Role of Affections in Biblical Hermeneutics
Affections, understood as feelings or emotions, play a significant role in biblical hermeneutics, guiding believers in their understanding and application of scripture. The Bible speaks of various affections, distinguishing between "vile affections" (Romans 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Colossians 3:5) on one hand, and spiritual or gracious affections on the other [1]. Christians are exhorted to direct their affections toward heavenly matters (Colossians 3:2) [1].
The proper orientation of affections is a recurring theme in scripture. Believers are called to set their affections supremely upon God (Deuteronomy 6:3; Mark 12:30) and upon His commandments (Psalm 19:8-10; 119:20, 97, 103, 167) [3]. This also extends to the house and worship of God (1 Chronicles 29:3; Psalm 26:8; 27:4; 84:1, 2) and to fellow believers (Psalm 16:3; Romans 12:10; 2 Corinthians 7:13-15; 1 Thessalonians 2:8) [3]. Christ Himself claims the primary place in one's affections (Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26), and communion with Him is said to enkindle these affections (Luke 24:32) [3].
The concept of "brotherly love" (φιλαδελφία) is a specific manifestation of charity or love (2 Peter 1:7) [5]. The early church in Jerusalem, to which the Epistle to the Hebrews was partly addressed, was known for this grace (Acts; Hebrews 6:10; 10:32-34; 12:12-13) [5]. This brotherly love is not merely a general affection for all humanity or for immediate family, but a special spiritual affection that should exist among Christians [9]. The apostle Paul, for instance, explicitly declared his deep affection for the Philippians, even using an oath to convey its sincerity, recognizing the importance of the church's edification [7].
Affections are not merely passive feelings but are to be actively engaged. Christians are encouraged to be zealously engaged for God (Psalm 69:9; 119:139; Galatians 4:18) [3]. The apostle Paul prayed that the love of the Philippians would abound in knowledge and "perception" or "perceptive sense," indicating that affections should be guided by spiritual discernment and not be ill-judged [10]. This "perceptive sense" involves spiritual sight, hearing, feeling, and taste, ensuring that love is a vigorous plant rather than a "hotbed growth of enthusiasm" [10].
The role of affections also appears in the context of suffering and temptation. Afflictions, though common to all (Job 5:7; 14:1; Psalm 34:19), are understood to be for the good of humanity (James 1:2, 3, 12; 2 Corinthians 12:7) and the glory of God (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 1 Peter 4:14) [2]. They are to be borne with patience by God's people (Psalm 94:12; Proverbs 3:12) and are directed by God for the everlasting good of His people in Christ Jesus (Lamentations 3:33; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:35-39) [2]. However, affliction can also harden sinners if it does not lead to repentance [4].
In the context of Christ's high priesthood, His ability to sympathize with human temptations is highlighted. Though exalted, Christ has not changed His nature or office in relation to believers, nor has He changed His affection [6]. This divine affection provides a motive for believers to "hold fast their profession" (Hebrews 4:14) [6]. The New Testament also exhorts believers to "consider one another" with attentive minds, contemplating each other's characters and needs to provide mutual help and counsel, with the aim of "provoking unto love" rather than hatred [8]. This active consideration underscores the communal and practical dimension of rightly ordered affections in the Christian life.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Affection — Feeling or emotion. Mention is made of "vile affections" (Rom. 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Col. 3:5). Christians are exhorted to set their affections on things above (Col. 3:2). There is a distinction between natural and spiritual or gracious affections (Ezek. 33:32).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Afflictions — Common to all (Job 5:7; 14:1; Ps. 34:19); are for the good of men (James 1:2, 3, 12; 2 Cor. 12:7) and the glory of God (2 Cor. 12:7-10; 1 Pet. 4:14), and are to be borne with patience by the Lord's people (Ps. 94:12; Prov. 3:12). They are all directed by God (Lam. 3:33), and will result in the everlasting good of his people (2 Cor. 4:16-18) in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affections, The — Should be supremely set upon God -- De 6:3; Mr 12:30. Should be set Upon the commandments of God. -- Ps 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167. Upon the house and worship of God. -- 1Ch 29:3; Ps 26:8; 27:4; 84:1,2. Upon the people of God. -- Ps 16:3; Ro 12:10; 2Co 7:13-15; 1Th 2:8. Upon heavenly things. -- Col 3:1,2. Should be zealously engaged for God -- Ps 69:9; 119:139; Ga 4:18. Christ claims the first place in -- Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26. Enkindled by communion with Christ -- Lu 24:32. Blessedness of making God the object of -- Ps 91:14. Should not grow cold -- P”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 16:9: men--Greek, "the men." repented not to give him glory-- (Rev 9:20). Affliction, if it does not melt, hardens the sinner. Compare the better result on others, Rev 11:13; Rev 14:7; Rev 15:4.”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 13 (introduction): EXHORTATION TO VARIOUS GRACES, ESPECIALLY CONSTANCY IN FAITH, FOLLOWING JESUS AMIDST REPROACHES. CONCLUSION, WITH PIECES OF INTELLIGENCE AND SALUTATIONS. (Heb. 13:1-25) brotherly love--a distinct special manifestation of "charity" or "love" (Pe2 1:7). The Church of Jerusalem, to which in part this Epistle was addressed, was distinguished by this grace, we know from Acts (compare Heb 6:10; Heb 10:32-34; Heb 12:12-13). continue--Charity will itself continue. See that it continue with you.”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:15: For--the motive to "holding our profession" (Heb 4:14), namely the sympathy and help we may expect from our High Priest. Though "great" (Heb 4:14), He is not above caring for us; nay, as being in all points one with us as to manhood, sin only excepted, He sympathizes with us in every temptation. Though exalted to the highest heavens, He has changed His place, not His nature and office in relation to us, His condition, but not His affection. Compare Mat 26:38, "watch with me": showing His desire in the days of His flesh for the sympathy of those whom H”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 5.4: That it might be as a testimony rendered to its God, Will in the Church of God serve as seed From which children shall come forth, filled with understanding.’“ 8. For God is my witness. He now declares more explicitly his affection for them, and, with the view of giving proof of it, he makes use of an oath, and that on good grounds, because we know how dear in the sight of God is the edification of his Church. It was, too, more especially of advantage, that Paul’s affection should be thoroughly made known to the Phi”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 10:24: Here, as elsewhere, hope and love follow faith; the Pauline triad of Christian graces. consider--with the mind attentively fixed on "one another" (see on Heb 3:1), contemplating with continual consideration the characters and wants of our brethren, so as to render mutual help and counsel. Compare "consider," Psa 41:1, and Heb 12:15, "(All) looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God." to provoke--Greek, "with a view to provoking unto love," instead of provoking to hatred, as is too often the case.”
- Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 13:1: The design of Christ in giving himself for us is that he may purchase to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Now the apostle calls the believing Hebrews to the performance of many excellent duties, in which it becomes Christians to excel. I. To brotherly love (Heb 13:1), by which he does not only mean a general affection to all men, as our brethren by nature, all made of the same blood, nor that more limited affection which is due to those who are of the same immediate parents, but that special and spiritual affection which ought to exist among the ”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 1:9: The subject of his prayer for them (Phi 1:4). your love--to Christ, producing love not only to Paul, Christ's minister, as it did, but also to one another, which it did not altogether as much as it ought (Phi 2:2; Phi 4:2). knowledge--of doctrinal and practical truth. judgment--rather, "perception"; "perceptive sense." Spiritual perceptiveness: spiritual sight, spiritual hearing, spiritual feeling, spiritual taste. Christianity is a vigorous plant, not the hotbed growth of enthusiasm. "Knowledge" and "perception" guard love from being ill-jud”