Chapter 2 The Logic of Love

In English, the word ‘love’ is both a noun and a verb. Thomas Aquinas, the twelfth-century priest, theologian and philosopher, described love as ‘to will the good of another’. When we read the English word ‘love’ in the New Testament, it is usually a translation of the Greek word agape (pronounced a-ga-pay). This is a crucial concept and is foundational to our beliefs. The Swedish theologian Anders Nygren described agape love in the following way:

“In the New Testament, agapē is charitable, selfless, altruistic, and unfailing. It is parental love, seen as creating goodness in the world; it is the way God is seen to love humanity, and it is seen as the kind of love that Christians aspire to have for one another.” 

Agape love both wants and works for the benefit of that which is loved. If God is agape love, then logically God is always wanting and working for the benefit of those whom he loves. The question some may ask is therefore, ‘Whom does God love?’

Jesus said that God loves the world (John 3:16). That doesn’t seem to leave anyone out.

John, who was one of Jesus’ disciples and the author of one of the gospels, writes “All things were made through him (Jesus), and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3). If all things (not just our world but the entire universe) were made by a loving creator, we can have confidence that God loves each and every one of us. In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul states “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name” (Ephesians 3:14,15). This is an all-inclusive vision of the whole of humanity as children of their Father God and accords with the account of creation as recorded in Genesis that we are each made in the image of God. This means that each human life is an expression of the divine and is precious.

When we consider the centrality of love within scripture, the logical conclusion is that if God loves everyone, then all shall eventually be well for everyone. Why? Because love works for the good of those who are loved, and God’s love is unfailing and unlimited.

But what about our current experience of suffering and death? While the next chapter explores our vision of the ultimate destination for everyone, the following two chapters discuss the hard subjects of suffering and death and the challenges they pose to belief in a loving God who will eventually ensure that everyone enjoys an abundant life. The remainder of the booklet sets out the core concepts of our vision and responds to some of the questions we have been asked.