Skip to content

Add your phone number?

Optional. Nothing is sent unless you choose it.
The Historic Faith
Sign in

Jumpstarter 8 of 10

Ideas to help restart your discussion
Romans Commentary Chapters 9-16  /  Romans 13:8 – 10 Love Fulfills the Law  /  Discussion Questions
All Questions
Question 8
Origen says we can “substitute” “Love your neighbor as yourself” for most of the Ten Commandments; what would be gained and what might be lost if a church discipled believers primarily by training them in love rather than by listing forbidden behaviors?
Another way to ask: Origen says “Love your neighbor as yourself” can stand in for most of the Ten Commandments. What might a church gain—and what might it lose—if it trained people mainly to love instead of mainly listing forbidden sins?

Direct Answer The transcript suggests a major gain would be discipling people at the level of motive and meaning—love naturally prevents the harms the commandments forbid. A possible loss is that without clear application, some could become vague about what love requires, even though Paul and the fathers in the transcript keep showing love’s concrete moral implications.

Support from Transcript:

  • Origen is quoted: we can “simply substitute” “Love your neighbor as yourself” for most of the Ten Commandments.
  • He gives concrete links: if we love, we “certainly are not going to murder…commit adultery…bear false witness…nor desire” our neighbor’s things.
  • Paul lists specific commandments (adultery, kill, steal, false witness, covet) and says they are “briefly summed up” in love.
  • Paul adds a clarifying outcome: “Love works no harm to its neighbor,” so love isn’t undefined sentiment.
  • Chrysostom’s phrase “mother of good works” implies love generates obedience in real actions.
Discussion Follow-ups How could a church train believers in love in ways that stay specific (no harm, truthfulness, faithfulness) without reverting to mere rule-lists? What examples would you use?

Jumpstarter 8 of 10
Back Questions Next