ACC ~ John 15 v12

GOD REVEALS HIMSELF IN CHARITY

CYPRIAN: Discord cannot attain to the kingdom of heaven. The one who has done violence to the love of Christ by faithless dissension will not attain to the reward of Christ, who said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another.” Whoever does not have charity does not have God. THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH 14. [1]

[1] ANF 5:426**.

HOLD TO THE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE

BASIL THE GREAT: Do we fail to love according to the commandment of the Lord? Then we lose the distinctive mark imprinted on us. Are we puffed up till almost bursting with empty pride and arrogance? Then we fall into the inevitable condemnation of the devil. LETTER 56. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 8:158-59.

IS LOVE THE ONLY COMMANDMENT?

AUGUSTINE: But when he said in this way here, “This is my commandment,” as if there were no other, what are we to think? Is, then, the commandment about that love with which we love one another his only one? Is there not another that is still greater, that we should love God? Or did God in truth give to us such a commandment about love alone that we have no need of searching for others? There are three things at least that the apostle commends when he says, “But now abide faith, hope, charity, these three. But the greatest of these is charity.” [1] And although in charity, that is, in love, the two commandments are contained, yet it is here declared to be the greatest, not the only one. Accordingly, what a host of commandments are given to us about faith, what a multitude about hope! Who is there that could collect them together or suffice to number them? But let us ponder the words of the same apostle: “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” [2] And so, where there is love, what can be lacking? And where it is not, what is there that can possibly be profitable? The devil believes [3] but does not love: no one loves who does not believe. One may, indeed, hope for pardon who does not love, but he hopes in vain. But no one can despair who loves. Therefore, where there is love, there will necessarily be faith and hope. And where there is the love of our neighbor, there also will necessarily be the love of God. For one that does not love God, how does he love his neighbor as himself, seeing that he does not even love himself? Such a person is both impious and iniquitous. And he who loves iniquity clearly does not love but hates his own soul. [4] Let us, therefore, hold fast to this precept of the Lord, to love one another, and then we will be doing all else that is commanded, for we have all else contained in this. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 83.3. [5]

[1] 1 Cor 13:13.

[2] Rom 13:10.

[3] Jas 2:19.

[4] See Ps 11:5 (10:5 LXX, 10:6 Vg).

[5] NPNF 1 7:349*; CCL 36:535-36.

LOVE ENCOMPASSES THE OTHER COMMANDMENTS

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: “This is my commandment.” Have you then only one precept? This is sufficient, even if it is unique and so great. Nevertheless he also said, “Do not kill,” [1] because the one who loves does not kill. He said, “Do not steal,” [2] because the one who loves does even more—he gives. He said, “Do not lie,” [3] for the one who loves speaks the truth, against falsehood. “I give you a new commandment.” [4] If you have not understood what “This is my commandment” means, let the apostle be summoned as interpreter and say, “The goal of his commandment is love.” [5] What is its binding force? It is that of which [the Lord] spoke, “Whatever you want others to do to you, you should do also.” [6] “Love one another” in accordance with this measure, “as I have loved you.” That is not possible, for you are our Lord who loves your servants. But we who are equals, how can we love one another as you have loved us? Nevertheless, he has said it. … His love is that he has called us his friends. If we were to give our life for you, would our love be equal to yours? … How then can what he said be explained, “As I have loved you”? “Let us die for each other,” he said. As for us, we do not even want to live for one another! “If I, who am your Lord and God, die for you, how much more should you die for one another.” COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 19.13. [7]

[1] Mt 19:18.

[2] Mt 19:18.

[3] Mt 19:18.

[4] Jn 13:34.

[5] 1 Tim 1:5.

[6] Mt 7:12.

[7] ECTD 288. See also Gregory the Great Forty Gospel Homilies 27 (CS 123:212).

GOD’S LOVE INTERTWINED WITH OUR OWN

CHRYSOSTOM: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Do you see that the love of God is intertwined with our own and connected like a sort of chain? Thus, it sometimes says that there are two commandments, sometimes only one. For it is not possible that the one who has taken hold of the first should not possess the second also. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 77.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:282*; PG 59:415.