I have been trying to get a handle on the perfect love passages in 1
John. I was wondering if anyone might be able to shed some more light
on the subject.
1 John 2:5
h AGAPh TOU QEOU TETELEIWTAI
1 John 4:12
KAI h AGAPh AUTOU EN hMIN TETELEIWMENh
1 John 4:17
EN TOUTW TETELEIWTAI h AGAPh
1 John 4:18
hO DE PHOBOUMENOS OU TETELEIWTAI IN Th AGAPh
There is also the adjective
1 John 4:18
ALL' h TELEIA AGAPh EXW BALLEI TON PHOBON
To make my question simple: I just don't get the idea of tel*. I have
looked at BAGD and Kittel, but I still don't quite grasp what is being
said. The idea of "perfect, mature" seems to imply in my thinking that
there is an imperfect or immature type of love also.
Is John somehow saying that there is a love which is not perfect? Or is
the "perfect" love the love which is found in man at salvation? What is
being said by the perfect tense verbs? Well, I think you'all get the
gist of my struggle. I am hoping that maybe some of you have dealt with
this before and can help me here.
Thanks,
Tom