The Affections of Christ Jesus: Love at the Heart of Paul’s Theology
By Nijay K. Gupta
Eerdmans, 272 pages
Published February 20, 2025
Paul can feel like a worn-out figure within American Christianity. Featured prominently in church controversies, such as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s heated debates regarding human sexuality, he is neither to be apologized for nor wholeheartedly embraced. A mentor once handed me a book that conveniently suggested the likable portions of Paul were authentic, while portions that make us squirm were the product of a later author. Within this context of Paul’s fatigue, I rejoice in discovering The Affections of Christ Jesus.
New Testament professor Nijay Gupta argues that Paul’s theology centers on one virtue: love. Gupta nods to significant debates within Pauline studies without falling down the rabbit hole. He reintroduces Paul to a broad audience in this accessible work, equally at home in a seminary curriculum or as a valuable volume in a pastor’s or studious reader’s library.
Even those unconvinced that love lies at the center of Paul’s thought will feel the force of Gupta’s observations; by freeing Paul from the debates, Gupta invites us to read him more comprehensively. For example, Gupta describes how love informs the doctrinally loaded and familiar Romans 5-8, noting that Paul sees God’s love for humanity as essential to the saving and loving work of Christ’s death. Consequently, Gupta notes that Paul identifies human love as the appropriate response to this divine love. Gupta simply asks us to look again, and this simplicity reveals more profound truths.
This does not mean Gupta avoids complexity. Christian interpretation of New Testament teachings on love often comes with either an implicit or explicit condemnation of first-century Judaism. Gupta describes the significant ways that Judaism, in the time of Jesus and Paul, was informed by love, acknowledging that Christians have historically distorted Judaism in order to present Christianity as a uniquely loving religion.
Furthermore, Gupta tackles the larger question of what we mean by the very word “love.” He considers psychological and cultural understandings that describe the range of emotions encompassed by the word, moving from a sense of duty-bound obligation to emotional passion, helping us understand how ancient writers articulated these varying senses of love through language.
Paul writes about virtues that can be cultivated and embodied. Love, therefore, is no mere sentiment nor a burden of duty but something that can be incorporated into our minds, emotions, and behaviors.
Diving into other disciplines means that Gupta offers richer insights that make Paul’s letter feel alive. Paul writes about virtues that can be cultivated and embodied. Love, therefore, is no mere sentiment nor a burden of duty but something that can be incorporated into our minds, emotions and behaviors.
The Affections of Christ Jesus reintroduces Paul. Even those who think they know him might experience, as I did, the sensation of leaving behind heated debates for a more relaxing discussion, bringing greater insight and clarity. I have been leading a Bible study on Paul’s letters, and reading Gupta’s book rejuvenated my preparation and offered fruitful insights into the love that underlies Paul’s letters. I can only conclude by echoing Michael Gorman’s sentiments in the foreword: now that Gupta has written on faith and love in Paul’s letters, we can only pray that he next turns his attention to hope.
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