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The Nature of Love – Why Does Love Bring Suffering?

World literature and world cinema have created an attractive image of love. In real life, love often brings suffering and pain rather than joy and happiness, which are also undoubtedly present. What is the real nature of love, why is a person built with the need to love and be loved, and the need for an unceasing relationship filled with love? I would also like to draw attention to the fact that God, who loves us, also went through suffering and death so that a person could build these eternal relationships with Him, or refuse them.

1 After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them and spent three Sabbaths speaking to them from the Scriptures,

3 revealing and proving to them that Christ must needs suffer and rise from the dead, and that this Christ is Jesus whom I preach to you.

4 And some of them believed and joined Paul and Silas, both of the Greeks who worshiped God, a great multitude, and of the noble women not a few.

5 But the unbelieving Jews, becoming jealous, took some wicked men from the marketplace, gathered together as a crowd and stirred up the city, and came to the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

6 When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers to the city officials, shouting, “These troublemakers of the world have come here too,

7 And Jason received them, and they all act contrary to the commands of Caesar, considering another king, Jesus.

8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city who heard these things.

9 But these, having received assurance from Jason and the rest, let them go.

10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, where they arrived and went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 Now these men were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness of mind, and examined the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

12 And many of them believed, and not a few of the Greeks, both men and women of honor.

13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been preached by Paul also at Berea, they came there also, stirring up and agitating the people.

14 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul away, as if he were going to the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 Those who accompanied Paul brought him to Athens, and when they received orders for Silas and Timothy to come to him quickly, they set out.

(Acts 17:1-15)

We try to evangelize and talk about Christ to people who do not know the Law and it is difficult for them to understand that they are sinners and that they need a Redeemer. The nature of love is such that it leads to unity and oneness of lovers, if one of the parties is not perfect, then this causes painful emotions for the perfect party. The sinless Jesus died for sinful people. Now we need to become perfect.

I Paul preached Christ to people who knew the Law.

II Successful preaching of the Gospel can cause jealousy

III Paul and Silas were sent to Berea, where they preached Christ.

Successful preaching of Christ includes the demands of the Law, the recognition of oneself as a sinner, and the search for a solution to the problem of sins – the need for the substitutionary sacrifice of the Messiah. Successful preaching causes envy and brings suffering to those who preach.

Why is a “gradual” approach necessary in preaching the Gospel – the law, the realization of sinfulness, and the need for Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice.

Preaching the gospel, especially in the context of the themes of law, grace, and Christ's substitutionary sacrifice, can be controversial and controversial. Here are some possible counterarguments to the idea of gradually preaching these themes:

1. The Need for Clarity: Some argue that gradual preaching can lead to misunderstandings of the basics of the faith. A clear and direct presentation of the doctrine of grace and the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ can be more effective for spiritual growth.

2. Focus on the Law: Preaching the law can be seen as a return to works, which is contrary to the doctrine of grace. Some believe that an emphasis on the law can distract from the central message of salvation through faith in Christ.

3. Risk of Legalism: The gradual introduction of law may lead to a legalistic attitude among believers, where the emphasis will be on keeping rules instead of a personal relationship with Christ.

4. Difficulty for New Believers: New believers may have difficulty understanding complex concepts such as law and grace. A straightforward explanation of grace may be more accessible and understandable.

5. Historical Context: Some may argue that the early Church did not use a gradual approach but preached the Gospel in its fullness all at once, which led to the rapid spread of Christianity.

6. Moral Responsibility: Preaching grace should not exclude the moral obligations of believers. Some may argue that emphasizing grace without mentioning the law can lead to moral laxity.

7. Spiritual Condition of the Audience: Depending on the spiritual condition of the audience, a more direct appeal to the theme of Christ's sacrifice may be necessary to encourage repentance and faith.

Let us look at the historical context of our passage in order to better understand the issue of correct, “gradual” evangelism, in particular, and in general, about the nature of love, and why the side that loves more suffers more, how love and suffering are generally related, and is it possible to do without suffering if you truly love someone?

To do this, we need to conduct a historical and cultural analysis of our passage.

Let us first examine the history of the writing of the book of Acts of the Apostles, or as it is also called, the “Book of the Acts of the Holy Spirit.”

The Book of Acts, also known simply as Acts, is part of the New Testament of the Bible and is traditionally attributed to the Apostle Luke. Luke, who is also considered the author of the Gospel of Luke, was a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul.

The Acts of the Apostles describes the history of the early Christian church, beginning with the ascension of Jesus Christ and ending with the missionary journeys of Paul. The book contains many details about the spread of Christianity and the interactions of the early Christians with the outside world.

Although Luke's authorship is traditional and widely accepted, some modern scholars have cast doubt on it based on various textual and historical analyses. However, most Christian denominations continue to accept Luke as the author of the book.

The Book of Acts in the New Testament is addressed primarily to the Christian community, as well as anyone interested in the history of the early church and the spread of Christianity. It is written by Luke, who is also the author of the Gospel of Luke. Luke begins the book by addressing a certain Theophilus, which may indicate that he was writing for a specific person or group of people who wanted to know more about the deeds and teachings of Jesus Christ and his followers after his ascension.

The exact date of the writing of the Book of Acts is not known, but most scholars assume that it was written between 70 and 90 AD. Some researchers believe that the book may have been completed around the 80s, since it ends with a description of events that took place in Rome and does not mention the destruction of Jerusalem in 70. This may indicate that the author wrote after these events, but before the end of the first century.

The purpose of the book of Acts is this:

1. Documenting Early Christianity: The book describes the formation and spread of the Christian church after the ascension of Jesus Christ, showing how the apostles and other followers preached the gospel.

2. Historical Context: Acts provides historical information about key figures such as Peter and Paul, as well as important events and missionary journeys that contributed to the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

3. Strengthening Faith: The book serves as a source of inspiration to believers by highlighting the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the apostles and believers, and by demonstrating how faith can overcome difficulties and persecution.

4. Explaining the mission of the church: Acts emphasizes the universality of the message of Christianity, showing that the gospel is not only for Jews but also for Gentiles.

5. Showing the Unity of the Church: The book emphasizes unity between different groups of believers, emphasizing the importance of community and cooperation in spreading the faith.

Chapter 17 of the Book of Acts describes several key historical moments related to the missionary work of the Apostle Paul. Here are the main events:

1. Philippi and Thessalonica: Paul and his companions (Silas and Timothy) travel from Philippi to Thessalonica, where he preaches in the synagogue. He explains that Jesus is the Messiah and uses the Scriptures to support his claims.

2. Reaction to the Sermon: Paul's sermon provokes various reactions. Some of the Jews and many of the Gentiles accept the faith, but others, envious of Paul's success, raise a wave of opposition against him and his companions.

3. Thessalonica Pogrom: Paul's opponents riot and he is forced to leave the city. This event highlights the tensions between the early Christians and the Jewish authorities.

4. Berea: Paul and Silas go to Berea, where the people are more noble-minded: they receive the word readily and search the Scriptures to test the truthfulness of Paul's teaching.

5. The Reaction at Berea: When the Jews of Thessalonica learn that Paul is preaching in Berea, they come there to cause a commotion. Paul is forced to leave the city again, while Silas and Timothy remain.

Chapter 17 of the Book of Acts describes several key geographical locations associated with the missionary work of the Apostle Paul. Here are the main ones:

1. Philippi: This is the city in Macedonia where Paul and his companions began their missionary work. Here they met Lydia, the first convert to Christianity, and founded the first Christian community in Europe.

2. Thessalonica: After Philip, Paul goes to Thessalonica (modern Salonika), a large city, where he preaches in the synagogue. Here he encounters opposition from some Jews, which leads to his forced departure.

3. Berea: From Thessalonica, Paul and Silas head to Berea (modern-day Berea). Here the people are more willing to listen to Paul and test his teachings against the Scriptures.

Acts 17 contains several cultural points that highlight the early Christians' interactions with different cultures and religious traditions. Here are some of them:

1. Missionary work in different cities: Paul preaches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Athens, which demonstrates his desire to bring Christian teachings to different peoples and cultures. Each of these cities had its own unique cultural and religious traditions.

2. Synagogues as centers of communication: In Thessalonica and Berea, Paul addresses the Jews in the synagogues. This emphasizes the importance of synagogues as places for discussing religious issues and spreading new ideas.

3. The Philosophical Context of Athens: When Paul arrives in Athens, he encounters a rich philosophical tradition. Athens was a center of philosophy, where thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle studied. Paul mentions the “unknown God,” which shows his attempt to establish a dialogue with the Athenian philosophers and religious leaders.

4. Idolatry: In Athens, Paul notices many idols, reflecting the polytheistic culture of the Greeks. His sermon on the one God and how idols are merely the work of human hands is a criticism of this practice.

5. Reaction to the Sermon: The different reactions to Paul's sermon among the Athenians illustrate cultural differences. Some of them ridicule him, others are interested and want to hear more, which shows the diversity of opinions and openness to new ideas in Athenian society.

Let's consider the literary context of our passage.

The Book of Acts of the Apostles is a genre of historical literature within the New Testament. It describes the early history of Christianity, the work of the apostles, especially the apostle Paul, and the spread of the Christian faith after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Some key characteristics of the genre:

1. Historical Narrative: The Acts of the Apostles is a sequential account of the events that took place in the early church, beginning with the day of Pentecost and ending with Paul's travels.

2. Preaching and Teaching: The book contains the sermons and teachings of the apostles, which emphasizes the importance of transmitting the faith and the basics of Christian doctrine.

3. The context of cultural and religious interactions: Acts describes how early Christians interacted with different cultures and religions, which is important for understanding the spread of Christianity.

4. Spiritual Experiences: The book also emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, who guides and supports the apostles in their missionary work.

Thus, the Acts of the Apostles represents an important source of information about early Christianity and its development in historical context.

An outline of the Book of Acts that can be used to study and understand its contents:

Introduction

1. Preface (Acts 1:1-2)

• Mention of the previous book (Gospel of Luke).

• Purpose of writing: to tell about the deeds of Jesus and the apostles.

I. The Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost (Acts 1-2)

2. The Ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:3-11)

• The Promise of the Holy Spirit.

• Ascension to heaven.

3. The Substitution of Judas (Acts 1:12-26)

• The choice of Matthias as an apostle.

4. Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)

• Descent of the Holy Spirit.

• Speaking in tongues.

5. Peter's Sermon (Acts 2:14-41)

• Explanation of events and call to repentance.

• Formation of the first church.

II. Life of the Early Church in Jerusalem (Acts 2-7)

6. Fellowship of Believers (Acts 2:42-47)

• Teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer.

7. Healing the Lame Man (Acts 3:1-10)

• Peter's sermon after the healing.

8. Peter's Sermon Before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-22)

• Arrest and release of the apostles.

9. Community Life (Acts 4:23-37)

• Prayer and unity of believers.

10. The Death of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)

• An example of a lie and its consequences.

11. Persecution of the Apostles (Acts 5:12-42)

• Miracles and arrests.

III. The Spread of the Gospel Outside Jerusalem (Acts 8-12)

12. Philip's Preaching in Samaria (Acts 8:1-25)

• Acceptance of the Gospel by Samaria.

13. Healing the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)

14. The Conversion of Saul (Acts 9:1-19)

• Transfiguration of Saul into Paul.

15. Peter's Activity (Acts 9:20-43)

• Healing of Aeneas and resurrection of Tabitha.

16. The First Mission to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48)

• The call of Cornelius and the vision of Peter.

17. Missionary Report (Acts 11:1-18)

18. Mission to Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)

• Formation of the church in Antioch.

19. Persecution of the Jerusalem Church (Acts 12:1-19)

• The arrest of James and the release of Peter.

IV. Paul's First Missionary Journeys (Acts 13-21)

20. The First Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14)

• Epistle from Antioch, preaching in Cyprus and Asia Minor.

21. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1-35)

• The decision to save the Gentiles without circumcision.

22. The Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)

• Travel through the Syrian, Cilician and Macedonian regions.

23. The Third Missionary Journey (Acts 18:23-21:16)

• Preaching in Ephesus and other cities.

V. The Final Part: The Arrest and the Journey to Rome (Acts 21-28)

24. Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-36)

25. Paul's Defense Before the Sanhedrin and the Roman Authorities (Acts 22-26)

26. Journey to Rome (Acts 27-28)

• Storm and shipwreck.

• Paul's preaching in Rome.

Conclusion

27. Paul's Last Days in Rome (Acts 28:17-31)

• Preaching and teaching in Rome.

Our passage is in Section IV, Paul's First Missionary Journeys. In Section 22, "Paul's Second Missionary Journey"

The Holy Scriptures reveal to us not only the history of the spread of the church in the territory of modern Europe, but also the principles that guided the first missionaries.

Chapter 17 of the Book of Acts is part of the second missionary journey of the Apostle Paul and contains important events related to his preaching in various cities. Here are the main points of the relationship of chapter 17 with the section on the first missionary journeys:

1. Continuation of missionary activity

• Context: Chapter 17 follows the account of the first missionary journey (Acts 13-14) and is part of the second (Acts 15:36-18:22). Paul and his companions continue their mission, preaching the gospel in new areas.

2. Preaching in Philippi (Acts 16:11-40)

• Connection to Chapter 17: Before going to Thessalonica, Paul preaches in Philippi, where he is arrested and miraculously delivered. These events set the stage for the next phase of his mission.

3. Preaching in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9)

• Summary: Paul begins his sermon in the synagogue of Thessalonica where he explains that Jesus is the Messiah. He uses Scripture to support his words.

• Connection: This reflects Paul's method, which he had used in previous journeys, of reaching Jewish audiences through the synagogues.

4. Reaction and persecution

• Persecution of Paul: As a result of his successful preaching, jealousy arises among some of the Jews, which leads to riots and persecution of Paul and his companions.

• Connection with previous journeys: This also recalls the reaction to Paul's preaching in other cities, such as Antioch of Pisidia and Lystra, where he encountered opposition.

5. Preaching in Berea (Acts 17:10-15)

• Move to Berea: After Thessalonica, Paul and Silas travel to Berea, where they find a more receptive audience who search the Scriptures.

• Methodology: This approach to studying Scripture was also characteristic of Paul in his previous missions.

6. Preaching in Athens (Acts 17:16-34)

• Cultural context: In Athens, Paul encounters philosophers and idolaters. His preaching here differs from other places because he uses philosophical arguments and appeals to the culture of his listeners.

• Diversity of Approaches: This shows Paul's adaptation to different cultural contexts, which was also evident in his first missionary journey when he preached to both Jews and Gentiles.

Acts 17 illustrates the continuation of Paul's missionary work, his adaptation to different cultural contexts and preaching methods. These elements echo the same principles that were laid down in his early missionary journeys, demonstrating the consistency and development of his ministry.

1 {Ministry in Thessalonica} After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

2 Paul, as was his custom, went into the synagogue and there for three consecutive Sabbaths reasoned with the Jews about the Scriptures,

3 explaining and proving that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “Jesus, about whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ,” Paul said.

4 They succeeded in persuading some Jews, many God-fearing Greeks, and many noble women, and they joined Paul and Silas.

5 This aroused the envy of the rest of the Jews, and they took with them the wicked men they found in the marketplace, and gathered a mob and stirred up trouble in the city. They rushed to Jason's house, looking for Paul and Silas, so that they could bring them out to the crowd.

6 When they did not find them there, they dragged Jason and the other brothers to the city authorities. “These people are causing trouble all over the world, and now they have come here too,” the crowd shouted.

7 – And Jason received them into his house. They violate the commands of Caesar and say that there is another king, whose name is Jesus.

8 The crowd and the city authorities, hearing this, became alarmed.

9 They took a pledge from Jason and the rest and sent them away.

10 {Ministry in Berea} As soon as night had come, the brothers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived at Berea, they went into the Jewish synagogue.

11 The Bereans were more open-minded than the Thessalonians. They listened with great interest to what Paul said and examined the Scriptures daily to see if what they had heard was true.

12 Many of them believed, and many noble Greek women and many Greek men believed.

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there also and began to stir up and agitate the people.

14 The brothers immediately sent Paul away to the seaside, but Silas and Timothy remained in the city.

15 Paul's companions came with him to Athens and then returned with a command from Paul that Silas and Timothy should come to him as quickly as possible.

(Acts 17:1-15)

I Paul preached Christ to people who knew the Law.

A It is difficult for a person to understand that he is a sinner.

B Man can perceive God's perfect law

C A person may conclude that he is not fulfilling the Law

D Sinful man needs a Redeemer – Christ

E And Paul preached it.

F Paul's preaching was successful

G This caused envy and persecution

II Successful preaching of the Gospel arouses envy

A Jason and the other brothers were brought before the authorities

B They were accused of following another king – treason.

C Jason and the other brothers were given bail and released.

D Following Christ brings suffering into life

III Paul and Silas were released to Berea

A They came to the synagogue in Berea

B The Bereans were more open to the Gospel

C We searched the Scriptures every day

D Many of the Greeks and Greek women believed

E The Jews from Thessalonica came to Berea and stirred up the people there,

F Paul was sent to Athens

Throughout the Bible, the idea of God's progressive revelation runs through. God created man for an eternal, loving relationship. Sinful man failed to maintain that relationship, and it was destroyed.

The coming of Jesus Christ into the world gives man a second chance – the opportunity to restore these relationships. For Jesus Christ, the restoration of these relationships became the reason for His crucifixion, death and resurrection.

When we enter into this restored relationship, we also have to tell people about the forgiveness of sins, about salvation from hell and eternal death. And we also face misunderstanding, unbelief and envy.

Love leads us to those people who have not heard of Christ and who suffer from sin, being its slaves. We will not always be received with “bread and salt” or open arms. This path can be difficult and tragic, but we must continue to follow the path that our Savior Jesus Christ walked.

Why are love and suffering inseparable? When we love, we are united with the object of our love. We not only hope to possess it, but we also give ourselves into the possession of the other party. In essence, marriage is a sacrifice, where spouses sacrifice themselves and their interests for the sake of the happiness of their spouse. It is important that this be a correct, legal relationship. In the relationship between a man and a woman, it must be a legal marriage. In the relationship with Christ, it is complete obedience to His Word.

May God bless you in your search for truth.

With respect, prayers for you and God's love

Rustam Kodash Nasyrov