you are my friends - Turning to God's Word

The fifteenth chapter of the Gospel According to John (NABRE) contains Jesus’ commandment to his followers: “love one another as I have loved you.” The word here translated as love, ἀγαπάω (agapao), is the verb form of the Greek agape, which often is used to describe God’s love for humanity. The full connotation of this word is described in the archived post about agape.

What is especially interesting in this week’s passage is what comes next. In the Gospel According to John 15:14 (NABRE), Jesus says: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” The word here translated as friend is φίλος (philos), related to another of the Greek words for love, φιλία (philia). This word can be used to describe friends or family. Jesus wants to make us friends or even family. We can’t form close friendship or familiar relationships with those with whom we have nothing in common. By following God’s commandments and loving (agape) others, we become enough like God to be his friends.

you also may like our study of the book of Genesis
The first seven lessons of In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis, a 28-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, provide an in-depth look at the very earliest biblical history—including the two accounts of Creation, events surrounding the Fall of Adam and Eve, the relationship between Cain and Abel, and the baptismal foreshadowing present in the account of Noah and the Flood. Remaining lessons look at lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Click here to view a sample of the first lesson.

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