Symbolism of Truth: Love

By Troy R. Smith

Love is a fundamental force with tremendous power, but most of us don’t know what it means. We struggle to understand the difference between modern-day love and the type of love that Jesus references in the Bible. This book provides a thorough analysis of biblical love, explaining how the Bible describes the characteristics of love, along with a detailed interpretation of Hebrew and Greek words. Filled with motivational and inspirational Bible-based poems, the book includes a reference section so you can become familiar with where keywords are found in Scripture and how they are used. A biblical proofs section walks you through how mankind was created, what caused us to fall from the grace of God, how we were reconciled and restored, and what it takes to live and walk in the grace of God every day. After reading this book, you will have a full understanding of what Jesus meant when He spoke of love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Feb 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781684717910

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SMITH

Copyright © 2020 Troy R. Smith.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

ISBN: 978-1-6847-1789-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6847-1790-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6847-1791-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019916981

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

All Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 02/04/2020

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all who are lost and need to find their way. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

May grace be with you, and peace, and rest from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ!

Introduction

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. (1 John 4:16)

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34)

In the scripture above, Jesus gave a new commandment to His disciples after the final supper—to love as He had loved. Is it possible for man to love the same way God loves? How could man do anything on the same level as God?

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

God gives us the ability to love because He loved us first.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)

The only way a human being could operate on a supernatural level is to have the supernatural operating in him. God empowers humankind to be able to love. The Holy Spirit is in man and pours God’s love into us. God’s love is the very love that man expresses when he is in Christ.

This book is in five sections.

1. Sixteen Components of Love

2. Sixty-Three Biblical Proofs

3. Poetry

4. Scripture References

5. Notes

Biblical love will be evaluated and explained in detail using precise interpretation from scripture.

Love is the fundamental force of Spirit. Love is the power source for everything in the spiritual and natural realms. Love is more than a feeling. Love is the Spirit of God. To know God—love—is eternal life (John 17:3).

Never Fail

Lying stretched out on the ground,

with my face pointed in death’s direction,

walking backward down the stairs,

writing the answer instead of the question.

Looking down instead of up,

turning the light switch off to try to see,

looking in the mirror yet wondering,

who is this looking back at me?

Driving from the passenger side,

stopping when the light is green,

washing in the sand and mud,

to try to remain clean.

Trying to use addition

when the equation says subtract,

trying to become abundant

while all I’m focused on is lack.

Sleep to stay awake.

Staying awake to try to sleep.

Trying to harvest the fruit in autumn

when the fruits not ripe until the spring.

Adding lemon instead of sugar,

trying to chew without your teeth,

going broad instead of narrow,

getting the bitter instead of sweet.

Making things complicated that are simple,

trying to separate to connect,

being rude to those around you

just to try to earn respect.

If you’re not focused on believing,

but only focused on what you can do,

the only question that remains is,

Is Christ really in you?¹

Sixteen Components of Love

Charity suffereth long [patient], and is kind; charity envieth not;

charity vaunteth not itself [boast], is not puffed up [proud], Doth

not behave itself unseemly [rude], seeketh not her own, is not

easily provoked [angered], thinketh no evil [no record of wrongs];

Rejoiceth not in iniquity [not delight in evil], but rejoiceth in the

truth; Beareth [protects] all things, believeth all things, hopeth

all things, endureth [perseveres] all things. Charity never faileth.

—1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (emphasis added)

This section of the book will analyze the sixteen bolded terms above. For each term, we will reveal the Greek word used, define the Greek word, analyze the definitions, and compile a cohesive transparent compound (CTC) definition of the word. In all cases, the words italicized in the modern definition are defined and then combined in a unique way to provide a transparent and functional definition. The CTC definitions are designed to provide thorough interpretations of the words used in these verses.

At the end of the sixteen components, a declaration of love (page 27) is provided. It encompasses all the CTC definitions to provide a clear and thorough view of what love is based on the description in 1 Corinthians 13:4–8.

First Component: Patient²

Original Greek Word: μακροθυμέω

Transliteration: makrothumeó

Part of Speech: Verb

Phonetic Spelling: mak-roth-oo-meh’-o

Surface Definition: I suffer long, have patience, am forbearing, persevere.

Biblical Perspective

Makrothumeó is properly translated as long-tempered, deferring anger, and refusing to retaliate with anger because of natural reasoning with the human mind. Showing divinely directed or persuaded patience is long-suffering because it expresses only what the Lord ignites or persuades to be expressed. It is the opposite of being quick tempered.

Translated Word: Patient

Modern Definition: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

Capacity: the ability or power to do, experience, or understand something.

Accept: consent to receive.

Consent: permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.

Tolerate: allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of something without interference; accept or endure with forbearance, be capable of continued subjection to without adverse reaction.

Delay: a period of time by which something is late or postponed.

Trouble: difficulty or problems, a cause of worry or inconvenience, a particular aspect or quality of something regarded as unsatisfactory.

Suffering: the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.

Angry: having a strong feeling of or showing annoyance, displeasure, or hostility; full of anger.

Upset: unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

CTC Definition: The ability or power to give permission to receive or allow the existence of delay, difficulty, distress, hardship, inconvenience, pain, problems, or unsatisfactory qualities without being annoyed, displeased, disappointed, hostile, unhappy, or worried.

Second Component: Kind³

Original Greek Word: χρηστεύομαι

Transliteration: chrésteuomai

Part of Speech: Verb

Phonetic Spelling: kraste-yoo’-om-ahee

Surface Definition: I am kind (full of service to others); gentle.

Translated Word: Kind

Modern Definition: Having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature.

Having: to possess, own, or hold.

Showing: (show) be or allow or cause to be visible; manifest.

Friendly: kind and pleasant, well-disposed, cordial; on amicable terms.

Cordial: heartfelt, warm.

Amicable Terms: friendly relationship.

Generous: showing a readiness to give more of something such as money or time than is strictly necessary or expected.

Considerate: careful not to cause inconvenience or hurt to others.

Nature: the innate or essential quality or character of a person or animal.

CTC Definition: To possess a pleasant, heartfelt, and warm type of quality or character. To allow or cause to be visible a pleasant, heartfelt, and warm type of quality or character. To possess, allow, or cause to be visible an immediate willingness to transfer the possession freely of more of something than is required to be done or regarded as likely. To possess, allow, or manifest, careful not to cause pain, injury, distress, or lack of comfort, type of quality or character.

Third Component: ¬Envy⁴

Original Greek Word: ζηλόω

Transliteration: zéloó

Part of Speech: Verb

Phonetic Spelling: dzay-ló-o

Surface Definition: I am jealous, eager for, I am eager to possess.

Biblical Perspective

Zéloó is an onomatopoetic word that imitates the sound of boiling water properly translated to bubble over because of being boiling. Figuratively translated as burning with great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.

Translated Word: Envy

Modern Definition: desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to someone else.

Desire: a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.

Strong: very intense.

Feeling: an emotional state or reaction.

Wanting: yearning or craving due to lack.

Have: to possess, own, or hold.

Quality: a distinctive attribute or characteristic possessed by someone or something.

Possession: the state of having, owning, or controlling something.

Desirable: wanted or wished for as being an attractive, useful, or necessary course of action.

Attribute: a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

Belonging: (of a person or thing) to be the property of.

CTC Definition: A very intense emotional state or reaction of yearning or craving, to possess or hold, a distinctive attribute, characteristic, or material possession that is the property of someone else.

Fourth Component: ¬Boast⁵

Original Greek Word: περπερεύομαι

Transliteration: perpereuomai

Part of Speech: Verb

Phonetic Spelling: per-per-yoó-om-ahee

Surface Definition: I boast, vaunt myself, act as a braggart, or show off, needing much attention.

Translated Word: Boast

Modern Definition: talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.

Talk: converse or communicate by spoken words.

Excessive: more than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate.

Immoderate: not sensible or restrained.

Pride: a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements.

Self-Satisfaction

Self: a person’s essential being that distinguishes him or her from others especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action.

Introspection: the examination or observation of one’s mental and emotional processes.

Reflexive: without conscious thought.

Satisfaction: fulfillment of one’s wishes, expectations, or needs or the pleasure derived from this.

Achievement: a thing done successfully typically by effort, courage, or skill.

Possessions: the state of having, owning, or controlling something.

Ability: possession of the means or skill to do something; talent, skill, or proficiency in a particular area.

CTC Definition: Converse or communicate more than is normal or necessary about a deep pleasure or fulfillment of one’s wishes derived by doing something successfully using one’s own effort and courage.