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 Gospel According to John
The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth, a 25-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, examines the Fourth Gospel’s view of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, with special emphasis on the institution of the sacraments of the Church as the means by which Christians are purified and made holy. This recently revised study includes maps and additional commentary, and takes a closer look at the way in which Jesus relates to individual men and women. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

Click on the picture of the statue of Moses with horns (above) to learn more about Lost in Translation. A new entry is archived each Monday. Contact us to receive Lost in Translation by email every week. You may use any of the contact links on our website to ask Matthew a question.