Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series I/Volume V/On Grace and Free Will/Abstract/Chapter 35

by Philip Schaff et al.

Chapter 35.—Commendations of Love.

The Apostle Peter, likewise, says, “And, above all things, have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins.”^[1] The Apostle James also says, “If ye fulfil the royal law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.”^[2] So also the Apostle John says, “He that loveth his brother abideth in the right;”^[3] again, in another passage, “Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother; for this is the message which we have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”^[4] Then he says again, “This is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another.”^[5] Once more: “And this commandment have we from Him that he who loveth God love his brother also.”^[6] Then shortly afterwards he adds, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments; for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.”^[7] While, in his second Epistle, it is written, “Not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.”^[8]

Footnotes

1. 1 Pet. iv. 8.
2. Jas. ii. 8.
3. 1 John ii. 10.
4. 1 John iii. 10, 11.
5. 1 John iii. 23.
6. 1 John iv. 21.
7. 1 John v. 2, 3.
8. 2 John ver. 5.