How do we truly love others, and what does it mean to love God with our whole being? In this rich and deeply engaging conversation with New Testament scholar Dr. Nijay Gupta, Mike and Tim explore the heart of Paul’s theology of love, as captured in Nijay’s newest book, “The Affections of Christ Jesus.” Tackling questions like "Can we love someone we don’t like?" and "Is empathy a sin?", they unpack the biblical roots of love, the emotional texture behind divine commands, and why reducing love to cold obedience misses the point entirely.

Rooted in Deuteronomy, Philippians, and an astute understanding of emotional theory, Nijay reclaims love not as sentiment or robotic duty, but as an embodied, whole-person orientation empowered by attachment, compassion, and relationship. Whether it’s God's jealous love, the fear of the Lord, or cultivating inner affections toward enemies and neighbors alike, this episode beautifully bridges emotional intelligence with biblical theology.

Key Takeaways:
• Love is Whole-Personed and Relational – True biblical love involves the body, mind, emotions, and will—it’s not just about doing the right thing, but being reoriented toward others from the heart.
• The Hebrew and Greek Understanding of Love – Love is visceral. In biblical language, emotions arise from the ‘guts,’ not just the heart. The Greek word "splanchnizomai" captures compassion as a deep, bodily movement.
• From Cold Obedience to Cultivated Affection – Love is not sustained without empathy and proximity. Ongoing acts of love without emotional investment eventually collapse.
• God’s Jealousy and Fear of the Lord – God's jealousy is protective, not petty. And fearing God is less horror and more awe—like standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon or beholding a thunderstorm.
• Empathy Isn’t a Sin—it’s Sacred – While some critique empathy as misguided, Nijay defends it as humanity's superpower and essential to resisting dehumanization and injustice.
• Forming Affections through Repetition and Proximity – Nijay shares how showing up for a small group of teenage boys each week moved his heart toward genuine love for them over time.

Resources Mentioned:
• The Affections of Christ Jesus: Love at the Heart of Paul’s Theology by Nijay Gupta
• BibleProject – bibleproject.com
• School of Practical Theology – Co-hosted by Nijay Gupta and AJ Swoboda on the Slow Theology podcast
• Caitlin Beatty’s “Celebrities for Jesus” – Insights on power, intimacy, and proximity within Christian leadership
• Substack: Engaging Scripture by Nijay Gupta – nijaygupta.substack.com
• New Living Translation Committee – Translating biblical texts for clarity and faithfulness

Join Mike, Tim, and Nijay in reflecting on what it means to authentically tentacle your soul—yes, tentacle—around God and neighbor in ways that form you into a person of active, grounded love.

Let’s recapture what Paul meant by “the affections of Christ Jesus.”

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Music by Timothy John Stafford
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We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

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Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy