In a book about the world of the New Testament, while discussing the various philosophies of the day, the following comment is made:

“Love of fellow humans was not a familiar concept to Greco-Roman philosophers, or to the ordinary person in that culture. At best the philosophers strove for justice - Plato’s Rebuplic is a lengthy and unsuccessful effort to define the term - but even that quality is perceived as something needful for the benefit of the community, not the individual. Neither philosophy nor religion taught philanthropy or charity. What generosity we do find record of is usually self-serving, designed to enhance the donor’s reputation or to obligate the recipient (cf Pliny...). One of the things about the early believers that most astounded their pagan neighbors was the Christians’ willingness to minister to the poor and needy for no ulterior purpose.” (Bell, Exploring the New Testament World, p. 165)

I find this to be an amazing thing. It is often argued today that the Bible, or even Jesus Himself, is just a reflection of the society back then. It is said to mimic the culture in which it was written, and thus was no different from other works. But right here is a powerful testimony to the fact that the gospel really is different than what the ancient world reflected. It is a gospel of love. It teaches us to deny ourselves and become servants of others. It teaches us to love others, even as we would love ourselves. That is not what the culture at large was taught to do. The Bible clearly reflects something different and higher.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God, and the second greatest was to love your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:36-40). As the quote indicated, when charity was shown it was often self-serving, perhaps obligating the recipient to the donor in some way. Contrast that with what Jesus taught:

“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” (Luke 6:31-36).

This teaching does not reflect the times in which Jesus lived. It challenged the people to rise above what their culture had taught them to do. The philosophers of the Greco-Roman world did not teach love for fellow man, but the God of heaven did.

Jesus taught His disciples that they were to love one another as He loved them (Jn. 13:34-35). The disciples taught this same principle as they went about spreading the gospel. For example, Paul taught that if we engage in great activities, but do not have love, then it becomes meaningless (1 Cor. 13). He taught that love is essential to our relationships. It must be without hypocrisy, and we must be devoted to it (Rom. 12:9-10). John taught that love for one another was paramount. Failure to show love was tantamount to abiding in death, or even murdering your brethren (cf. 1 Jn. 3:11-18). Peter taught that, above all things, Christians must “keep fervent in your love for one another” (1 Pet. 4:8). Obedience to the truth leads to purified souls, and purified souls have a sincere and zealous love for others (1 Pet. 1:22-23).

So, the message of the gospel was one that would radically change how many would have thought back in the first century. Today, we hear about love, but we still see tendencies in the direction of a self-service “love” intended to benefit the donor. As Christians, we must rise above our culture, above the thinking of the day, and conform ourselves to the thinking of Christ, so that every thought will be in captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

Have you discovered the gospel of love? God loved you enough to send Jesus to die for you (Jn. 3:16). Given the amount of love He has shown, it is only right that we love Him in return. Have you demonstrated that you love God by obeying His will? Have you shown your love for your brethren by tending to their needs? Have you shown your love for the lost by reaching out to those around you? The love of God is rich indeed. Why not spread the wealth?

Doy Moyer