Exposition of John XXI: 15-17 [pp. 514-516]

1875.] EXPOSITION OF JOHN. 515
These two verbs are said to correspond, dya~6~ to diltgo,
and (pZ~E'&3 to amo, in Latin. Cicero thus discriminates theser
"Ut scires ilium a me non diligi solum, verum etiam amari,"
meaning that he not only esteemed his friend, but loved him with
a warm personal affection. Again he says, "L. Clodius valde
me diligit, vel, ut e~~arz~wr~poi' dicam, valde me amat.'
Of the two, however, diligo is the higher word, denoting to
elect, to honor, prize highly, have affection for in view of ezcel
lence. Hence, Jerome says, "Diliges dominum Deum tuum ex
toto corde." Of precisely like import is a'yaffa'w, expressing
high regard for one in view of great worth, or for one as a benefactor, while (pZ~i&), as French says, is more instinctive, more
llnreasoning, and implies rather feeling and passion, or as a
learned Greek scholar in a note to the writer remarks,
"a'yaffa'a) denotes rational love especially, i. e., that which is
founded on admirable qualities; cpzA~~ (!enotes natural love,
such as arises from family relationship or personal intercourse."
In the~funeral oration over C~sar to the Roman people, An
toni us says, "~cpzA)~ar~ av'r()Y ~~ ~az
w ~v'epy~rqY."
The two words then differ not so much in degree as in kind,
or in their application.
When men are commanded to love God, and his people are
said to love him, <pzA~~ is not used.
We are now prepared to see the force of these two words, as
used by Christ and Peter. Lange, in his Commentary, says,
"The significant difference between aya7taY and cpz1~z~ cannot
well be rendered in English, unless we translate (p~Aw~E, I
dearly love thee. aya7ra'&) is used of the higher, reverential,
constant, unwavering love, such as we ought to have to God as
well as to man, and such as Christ had to John (v. 20) and
his Church. cpLA~z~ means personal, emotional love and friendship."
This distinction being so marked, it surely was not an accident
that Christ, in the first two questions, used a'ya~~~, and in the
last, q)zAi&), while Peter in all his answers used <pzAi~. First,
Christ said to Peter, ayaffa)5 ~~? have you a loving regard for
me an affection founded on an appreciation of my excellence?
This word seems to the ardent, impassioned Peter inadequate
to express the warm affection of his heart towards the Saviour,