Abstract:
Love is the central ethical term in John's Gospel. The meaning of the
term is often misunderstood. This article investigates the use of the term
in John's Gospel, especially within its familial context. It is established
that, reverentially, love includes loyalty towards members of the community
and the acceptance of responsibility. This implies that love is expressed
in actions. It works reciprocally. The Father sets the example
which should be followed in obedience by the children. The nature of
love depends on the situation. In the case of the Father love is expressed
by giving his Son to die on the cross. In the case of the disciples, love is
expressed by them obediently following the commands of the Father and
the Son. In both cases it involves giving something, whether it is your
Son or life, or in the case of the disciples, themselves.
