John 13.31-38 14.1-14
看啊, 他們是何等彼此相愛 See, How They Love One Another
From the Apology of Tertullian, AD 197 But it is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See, they say, how they love one another, for they themselves are animated by mutual hatred. See, they say about us, how they are ready even to die for one another, for they themselves would sooner kill. It is our care of the helpless, our practice of loving kindness that brands us in the eyes of many of our opponents
Around A.D. 100-313 From Emperor Trajan to the Edict of Milan was issued. The practice of Christianity was illegal within the boundaries of the Roman Empire. Constantine became sole ruler of both west and east by 324 AD.
1. 愛的本质就是自我彰显 Love is self-disclosure in nature. 2. 自我彰显中完成了使命 Self-disclosure is mission oriented. 3. 自我彰显中散發出彼此相愛 Self-disclosure diffuses mutual love. Self-disclosure Self-declaration Self-revelation
Louis Evely Love must express and communicate itself. That s its nature. When people begin to love one another, they start telling everything that s happened to them, every detail of their daily life; They reveal themselves to each other; unbosom themselves and exchange confidences. God hasn t ceased being Revelation. Any more that He s ceased being Love. He enjoys expressing Himself. Since He s Love, He must give Himself, share His secrets, communicate with us and reveal Himself to anyone who wants to listen.
13:1 逾越節以前 耶穌知道自己離世歸父的時候到了. 他既然愛世間屬自己的人 就愛他們到底 John 13.1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 19.30 耶穌嘗了那醋 就說 成了. 便低下頭 將靈魂交付神了 John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, It is finished. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
13:1 逾越節以前 耶穌知道自己離世歸父的時候到了. 他既然愛世間屬自己的人 就愛他們到底 John 13.1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 13.1 Jesus, knowing, having loved, loved.
13:35 你們若有彼此相愛的心 眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了 17:18 你怎樣差我到世上 我也照樣差他們到世上 20:21 耶穌又對他們說 願你們平安. 父怎樣差遣了我 我也照樣差遣你們 13.35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. 17.18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 20.21 Again Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.
Cyprian of Carthage (200 258) Decius (249 251), seeking to restore Rome s pagan religion, issued a decree in 250 that all citizens must perform public sacrifice to the gods of the Roman pantheon Novatus, who had refused to sacrifice and was therefore imprisoned, claimed that his endurance of persecution had gained him authority to forgive the lapsed.
Augustine of Hippo (354 430) The Great Persecution (303 305), Emperor Diocletian (244 311) had ordered clergy to hand over Bibles and other sacred books to be burned. Traditores, meaning the ones who handed over the book (hence our modern word traitor) Donatus: The Donatist schism. Does a priest s apostasy render his sacraments invalid? Does the effect of the sacraments depend on the moral purity of the priest?
In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity. 基要的, 合一 非基要的, 自由 凡事上, 爱心 Augustine of Hippo
(1)The early Christians saw the church as intended by God to be one. (2)Its unity comes from a common confession of faith, maintained by a mutual love. (3)The ideal of being the church is about a way of loving God and neighbor that resists, even in the face of great difference, the willful impulse of schism.