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This simple survey of biblical texts shows how the subject of love between God and Yeshua is a central expression of their mutual relationship. They love each other.
What is absent from all these texts is that neither God (the Father) nor Yeshua ever say they love the Holy Spirit. Nor does the Spirit ever express love for Father and Son.
Orthodox theologians often speak of the mutual fellowship, communion, and love among the three members of the Godhead. These affirmations are theoretical, having no biblical basis.
People Must Love [ohev] God
Deut 6:5; 11:1; 30:16 — Love the LORD your God.
Psalm 31:23 (Heb 34) — Love the LORD, all his loyal ones [hasidim].
God Loved [ahav] His People Israel
Deut 7:8 — It was because God loved you
Hosea 11:1 — When Israel was a child I loved him.
Malachi 1:2 — I have loved you, says the LORD
God Loves [ahav] Individuals
2 Sam 12:24 — They named him Solomon; the LORD loved him
Neh 13:26 — [Solomon] was loved by the LORD
People Love [ahav] God in Return
1 Kings 3:3 — Solomon loved the LORD.
Psalm 116:1 — I love the LORD because He hears my voice
and my supplications.
(Note: 1 John 4:19 — We love him because he first loved us.)
God and Yeshua
Prophecy & Fulfillment
Isaiah 42:1 — Behold, my Servant, whom I uphold; my Chosen One, in whom my soul delights.
Matthew 12:18 — Behold, my Servant whom I have chosen; my Beloved in whom my soul is well-pleased.
God Declares His Love at Yeshua's Immersion
Matt 3:17 — This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.
Mark 1:11 — You are my Beloved Son, in you I am well-pleased.
Luke 3:22 — You are my Beloved Son, in you I am well-pleased.
God Declares His Love on the Mountain
Matt 17:5 — This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Hear him!
Mark 9:7 — This is my Beloved Son, listen to him!
Luke 9:35 — This is my Son, (the) Chosen One [or, my Chosen Son], listen to him!
Yeshua Tells of God’s Love
John 3:35 — The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
John 5:20a — The Father dearly loves the Son and shows him all things that he himself is doing.
John 10:17 — For this reason, the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
John 15:9 — Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; abide in my love.
John 17:23b — ...that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me.
John 17:24b — ...you loved me before the foundation of the world.
John 17:26 — I have made your name known to them, and will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Yeshua Declares His Love for God
John 14:31a — ...that the world may know that I love the Father.
Paul Mentions God's Love for Yeshua
Ephesians 1:6 — ...[God's] glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved one.
Colossians 1:13 — [God] has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son whom he loves.
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Vocabulary Notes
Isaiah 42:1 — Behold, my Servant, whom I uphold; my chosen one, in whom my soul delights.
uphold [etmakh] — root: tamakh, to take hold of, hold up, support.
chosen [bechiri] — root: bachar, to choose. The people Israel is God's Bachir in Isa 43:20; 45:4; 65:9,15,22. The "Servant" here in 42:1 is an individual within the people. See the related study: Eved Adonai: The Two Servants in Isaiah.
delights [ratztah]— root: ratzah, to delight in, be pleased with, approve of, accept.
Matt 12:18 — Behold, my Servant whom I have chosen; my Beloved in whom my soul is well-pleased.
"Beloved" is Middle English for a dearly loved one, someone dear to the heart. The Greek word is agapetos, from the root: agape. In the Septuagint Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, agapetos is used in place of yachid ("one and only") in:
Gen 22:2, 12, 16 — Isaac is Abraham's one and only (son)
Judg 11:34 — "She was [Jepthah's] one and only (yechidah, daughter)."
Amos 8:10b — "I will make it a time of mourning for an only (son)."
Zech 12:10 — "They will look on me whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for him, as one mourns for a one and only (son)."
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Mt 3:17 — This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.
Mk 1:11 — You are my Beloved Son, in you I am well-pleased.
Lk 3:22 — You are my Beloved Son, in you I am well-pleased.
The phrase "Beloved Son" is ho huios mou ho agapetos, or literally "my son, the beloved one." In this construction where a noun follows another noun, both in the nominative case, the second noun can serve as an adjective and be translated "Beloved Son." But it's also possible to render this phrase more literally with an allusion to an echoing Hebrew background:
"This is my Son, the Yachid [One and Only]" or "This is my One and Only Son."
Note Genesis 22:2: "And [God] said, ‘Take now your son, your yachid [one and only son], whom you love, Isaac.’ ”
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God's Love
John 3:35 — The Father loves [agapao] the Son and has given all things into his hand.
John 5:20a — The Father dearly loves [phileo; have affection for, cherish, be fond of] the Son and shows him all things that he himself is doing.
John 10:17 — For this reason, the Father loves [agapao] me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
John 15:9 — Just as the Father has loved [agapao] me, I have also loved [agapao] you; abide in my love [agape].
John 17:23b — ...that the world may know that you sent me and loved [agapao] them, even as you loved [agapao] me.
John 17:24b — ...you loved [agapao] me before the foundation of the world.
John 17:26 — I have made your name known to them, and will make it known, that the love [agape] with which you loved [agapao] me may be in them, and I in them.
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• Paul Sumner
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