In different places and on different occasions, I have different people prevaricate on what the opposite of love is. Some have made some good points, and have suggested some of the following are opposite of love.
Apathy
Rev. 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Fear
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Jealousy
Song of Solomon 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
Lust
Proverbs 6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Hate
Psalms 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil:
Ecclesiastes 3:8 A time to love , and a time to hate
All of the above have some elements that are the opposite of love. While love is a feeling, apathy is no feeling at well. Lust takes an expression of love and consumes it for itself. Cupid, in ancient Greece known as Eros, is the ubiquitous symbol of today's holiday of love. Interestingly, eros, one of the Greek's words for "love", is not used at all in the New Testament.
Although many have suggested other "opposites" for love that have some merit, it seems to me that hate is the word used in the Bible as the most direct opposite of love -- Ecclesiastes 3:8 being an excellent example.
1 comment:
The element of apathy seems to merit attention in these troubled times.
We are a people who have become apathetic and indifferent by becoming insulated from elements of biblical truth. It seems as long as we are in our comfort zone so to speak, why should the boat be rocked? We have allowed popular culture to inflict wounds of indifference to the point of no return. The old adage, " You must stand for something, lest you fall for anything," is sorely absent at this hour. Shall God bring us to our knees as never before?
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