Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from The Literal English Translation of the Bible produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.
This week we continue to examine μὲνω (pronounced "meno" — Strong's #3306- to remain, to abide, to stay) as it applies to the concept of love presented in the Apostle John's letters. So far, our study has helped us understand that the word denotes a permanency of something/someone remaining or abiding in something/someone else. Last week, we began the study of μὲνω as it is used by John (1 John 3:10-14) to reveal characteristics of the children of God and the children of the devil: The one who is not practicing righteousness and is not loving his brother is not from God. John expressly states that the believer who is not loving the brother is abiding or remaining in death. His presentation is summarized in verse 14:
In the Bible, love is taught as being the very nature of God Himself, not as the human expression or actions we commonly associate with love. John establishes this fact for us in 1 John 4:8 where he writes, "The one not loving did not know God; because God is love." Additionally, Galatians 5:22 states that Agape love is a fruit produced by God's Spirit. Therefore, God is love and His love is produced in believers by the Holy Spirit. Consequently, those who have the Spirit of God abiding in them will be loving the brotherhood. John is clearly teaching that God's love, active in a believer's life, evidences that he/she belongs to the Lord.
This week our study of μὲνω is taken from 1 John 3 focusing on verses 15-18.
In this first argument, John uses the present participial form of μισὲω (pronounced "miseo" - Strong's #3404), which is translated "hating." Since the present participle expresses a lifestyle or habit of life, John is stating that the person who continually hates his brother is a murderer and does not have eternal life abiding in him. The word used here for "abiding" is μὲνω, our word of study. It is also in the present participial form; thereby denoting a continual state of being and shows that the person who continually hates does not have eternal life abiding in him at any time.
16) In this we have known the love of God, because that One laid down His life on behalf of us; and we are indebted to lay down our lives on behalf of the brothers.
In this verse, John is presenting the basis of love among believers: the laying down of Jesus' life on behalf of us; and this truth is the basis for the indebtedness of every believer. Jesus laid His life down for us and we, in turn, lay down our lives on behalf of the brothers.
John now gives an example of what the indwelling love will do in the life of a believer: If a believer observes his brother in need and does not have compassion on him, "how does the love of God abide in him?" John is teaching that if the love of God is abiding in a person confessing to belong to Christ, that person will give to meet the need of his brother.
John finishes his presentation with the fact that the love of God is evidenced by more than just talk; it is rather evidenced in action and truth.
In these few short verses, John makes it clear that love is not a single act; it is not momentarily present in a believer's life. To the contrary, the love of God is continually abiding in the life of the genuine believer and is continually leading that believer to lay down his/her life for the family of the Lord.
Next week we will continue our study of μὲνω from I John, Chapter 4, again focusing on the love of the Lord remaining or abiding in His people.
*MENO is the English font spelling of the Greek word μὲνω.
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.