1 John 3:1

New Testament

1 (See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children—and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: Because it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him because we will see him just as he is. 3 And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure). 4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

Pirkei Avot 3:14

Mishnah
Rabbinic

13 Rabbi Akiva said:Merriment and frivolity accustom one to sexual licentiousness; Tradition is a fence to the Torah; Tithes a fence to wealth, Vows a fence to abstinence; A fence to wisdom is silence. 14 He used to say: Beloved is man for he was created in the image [of God]. Especially beloved is he for it was made known to him that he had been created in the image [of God], as it is said: “for in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6). Beloved are Israel in that they were called children to the All-Present. Especially beloved are they for it was made known to them that they are called children of the All-Present, as it is said: “you are children to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 14:1). Beloved are Israel in that a precious vessel was given to them. Especially beloved are they for it was made known to them that the desirable instrument, with which the world had been created, was given to them, as it is said: “for I give you good instruction; forsake not my teaching” (Proverbs 4:2). 15 Everything is foreseen yet freedom of choice is granted, And the world is judged with goodness; And everything is in accordance with the preponderance of works.

 Notes and References

"... Line 1 states the case that God loves us. It opens with the declaration of the beloved, “With everlasting love have You loved us, Adonai our God.” By inverting God’s profession of love in Jeremiah 31:3 — “With everlasting love have I loved you” — line 1 serves as Israel’s acknowledgement of divine love. The liturgy understood Jeremiah 31:3a-b as referring to Sinai, as did Rabbi David Kimchi, ad loc., and the New Jewish Publication Society version, which translates “the LORD revealed Himself to me of old.” Its reformulation of Jeremiah presents revelation as God falling in love forever with Israel (Mishnah Avot 3:14) ..."

Kimelman, Reuven "'We Love the God Who Loved Us First': The Second Blessing of the Shema Liturgy" in in Kalimi, Isaac (ed.) Bridging between Sister Religions: Studies of Jewish and Christian Scriptures Offered in Honor of Prof. John T. Townsend (pp. 241-261) Brill, 2016

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