Prototype Love

A prototype is defined as a first model of something from which other forms are developed or copied. In manufacturing, the prototype is the original intended to be re-created through mass production. The mass produced versions are intended to be exact copies of the prototype.

On the topic of love, the Apostle John is the most prolific biblical author. The book 1 John is one of the best discourses on God’s kind of love. 1 John 4:19 is clear, “We love because He first loved us.” When John wrote this verse, he used the Greek word protos which is the source for our word “prototype”. God does not merely have love or show love, rather God is love. John assures us of this a few sentences before he tells us that we can love because of God’s original love.

God is love and He loves perfectly. When writing his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us that God’s love has been poured out into our hearts.

hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5

We have God’s perfect love, it has been given us by God who is love. John 3:16 tells us that the outflow of this love is giving for the benefit of the world. It was love that moved the Father to give His Son. This first or prototypical love poured out to us is intended to lead us to give. Just as a prototype is intended to be mass produced, our Father has poured out love into the body of Christ, intending that His love be mass produced for the benefit of the whole world.

Published by Eric M. Johnson

I am a follower of Christ, husband to a beautiful worshiper, and father to two amazing sons. My day job is at a great company in which I am fortunate to be a partner. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and a Master of Science Degree in Information Systems. I enjoy studying God's Word and have taken several graduate level Biblical Studies courses, never in pursuit of a degree. In my free time I enjoy traveling, outdoors, and sports. I am an Iowa Hawkeye fan which is a character building experience.