I run into this phrase every now and then.
Where does this saying come from, is there any scriptural basis.
And what does it even mean?
It’s religion, so don’t hope for a more clear answer than this.
The question, as posed, has a specific answer (in two parts, the first of which has been answered), and is not a Great Debate.
Off to General Questions.
[ /Moderating ]
Well, either the OP had something to debate or else this is a thread that could be answered by pointing to the first hit on Google. I’m guessing the later, but if the OP comes back and has anything more to add then the only proper place for it would be GD.
As for what it means, the simplest, GQ-style answer would be that those quoting it mean that the primary characteristic of God is His lovingkindness (chesed in Hebrew). This would be in contrast to seeing His primary characteristic as justice, sovereignty, holiness, or wrath, among other possible emphases. GQ is not the place to argue any point of view, but I think it’s a reasonable observation that the overwhelming majority of those making the assertion “God is love” mean either that the main characteristic of a theistically conceived God is His love, or that the concept “God” equates to the concept “love” in some metaphysical way, neither being seen as personal but as a human dynamic. (I have problems working with abstract-force-concept meatphysics, so excuse me if that last statement is not terribly clear.)
No, Poly I think you nailed it as usual. This Xian-turned-atheist agrees with your interpretation 100%.
Originally posted by Autolycus: “This Xian-turned-atheist . . .”
What is a Xian ? I know what an atheist is. help me here.
Jon
What it means: ask ten Christians and each will give you a personal interpretation. Polycarp has good take on what some Christians might interpret the phrase to mean. Others may understand it as a generalized command to love the world.
But if you want to know what the Johannine author intended by the phrase or what would have been understood by his followers in the Johannine community, that would almost certainly be something quite different. Here’s from Yale University Professor Dale Martin:
From an Open Yale course lecture.
These letters of “John” were written in the midst or aftermath of a major split within the Johannine community. The “God is love” stuff is about consolidating bonds among the remnant and closing ranks against the shunned heretics.
I think an Xian would celebrate X-mas.
A Christian. X, the Greek letter chi, is commonly used in English to indicate “Christ-“ in words like Xmas, Xtianity, etc. The OED has this usage going back to the fifteenth century – but that’s only in English. It seems that Greek-speaking early Christians used the same abbreviation.
We used to use this proof:
God is love
Love is blind
Ray Charles is blind
Therefore, Ray Charles is God.
Ray Charles is dead
Therefore, God is dead.
I believe Mr. Martin is severely overstating his case.