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Greater Love Hath No Man

Greater Love Hath No Man

Excerpted from Roy’s published book The Gospel of John, An Actual Translation

Roy Blizzard III © 2012

John 15:13 “A man does not have love greater than this; he gives himself on behalf of his chosen.”(Often translated erroneously as beloved, see verse 14 below, since it can have a dual meaning. This passage is one of the most misunderstood passages in the entire Bible. Usually mistranslated and used as a proof text for passivism and altruism, the act of passivism and altruism escapes the entire context of Yeshua’s message. How Did Yeshua “give” himself to his own? By spending His entire life educating them in the Truth of God. We can’t die for another in order to be self righteous, or all we’d have to do is run up to someone and say I kill myself for you and commit suicide. But, we can give our lives to others by properly educating them and this fits the Torah, Talmud and all other Jewish writings) [Proverbs 8:21, Isaiah 5:1 ff, reference back to John 13:34ff, 33:6, 49:7-12] {Leviticus 19:16, “You shall not stand by the blood of your fellow.” It is understood in the Talmud that that one must do everything in his or her power to save the life of another Jew, even if this involves a violation of one or more of the mitzvoth except one of the following, idolatry, sexual misconduct such as incest, adultery and murder, so we can’t commit suicide on behalf of another. Sanhedrin 74a, Pirkei Avot 1:12-14, 3:14, 5:19…The disciples of our father Abraham have a good eye, a meek spirit and a humble soul. … The disciples of our father Abraham benefit in this world and inherit the World To Come, and as is stated, “There is an inheritance to those who love Me, and their treasures I shall fill” – Proverbs 8:21} (The Greek word θῇ which has been usually mistranslated as to put down or die should be more properly thought of as to give of oneself not give over oneself, thus you find in Pirkei Avot the following concepts, 1) It is a sign of even greater love that it has been made known to him that he was created in the image, as it is says, “For in the image of God, He made man” (Genesis 9:6). 2) It is a sign of even greater love that it has been made known to them that they are called children of God, as it is stated: “You are children of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 14:1). 3) It is a sign of even greater love that it has been made known to them that they were given a precious article, as it is stated: “I have given you a good purchase; My Torah, do not forsake it” (Proverbs 4:2).

This is the real meaning: Greater love hath no man that he gives of his life to the betterment of others and brings life to their bones by teaching them the ways of God.

If you have enjoyed understanding this verse in a new and richer way look for the rest of the Gospel of John, An Actual Translation in print now. “The Gospel of John, An Actual Translation”

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