Integration Paper

Part I

Question One   

In the Old Testament, Exodus 34:6-7 attributes God as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,” emphasizing His covenantal love and willingness to forgive. Regarding the structure of revelation on divine love, this passage lays a fundamental groundwork for the apprehension of love as eternal and core to the divine-human interaction: Integration Paper.

In the New Testament, Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus reveals which commandment is most significant: to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” and to “love your neighbor as yourself,” linking love for God and others as the fulfilment of the law and prophets. These passages are closely connected because one love initially is given by God, as covenanted love in Exodus, and the subsequent love expected from people in their turn, as is emphasized by Jesus as the principle of the law.

Question Two

A second underlying theme in Exodus 34:6-7 and Matthew 22:37-40 is faithfulness, which has been linked with love. Like Exodus, God’s love does not elude faithfulness. God’s love acts as an affirmation of his covenant, as reflected in the ability to remain loyal even when his people turn out to be undesirable (Mattheeuws).

This divine faithfulness forms the basis for the call to love God with one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind whereas in Matthew, Jesus has distilled the sum of the law to love. Trust conforms to the theme of love because it shows that love is not shallow but lasting and trustworthy.

Question Three

Verbum Domini and Dei Verbum provide insights that illuminate the themes of love and faithfulness in Exodus 34:6-7 and Matthew 22:37-40. As it is underlined in Verbum Domini, “God makes himself known to us as a mystery of infinite love in which the Father eternally utters his Word in the Holy Spirit” (Pinyan). This means that a primary and fundamental purpose of sacred scripture is to disclose the saving love of God, given in a covenant and revealed in the Gospel of Love taught by Jesus.

Similarly, Dei Verbum states, “Through this revelation, therefore, the invisible God out of the abundance of His love speaks to (people) as friends and lives among them, so that He may invite and take them into (communion) with Himself speaks to human beings as friends and lives among them” (View). These quotes eliminate any ambiguity of love in scripture as not merely an idea but God’s yearning for commitment with man.

Part II

Question One

I agree that the integration of the themes of love and faithfulness in Exodus 34:6-7 and Matthew 22: 37 – 40 highlights that covenant-keeping in the Christian worldview is a relational concept, as is love as an outgrowing to sin. Exodus, therefore, sets the platform for the covenant that Jesus rests in Matthew through the twofold Love of God and Love of neighbour. This connection proves that love is not simply of affection but a responsive action based on trust and commitment.

Additionally, this view presses believers into service as God is faithful in treating other people since faithfulness and love complement each other in the Christian life. In this way, by examining love in this fashion, followers of Christ can better locate themselves in the redemptive plan.

Question Two

My understanding of God, shaped by Exodus 34:6-7 and Matthew 22: 37-40, is of a relationship and faithfulness whose love is at the center of existence and relationships. These passages stress the abiding love of God for mankind and, in return, call for love from mankind to Him and fellow beings. This echoes with me the perspective that love is the most potent force in the world that demands loyalty and work. As much as I engage with the outside world, I refer to the attribute of faithfulness in my relationship with people.

On a global level, it makes sense to ask about the types of love described in these passages: measurable and sacrificial. Using this understanding, I acknowledge my roles and duty of stewardship to practice Christ-like service and promote relationships that God has covenanted with the community of believers.

Question Three

A potential counterargument might assert that the emphasis on covenantal love and faithfulness in Exodus 34:6-7 and Matthew 22:37-40 present love and devotion, which is impossible because humans are bound to fail. Critics might argue that a standard only makes them feel inadequate in some way instead of inspiring them. But this counterargument fails to account for the fact that God’s love is both an enabler and a savior.

According to Exodus, love has aspects of mercy and grace, which are tolerance of the failings of others. Likewise, Matthew does not prescribe sinless perfection but an attempt to seek after God’s and neighbor’s love. So, with the power and strength that God offers, one can push towards faithful love even with imperfection.

Works Cited

Mattheeuws, Alain. “Originalidad Doctrinal Humanae Vitae.” Medicina Y Ética, vol. 35, no. 4, Oct. 2024, pp. 1262–310, https://doi.org/10.36105/mye.2024v35n4.07

Pinyan, Jeffrey. “Verbum Domini — ‘the God Who Speaks’ (6-14).” Blogspot.com, 2024, thecrossreference.blogspot.com/2010/11/verbum-domini-god-who-speaks-6-14.html.

View. “Dei Verbum 2.” Catholic Sensibility, 10 July 2006, catholicsensibility.wordpress.com/2006/07/10/115201103584044163/.

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USING THESE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE: EXODUS, DEUTERONOMY, JUDGES, 1 KINGS, JONAH, GENESIS, MATTHEW:
This integration paper gives you a chance to reflect upon the major topics discussed throughout the course. You will have the opportunity to identify connections between Old Testament and New Testament texts. Then you will have the chance to reflect on those connections.

Writing is part of the process of organizing and communicating your thoughts. The paper will be organized into two parts with required information and presentation for each part designated below. Each section of the paper should be around 375 words each, with a total paper word count of about 750 words.

Part I: Articulating the Christian perception of the place of love within the Scriptures. In this section, you will be presenting, to the best of your ability, how Christianity would attempt to articulate ideas based upon your Scripture selections.

1. Identify and explain how one passage from the Old Testament and one passage from the New Testament (which were read as part of the course) are interrelated and conducive to discussing the Christian understanding of love. Note that the passages do not necessarily need to be talking about love overtly. They may be passages, for example, which themselves support the understanding of God’s love and loving activities.
2. Identify a second, underlying or related theme within your selected passages that is theologically connected to the theme of love that is found in the passages you selected for step 1. Explain how this theme is related to and supports the topic of love in the passages selected.
3. Identify and explain how Verbum Domini or Dei verbum contains elements which help to make sense of your presentation of the scripture passages. This section will require at least the use of two quotations with effort spent thoroughly explaining your choices.
   

   Integration Paper

Part II

1. Formulate your own response to the integration you articulated in part one of the paper. You may agree with it and add arguments or disagree with it and consider critical arguments. This second section of the paper will begin with a thesis statement in the form of either: “I agree…” or “I disagree…”
2. In this second part of the paper, you will integrate your own understandings of God, yourself, and the world with the material in the course and specifically your selected passages.
3. In this section, you will need to consider and explain at least one counterargument to your rationale. You must respond to the counterargument and explain your response.