1 AndagainheenteredintoCapernaumaftersomedays;anditwasnoisedthathewasinthehouse.2Andstraightwaymanyweregatheredtogether,insomuchthattherewasnoroomtoreceivethem,no,notsomuchasaboutthedoor:andhepreachedtheworduntothem.3Andtheycomeuntohim,bringingonesickofthepalsy,whichwasborneoffour.4Andwhentheycouldnotcomenighuntohimforthepress,theyuncoveredtheroofwherehewas:and when they had broken it up they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy layandwhentheyhadbrokenitup,theyletdownthebedwhereinthesickofthepalsylay.5WhenJesussawtheirfaith,hesaiduntothesickofthepalsy,Son,thysinsbeforgiventhee.6Buttherewascertainofthescribessittingthere,andreasoningintheirhearts,7Whydoththismanthusspeakblasphemies?whocanforgivesinsbutGodonly?8AndimmediatelywhenJesusperceivedinhisspiritthattheysoreasonedwithinthemselves,hesaidy p p y ,untothem,Whyreasonyethesethingsinyourhearts?9Whetherisiteasiertosaytothesickofthepalsy,Thysinsbeforgiventhee;ortosay,Arise,andtakeupthybed,andwalk?10 ButthatyemayknowthattheSonofmanhathpoweronearthtoforgivesins,(hesaith tothe sick of the palsy )thesickofthepalsy,)11 Isayuntothee,Arise,andtakeupthybed,andgothywayintothine house.12Andimmediatelyhearose(),tookupthebed,andwentforthbeforethemall;insomuchthattheywereallamazed,andglorifiedGod,saying,Weneversawitonthisfashion.

Wecanseetheremustbeanaorist,becauseitservesasaproof.SodontrushtothinkitisjustaGreek/Hebrewmannerofspeaking.(Anyway,itisthelanguageinwhichthedivineRevelationwastransmittedtous,soitmustcontainapartofthetruth).Itisclearlyapasttense.

Now,howcomesitthatthelovecanbeinthepasttense?Isntiteternal?And,especially,isntitinthepresenttense?ItisstrikingtoseeinthePsalmsofSeptuagint(which manyseemtoforget isaJewish text,confirmedbyitsuseintheJewishcommunitiesthroughouttheworld,fromtheRometoJerusalem)directdeclarationsoflovetowardsGod, madeonlyinapasttense(indicativeaorist)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 17:1 LXX) (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 tightKiss me my darling,be mine tonightbe mine tonightTomorrow will be too late,it's now or neverMy 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

d d d l l h f bl bl l dLamistique dOccidentestuneautrepassiondontlelangagemtaphoriqueestparfoistrangementsemblableceluidelamourcourtois.

and what I dislike more any form of mysticism (which for him is something bad, not serious) derives from the y y ( g , )pagan worship of Eros (but he mentions only Meister Eckhart).

Hehasaveryinterestingandverywellwrittenfinalchapter,whichhasbeenreferredtobymanyotherimportantscholars:

rossauvparAgap

Alorslamourdecharit,lamourchrtien,quiestAgap,paratenfindanssapleinestature:ilestlaffirmationdeltre.Etcestros,lamourpassion,lamourpaen,quiarpandudansnotremondeoccidentallepoisondelascseidaliste toutce quun Nietzsche injustement reproche au christianisme Cest ros et non pas Agap qui a glorifi notre instinct de mortcequunNietzscheinjustementreprocheauchristianisme.Cestros,etnonpasAgap,quiaglorifinotreinstinctdemort,etquiavoulul idaliser .MaisAgapsevengedrosenlesauvant.CarAgapnesaitpasdtruireetneveutpasmmedtruirecequidtruit. Jeneveuxpaslamortdupcheur,maissavie.

*rossasservitlamortparcequilveutexalterlavieaudessusdenotreconditionfinieetlimitedecratures.Ainsile

mmemouvementquifaitquenousadorons lavienousprcipitedanssangation.Cestlaprofondemisre,ledsespoirdros,saservitudeinexprimable: enlexprimant,Agaplendlivre.Agapsoitquelavieterrestreettemporellenemritepasd'treadore,nimmetue,maipeuttreacceptedansl'obissancelternel.Caraprstoutcesticibasquenotresortsejoue.Cestsurlaterrequilfautaimeretrecevoirlepardon.Audel,ilnyaurapaslaNuitdivinisante,mais le Jugement du CrateurmaisleJugementduCrateur.

Lhommenaturelnepouvaitpas limaginer.Iltaitdonccondamncroireros,cest direseconfierdanssondsirlepluspuissant,luidemanderladlivrance.Etlrosnepouvaitleconduirequlamort.MaislhommequicroitlarvlationdelAgapvoit soudainlecerclesouvrir:ilestdlivrparlafoidesareligionnaturelle.Ilpeutmaintenantesprerautrechose,ilsoitquilestuneautredlivrancedupch.Etvoiciquelrosasontoursevoitrelevdesafonctionmortelleetdlivrdesondestin.Dsquilcessedtreundieu,ilcessed'treun

dmon. EtilretrouvesajusteplacedanslconomieprovisoiredelaCration,delhumainLepaennepouvaitautrementquedefaireundieudelros:ctaitsonpouvoirleplusfort,leplusdangereuxetleplusmystrieux,leplus

profondmentliaufaitdevivre.TouteslesreligionspaennesdivinisentleDsir.Toutescherchentunappuiparlmme,lepireennemidelavie,lasductionduRien.MaisdslorsqueleVerbesenfaitchairetquilnousaparlenmotshumains,nousavonsappriscettenouvelle:cenestpaslhommequidoitsedlivrerluimme,cestDieuquilaaimlepremier,etquisestapprochdelui.Lesalutnestplusaudel,toujoursplushaut,danslascensioninterminableduDsirquiconsumelavie,maisicibas,danslobissancelaParole.

**Etquaurionsnousalorscraindredudsir?Celaseulement:quilnousdtournedobir.Maisilperd sapuissanceabsoluequandnous

cessonsdelediviniser.Etcestcequattestelexpriencedelafidlitdanslemariage.Carcettefidlitsefondejustementsurlerefusinitialetjuredecultiverlesillusionsdelapassion,deleurrendreuncultesecret,etdenattendreunmystrieuxsurcroitdevie.Jessaieraidelefaireconcevoirparlexamendunfaitconnu.Lechristianismeaproclamlgalitparfaitedessexes,etceladelamanirelaplusprcise:prcise:

Lafemmenapasautoritsursonproprecorps,maiscestlamari;etpareillementlemarinapasautoritsursonproprecorps,maiscestlafemme(ICor.7)Lafemmetantlgaledelhomme,ellenepeutdonctrelebutdelhomme.Enmmetemps,ellechappealabaissementbestialquitt

outardestlaranondunedivinationdelacrature.Maiscettegalitnedoitpastreentendueausensmoderneetrevendicateur.Elleprocdedumystredelamour.EllenestquelesigneetladmonstrationdutriomphedAgapesurEros.Carlamourrellementrciproqueexigeetcrelgalitdeceuxquisaiment.DieumanifestesonamourpourlhommeenexigeantquelhommesoitsaintcommeDieuestsaint.Etlhommetmoignedesonamourpourunefemmeenlatraitantcommeunepersonnehumainetotale, noncommeunefedelalgende,midessemibaccante,rveetsexe.Maisremontonsdecesprmissesgnralesalapsychologielaplusconcrtedelarelationdesgaux.Lexercicedelafidlitenversune

femmeaccoutumeconsidrerlesautresfemmesdunemaniretoutafaitnouvelle,inconnuedumondedelEros:commedespersonnes,nonpluscommedesrefletsoudesobjets.Cetexercicespiritueldveloppedesfacultsneuvesdejugement,depossessiondesoietderespect.

TheproblemisthatsometimesitseemsChristcametoEarthanddiedonthecrossjusttosaveDenisdeRougemont fromdivorce nottop j ggiveustheeternallife,wheretherewillbenomarriage.

Anotherimportantbook,byC.S.Lewis(onewhoseemtobeinfluentialinmanyfields hewasevenamemberinacommissionfortherevisionofthePsalms),TheFourLoves,dividesthelove accordingtoits fourGreekverbs:,,/ and / acaseofexcessinrespecting , , / / p gtheoriginallanguageoftheRevelation.Hehassomebrilliantobservationsandahandofanexcellentwriter.ButthechapteraboutAgape (orCharity) istheshortestone,andbyfarthemostbanal.HeisverycarefultosaythattheactofVenusisnottootrivialtobetransformedinaworkofCharityandtodisagreethemedievalguidesbecausetheyweref f y g g yallcelibates,andthereforecouldntunderstandErosandsexuality.Infacthetriestoprove,likeDenisdeRougemont,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 aprofessorofsystematictheologywhowroteaserioustreaty(AgapeandEros),inthreevolumes about what he calls the Christian idea of love or the idea of Agape involumes,aboutwhathecallsthe Christianideaoflove ,or theideaofAgapeinChristianity,atechnicaltermintroducedbyPaul.Henotonlyseparatesitclearlyfromeros,

ItisafactbeyondcontradictionthattheideasofErosandAgapebelongtotwodifferentspiritualworlds.Theydonotstandforthesamethingintheirrespectivecontexts,norcantheyunderanycircumstancesberightlytreatedassynonyms.

TheremustsurelybesomereasoninthederivationandtheprevioushistoryofthetwowordstoaccountfortheevidentfactthatwhileNTmakeslargeuseofthewordAgape,itconsistentlyavoidsthewordEros.

butalsotrymakeitdenominationallycorrect(agapecanbefoundonlyinhisdenomination).

Allthiskindsofbookstreatloveasanabstractconcept(identified,withageneralp ( gChristianity),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 human love or ( ) gmans most important desires/pleasures.

Genesis22:2 ( inKJV:whomthoulovest) (Gen22:2LXX)

Andhesaid,Takethyson,thebelovedone,whomthouhastloved Isaac,andgointothehighland,andofferhimthereforawholeburntofferingononeofthemountainswhichIwilltelltheeof. (Gen22:2LXXtranslation Brenton)

LXT Genesis 24:67 LXTGenesis24:67 (

KJVGenesis24:67 AndIsaacbroughtherintohismotherSarah'stent,andtookRebekah,andshebecamehiswife;andhelovedher:andIsaacwascomfortedafterhismother'sdeath.LXA G i 24 67 A d I t i t th h f hi th d t k R b d h b hi if d h l dLXAGenesis24:67 AndIsaacwentintothehouseofhismother,andtookRebecca,andshebecamehiswife,andhelovedher;andIsaacwascomfortedforSarrha hismother.

WeseethattheloveofIsaacforRebeccaisprovenbytheplacesheisgiven(thetentofIsaacsmother).SoIsaacdoesntknow her (rather a depreciative word) but loves herknow her(ratheradepreciativeword),butloves her.Know soundslikefindingoutwhatIvetriedtohide,myemptiness.AdamdoesntloveEve.Sheissimplythere,andbuildtobenaturallyloved.Evelostsomething.SheisnomoresurprisingforAdam.ButIsaaclovesRebecca.

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

LXT Genesis 29:20 KJV 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.LXE 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 G i 29 32 LXT Genesis 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 and has given me a son now then my husband will love melooked on my humiliation, and has given me a son, now then my husband will love 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,andhespokekindlytothedamsel.Sychem spoketoEmmor hisfather,saying,Takeformethisdamseltowife.

LXT G i 37 3 LXTGenesis37:3 KJVGenesis37:3 NowIsraelloved Josephmorethanallhischildren,becausehewasthesonofhisoldage:andhemadehimacoatofmanycolours.

(Atleastthisiswhathisbrotherssaid).LXTGenesis 44:20 Genesis44:20 KJVGenesis44:20 Andwesaiduntomylord,Wehaveafather,anoldman,andachildofhisoldage,alittleone;andhisbrotherisdead,andhealoneisleftofhismother,andhisfatherloveth him.

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

LXTExodus20:6 KJV d d h h d f h h l d k dKJVExodus20:6 Andshewing mercyuntothousandsofthemthatloveme,andkeepmycommandments.LXAExodus20:6 andbestowingmercyonthemthatlovemetothousandsofthem,andonthemthatkeepmycommandments.

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

LXTExodus21:5 KJVExodus21:5 Andiftheservantshallplainlysay,Ilovemymaster,mywife,andmychildren;Iwillnotgooutfree:LXA Exodus 21:5 And if the servant should answer and say I love my master and wife and children I will not go away free;LXAExodus21:5 Andiftheservantshouldanswerandsay,Ilovemymasterandwifeandchildren,Iwillnotgoawayfree;

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

KJVLeviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORDLeviticus19:18 Thoushalt notavenge,norbearanygrudgeagainstthechildrenofthypeople,butthoushalt lovethyneighbour asthyself:IamtheLORD.

LXELeviticus19:18 Andthyhandshallnotavengethee;andthoushalt notbeangrywiththechildrenofthypeople;andthoushalt lovethyneighbour asthyself;IamtheLord.

LXTLeviticus 19:34

KJVLeviticus19:34 Butthestrangerthatdwelleth withyoushallbeuntoyouasonebornamongyou,andthoushalt lovehimasthyself;foryewerestrangersinthelandofEgypt: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 of Egypt.g gypLXE 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 Deuteronomy 10:12 LXTDeuteronomy10:12 LXEDeuteronomy10:12 Andnow,Israel,whatdoestheLordthyGodrequireofthee,buttofeartheLordthyGod,andtowalkinallhisways,andtolovehim,andtoservetheLordthyGodwithallthyheart,andwithallthysoul;

LXTDeuteronomy10:15 LXEDeuteronomy 10:15 Only the Lord chose your fathers to love them and he chose out their seed after them even youDeuteronomy10:15 OnlytheLordchoseyourfatherstolovethem,andhechoseouttheirseedafterthem,evenyou,beyondallnations,asatthisday.KJVDeuteronomy10:15 OnlytheLORDhadadelightinthyfatherstolovethem,andhechosetheirseedafterthem,evenyouaboveallpeople,asitisthisday.

LXT Deuteronomy 10:18 LXEDeuteronomy10:18 executingjudgmentforthestrangerandorphanandwidow,andhelovesthestrangertogivehimfoodandraiment.KJVDeuteronomy10:18 Hedothexecutethejudgmentofthefatherlessandwidow,andloveth thestranger,ingivinghimfoodandraiment.LXT Deuteronomy 11:1 LXEDeuteronomy11:1 Thereforethoushalt lovetheLordthyGod,andshalt observehisappointments,andhisordinances,andhiscommandments,andhisjudgments,always.LXT Deuteronomy 11:13 LXEDeuteronomy11:13NowifyewillindeedhearkentoallthecommandswhichIchargetheethisday,tolovetheLordthyGod,andtoservehi i h ll h h d i h ll h lhimwithallthyheart,andwithallthysoul,

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,towalkinallhiswayscontinually;thoushalt addforthyselfyetthreecitiestothesethree.

LXTDeuteronomy30:16 LXEDeuteronomy30:16 IfthouwilthearkentothecommandsoftheLordthyGod,whichIcommandtheethisday,tolovetheLordthyGod,tolk i ll hi d t k hi di d hi j d t th h ll li d h ll b i b d th L d th G d h llwalkinallhisways,andtokeephisordinances,andhisjudgments;thenyeshalllive,andshallbemanyinnumber,andthe LordthyGodshall

blesstheeinallthelandintowhichthougoest toinheritit.

LXTJoshua22:5 LXEJoshua22:5 Buttakegreatheedtodothecommandsandthelaw,whichMosestheservantoftheLordcommandedyoutodo;tolovetheLordourGod,towalkinallhisways,tokeephiscommands,andtocleavetohim,andservehimwithallyourmind,andwith allyoursoul.

LXT Joshua 23:11 LXE 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,

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 t t f distatus of divorce.

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,oremotionalstate.Iam happier with his good distinction between activities and performances, or, as he put it, actionswhichareunbounded(activities) and actionswhicharebounded(performances).

thedifferencebetweenboundedandunboundedexpressionsfocusesonwhethertheexpressionincludesalimitorterminusfortheactionornot.

aterminalpointatwhichtheactionisfinished,notjustended.

Thebiblicallove,orcovenantallovecanalsofallintothecathegory ofperformances.

TheBibleneverallowsustothinkloveisanemptyword.

InMalachiGodcanevenbeaskedhowdidheshowhisloveforhispeople

LXTMalachi1:23 ,

LXEMalachi1:23 Ihavelovedyou,saith theLord.Andyesaid,Whereinhastthoulovedus?WasnotEsauJacob'sbrother?saith theLord:yetIl d J b d h t d E d l id t hi b d d d hi h it d lli f th ild ?lovedJacob,andhatedEsauandlaidwastehisborders,andmadehisheritageasdwellingsofthewilderness?

(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.

WefindthefamouspassageOnlyherewefindthepresentindicativeformLXT2Samuel13:4

LXE2Samuel13:4 Andhesaidtohim,Whatailstheethatthouartthusweak?Osonoftheking,morningbymorning?wiltthounottellme?andAmmon said,IloveThemar thesisterofmybrotherAbessalom.

LXT1 Kings 3:3 1Kings3:3

LXE1Kings3:3 AndSolomonlovedtheLord,soastowalkintheordinancesofDavidhisfather;onlyhesacrificedandburntincenseonthehighplaces.

LXT1Kings11:2

LXE1Kings11:2 ofthenationsconcerningwhomtheLordforbadethechildrenofIsrael,saying,Yeshallnotgointothem,andtheyshallnotcomeintoyou,lesttheyturnawayyourheartsaftertheiridols:Solomonclavetotheseinlove.

LXT Judges 14:16 LXE Judges 14:16 And Sampson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, g p p , , ,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 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 gave a prime portion, because she had no child, only g p p , , yHelkana 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.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:

LXT 2 Samuel 19:7 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,whilemanlovesGodslaw,Godscommandments,Godssalvation andtruth.

Th t i d f hi i t l i thi th lti t lThe two main danger for him is to love vain things, or the ultimately,

XTPsalm51:5 LXEPsalm52:3 Thouhastlovedwickednessmorethangoodness;unrighteousnessbetterthanto speak righteousnesstospeakrighteousness.

LXTPsalm4:3 LXEPsalm4:2 Oyesonsonmen,howlongwillyebeslowofheart?whereforedoyelovevanity,andseekfalsehood?

And to love without any proofs:And to love , without any proofs:

LXTPsalm77:36

LXE Psalm 78:36 Yet they loved him (only) with their mouth and lied to him with their tongueLXEPsalm78:36 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.EvenPeterdarenottoanswerJesus but , as hecouldshownoevidenceofit.KJVJohn21:15 Sowhentheyhaddined,Jesussaith toSimonPeter,Simon,sonofJonas,lovest thoumemorethanthese?Hesaith untohim,Yea,Lord;thouknowest thatIlovethee.SCRJohn 21:15 John21:15 , , , ,

NowaboutJames.FirstletuswhoJameswas,toseewhetherwecanbelittlehimornot questioningeverythinghesaid,andevenhisrighttousethrice (mybelovedbrethren KJV),initsproper sense,notasanequivalenttoaformalgreeting,myfellows,orasamark ofatransitiontonewsubjectmatter (LohHatton)

(Jam1:19BNT)( )Hegesippus also,whoflourishednearestthedaysoftheApostles,inthefifthbookofhisCommentariesgivesthemostaccurateaccountofhimthus:ButJames,thebrotheroftheLord,who,asthereweremanyofthisname,wassurnamedtheJustbyall,fromthedays ofourLorduntilnow,receivedthegovernmentoftheChurchwiththeApostles.ThisApostlewasconsecratedfromhismotherswomb. He drankneitherwinenorfermentedliquors,andabstainedfromanimalfood.Arazornevercameuponhishead,heneveranointedwithoil,heneverusedabath.Healonewasallowedtoenterthesanctuary.Heneverworewoollen,butlinengarments.HewasinthehabitofenteringtheTemplealone,andwasoftenfounduponhisbendedknees,andintercedingfortheforgivenessofthepeople;sothat hiskneesbecamehardascamelsinconsequenceofhishabitualsupplication,and,indeed,onaccountofhisexceedinggreatpiety,hewascalledtheJust,andOblias (orZaddick andOzleam),whichsignifiesjusticeandprotectorofthepeople.Someofthesevensectsofhepeoplementionedbymeaboveinmycommentaries,askedhimwhatwasthedoortoJesus?AndheansweredthathewastheSaviour.FromwhichsomebelievedthatJesuswastheChristTheycamethereforetogether,andsaidtoJames,WeentreattheerestrainthepeoplewhoareledastrayafterJesus,forwehaveconfidenceinthee.Forweandallthepeoplebeartestimonythatthouart just,andthourespectest notpersons.PersuadethereforethepeoplenottobeledastraybyJesus,forweallthepeoplegavegreatconfidenceinthee.StandthereforeuponawingoftheTemplethatthoumayest beconspicuousonhigh,andthywordsmaybeeasilyheardbyallthepeople.TheaforesaidScribesandPhariseesthereforeplacedJamesonawingoftheTemple,andcriedouttohim,Othoujustman,whomweoughtalltobelieve,sincethepeopleareledastrayafterJesusthatwascrucified,declaretouswhatisthedoortoJesusthat

ifi d? A d h d ith l d i Wh d k ti J th S f ? H i itti i th hwascrucified?Andheansweredwithaloudvoice,WhydoyeaskmerespectingJesustheSonofman?HeisnowsittingintheheavensontherighthandofgreatPower,andisabouttocomeonthecloudsofheaven.AndasmanywereconfirmedandgloriedinthistestimonyofJames,andsaidHosannatotheSonofDavid,thesesamepriestsandPhariseessaidtooneanother,WehavedonebadlyinaffordingsuchtestimonytoJesus,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 I entreat thee O Lord God and Father forgive them for theyandtheybegantostonehim,and,turninground,hekneltdownsaying, Ientreatthee,OLordGodandFather,forgivethem,for theyknownotwhattheydo.Andoneofthem,afuller,beatoutthebrainsofJustuswiththeclubthatheusedtobeatupclothes.Thushesufferedmartyrdom.SuchisthemoreampletestimonyofHegesippus.SoadmirableamanindeedwasJames,andsocelebratedamongallforhisjustice,thateventhewiserpartoftheJewswereofopinionthatthiswasthecauseoftheimmediatesiegeofJerusalem,whichhappenedtothemfornootherreasonthanthecrimeagainsthim.Josephus,also,hasnothesitatedtosuperadd thistestimonyinhisworks: These things says he happened to the Jews to avenge James the Just who was the brother of Him that is called Christ andworks: Thesethings, sayshe, happenedtotheJewstoavengeJamestheJust,whowasthebrotherofHimthatiscalledChrist,andwhomtheJewshadslain,notwithstandinghispreeminentjustice.FromM.F.Sadler, TheGeneralEpistlesofSsJames,Peter,JohnandJude.

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.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

i P 1 1man in Ps. 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 their own desires (1,15) here he expounds the biblical view of love.y ( , ) p

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 final recommendation to turn back a wanderer from the truth doesnt refer to the paranoia ofEven James final recommendation to turn back a wanderer from the truth doesn t 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 wassupportedbytheSOPHRD159/1.5/S/138963 PERFORM

(some people who loved me)(somepeoplewholovedme)