Romans 12:9– From minus to plus!

Let love be unfeigned. Abhorring that which is wicked, clinging to good.

Earlier we noted that from verse 9 a dozen observations follow. Love is unfeigned. But there is so much more to be said about agapé love. She is abhorring that wich is wicked, that is, she has an aversion to it. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13, agape love “does not taking account of evil” (1 Cor.13:5). Because of this intrinsic aversion, she also assumes no harm in the other. She is not distrustful and does not assume bad motives in advance. Love does not deny wickedness, but it does have a built-in aversion to thinking in those terms.

Positively formulated, attaches love to the good. She instinctively feels drawn to it. Whereby we have to think of ‘good’ (Gr. agatos) of things that meet the intended purpose. For example, we read about a “good tree” that is recognized by its “good fruits” (Matt.7:17). Or seed that falls into “good soil” (Luke 8:15) because it germinates there and bears fruit. Agapé love is by nature and by definition positive. She is always looking for opportunities to turn things around. God is love and therefore also good. He turns every minus into a plus!

Delen: