In this insightful work, the author explores the fundamental Christian virtue of 'agape.' Spicq's genius is the way he combines fine linguistic analysis, exegesis, and theological insight. The three volumes cover most of the New Testament books: Volume 1: 'Agape in the Synoptic Gospels' Volume 2: 'Agape in the Epistles of St. Paul, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of St. James, St. Peter, and St. Jude' Volume 3: 'Agape in the Gospel, Epistles and Apocalypse of St. John' In the writings of St. John there is one aspect of 'agape' which is brought out in singular relief--the aspect of manifestation and proof. Most of St. John's uses of the word should be translated 'manifest love,' 'love which proves itself,' or 'the economy, the development of the divine love.' --from the Introduction

In this insightful work, the author explores the fundamental Christian virtue of 'agape.' Spicq's genius is the way he combines fine linguistic analysis, exegesis, and theological insight. The three volumes cover most of the New Testament books: Volume 1: 'Agape in the Synoptic Gospels' Volume 2: 'Agape in the Epistles of St. Paul, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of St. James, St. Peter, and St. Jude' Volume 3: 'Agape in the Gospel, Epistles and Apocalypse of St. John' "Agape is an active and effective love operating with a singular tenderness. The Sermon on the Mount stressed its heroic forms of patience and of gentleness. The parable of the Good Samaritan shows it to be attentive and tender, truly compassionate. . . . In the Gospel, to love means to give, to give oneself, to belong to another--to belong to God in obedience and consecration, to belong to neighbor in service and compassion." --from the Conclusion

In this insightful work, the author explores the fundamental Christian virtue of 'agape.' Spicq's genius is the way he combines fine linguistic analysis, exegesis, and theological insight. The three volumes cover most of the New Testament books: Volume 1: 'Agape in the Synoptic Gospels' Volume 2: 'Agape in the Epistles of St. Paul, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of St. James, St. Peter, and St. Jude' Volume 3: 'Agape in the Gospel, Epistles and Apocalypse of St. John' The word 'agape,' in particular, had acquired so specialized and rich a meaning that it seemed almost a neologism. . . . The final word of the mystery of God and the source of the Christian life is always love. Everything is summed up in love. --from the Introduction

In this insightful work, the author explores the fundamental Christian virtue of 'agape.' Spicq's genius is the way he combines fine linguistic analysis, exegesis, and theological insight. The three volumes cover most of the New Testament books: Volume 1: 'Agape in the Synoptic Gospels' Volume 2: 'Agape in the Epistles of St. Paul, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of St. James, St. Peter, and St. Jude' Volume 3: 'Agape in the Gospel, Epistles and Apocalypse of St. John' Agape is an active and effective love operating with a singular tenderness. The Sermon on the Mount stressed its heroic forms of patience and of gentleness. The parable of the Good Samaritan shows it to be attentive and tender, truly compassionate. . . . In the Gospel, to love means to give, to give oneself, to belong to another--to belong to God in obedience and consecration, to belong to neighbor in service and compassion. --from the Conclusion

In our fraught global environment, when political and ideological lines are drawn ever sharper and old allegiances are increasingly strained, love for neighbor as both individual and societal obligation needs to be thematized and justified anew. At the same time, the New Testament call to love one's enemies forms a sharp point of contrast to the current non-culture of hatred for all things different and foreign. Oda Wischmeyer's Love as Agape: The Early Christian Concept and Modern Discourse, the ninth volume in the Baylor-Mohr Siebeck Studies in Early Christianity series, aims to bring the New Testament concept of love into conversation with the current discussion about love. Wischmeyer investigates the commandment tradition of love for God and for neighbor, the ways in which the Septuagint and Plutarch speak of love, and the innovative concepts of love developed by Paul and John. She also presents an exegetically informed construction of the New Testament concept of love that is sharpened through a penetrating comparison with counter-, parallel, and alternative concepts from the ancient world. The book brings this holistic biblical vision forward into critical and constructive dialogue with key contemporary visions of love, including those of Julia Kristeva, Martha Nussbaum, Pope Benedict XVI, and Simon May. The tension that emerges stresses the need for fresh conceptualizations of ancient Jewish-Christian understandings, giving rise to the concluding question of the profile, limits, and impulses of the agape concept for present challenges. Through this academically rigorous and pastorally sensitive exploration, Wischmeyer points to the great love story between God and humanity, which realizes itself in the figure of Jesus Christ. This divine romance places love as the most intense, affirming, and life-creating relationship in God's own self, a relationship into which human beings are drawn and by which they obtain special dignity when God's love becomes their life.

This commentary on 1–3 John is a great resource for pastors and laypersons alike, showing how John’s letters lay out the foundational nature of truth and love in the context of the local church, with teachings that overflow with theological depth and real-world wisdom. Part of the Preaching the Word series.

The command to love is central to the Gospel of John. Internationally respected scholar Francis Moloney offers a thorough exploration of this theme, focusing not only on Jesus's words but also on his actions. Instead of merely telling people that they must love one another, Jesus acts to make God's love known and calls all who follow him to do the same. This capstone work on John's Gospel uses a narrative approach to delve deeply into a theme at the heart of the Fourth Gospel and the life of the Christian church. Uniting rigorous exegesis with theological and pastoral insight, it makes a substantive contribution to contemporary Johannine scholarship.