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"Love Your Enemies": Jesus' Love Command in the Synoptic Gospels and in the Early Christian Paraenesis : A History of the Tradition and Interpretatio Paperback – January, 1992

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John Piper (Author)
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John Piper (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 11 customer reviews
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  1. Love Your Enemies (A History of the Tradition and Interpretation of Its Uses): Jesus' Love Command in the Synoptic Gospels and the Early Christian Paraenesis
    John Piper
    4.4 out of 5 stars 11
    Paperback
    $25.00 Prime
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 273 pages
  • Publisher: Baker Pub Group (January 1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0801071178
  • ISBN-13: 978-0801071171
  • Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.8 x 8.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,254,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsOften overlooked gem
By Doug Erlandson TOP 50 REVIEWER on October 17, 2013
Format: Paperback
"Love Your Enemies," which is Piper's reworking of his doctoral dissertation, was originally published in 1980, with a paperback edition by Baker Book House hitting the market in 1991. It is one of Piper's most overlooked works, perhaps because it is not intended primarily for a popular audience (after all, it is a revision of his dissertation) and is therefore far more technical than are many of his works. Nevertheless, it is an important book on an important topic, and is clearly enough written that even the layperson who is willing to work through the text will be able to understand it and benefit greatly in his or her understanding of this crucial biblical principle.

In this work, Piper looks first of all at this simply command to love one's enemies as it is found in the background material with which Jesus would have been familiar--in the Old Testament, inter-testamental Jewish literature, and the writings of the rabbis. Piper then discusses Jesus' command to love one's enemies in the larger context of his teaching, including his teaching on the kingdom (or reign) of God. Finally, Piper looks at the command to love one's enemies as it is found in the writings of the Paul and Peter as well as in the Synoptic Gospels.

This is a worthwhile study for anyone interested in looking in depth at this elemental teaching, not just of Jesus, but of both Judaism and historical Christianity.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA book for theologians, but should be required reading
By Loyal on December 15, 2011
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
I loved Piper's other books and have been waiting for a used book seller to price this one reasonably. Great book that outlines various theories on Jesus' command to love your enemies along with Piper's take on it. The Mennonite in me doesn't agree with his rationalization of violence, but he does at least address the issue and doesn't try to say Jesus wasn't serious or that he was exaggerating. The book is very thorough on addressing the many instances of the command to love your enemies and putting them in context with the surrounding scripture.
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3.0 out of 5 starsBaker reprint
By Customer on August 20, 2012
Format: Paperback
This book is certainly a worthwhile purchase but, because I already own the 1991 Baker copy, I thought a short comment might be useful for prospective buyers. I bought the 2012 Crossway edition because it was advertized as featuring a "new, extensive introduction." I was surprised to find an introduction less than 6 pages long. Again, I have no criticism whatsoever of this book but, if you already own the Baker edition, I just wanted to point out that buying this 2012 reprint will only get you 5 and a half new pages - the rest of the book is identical to what you already have.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA worthwhile study of the command to love our enemies
By Doug Erlandson TOP 50 REVIEWER on November 13, 2014
Format: Paperback
"Love Your Enemies" was originally published in 1980, with a paperback edition by Baker Book House hitting the market in 1991. It is perhaps John Piper's most overlooked work, in part because it is not intended primarily for a popular audience and is therefore far more technical than are many of his works. Even so, it is an important book on an important topic, and is clearly enough written as to be accessible to the layperson as well as the scholar.

Piper first of all looks at the simple command to love one's enemies as it is found in the background material with which Jesus would have been familiar--in the Old Testament, inter-testamental Jewish literature, and the writings of the rabbis. Piper then discusses Jesus' command to love one's enemies in the larger context of his teaching, including his teaching on the kingdom (or reign) of God. Finally, he discusses the command to love one's enemies as it is found in the writings of the Paul and Peter as well as in the Synoptic Gospels.

This is a worthwhile study for anyone interested in an in-depth investigation of this elemental teaching, not just of Jesus, but of both Judaism and historical Christianity.
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5.0 out of 5 starsComplete your Piper collection
By Zack Ford on August 18, 2012
Format: Paperback
Crossway has done the Church a wonderful service by making John Piper's doctoral dissertation available to the public at large. Originally written during his time as a Ph.D. student in the 1970′s in Munich Germany, then published in 1979 in the Monograph Series of the Society for New Testament Studies, fans of Piper's work have long been unable to get their hands on what is likely Dr. Piper's most scholarly work to date. Until now, that is.

Love Your Enemies: Jesus' Love Command in the Synoptic Gospels and the Early Christian Paraenesis is a wonderful book where John Piper looks at Jesus' most popular and widely accepted statements in the Gospels and gives evidence that the early church truly did advocate this sort of non-retaliatory love that Jesus spoke of. The major sections of the book outlining the direction in which Piper seeks to prove his thesis are as follows:

1. In Search of the Paraenetic Tradition of a Command of Enemy Love
2. The Origin of the Command of Enemy Love in the New Testament Paraenetic Tradition
3. Jesus' Command of Enemy Love in the Larger Context of His Message
4. The Use and Meaning of Jesus' Command of Enemy Love in the Early Christian Paraenesis
5. The Gospel Tradition of Jesus' Command of Enemy Love and its Use in Matthew and Luke

While Piper does express some measure of regret in his preface to the 2012 edition regarding his approach to these texts and this issue addressed and says that he would approach the matter differently if working on this book today, especially in regards to his time spent in critical approaches to the Scriptures, this work is a very important piece of scholarly work and one that deserves to be on the bookshelves of scholars and pastors alike.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsanother great read from Dr Piper....

A deeper look at loving our enemies that may likely become a real necessity in these darkening days before He returns for His bride!!

Published on December 23, 2012 by Susan M Nelson
4.0 out of 5 starsJohn Piper's Dissertation

Piper's decades old Dth dissertation has finally been released. So, what is it like? Well, it is a dissertation! What I mean is that it is technical and academic. Read more

Published on September 15, 2012 by K. Hartman
3.0 out of 5 starsReview: 'Love Your Enemies' by John Piper

There's something you should know about John Piper's newest book, Love Your Enemies: there's a good chance that it wasn't written for you. Read more

Published on September 4, 2012 by Justin Boulmay
5.0 out of 5 starsScholasticism at its finest

Love Your Enemies is John Piper's dissertation which he wrote while in studying in Munich, Germany. This book is not your stereotypical Piper book. Read more

Published on August 10, 2012 by The Reformed Reader
5.0 out of 5 starsLove Your Enemies

John Piper, former Pastor of Preaching and Vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota is a man of vigor, wit and profound wisdom. Read more

Published on August 1, 2012 by Sheep23
4.0 out of 5 starsLove Your Enemies (A History of the Tradition and Interpretation of...

John Piper is... well he's John Piper. You don't know who John Piper is? He's the pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis and has authored dozens... Read more

Published on June 22, 2012 by David Kenney

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