{"id":43418,"date":"2023-08-22T13:55:06","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T11:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T16:01:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T14:01:27","slug":"only-obligation-is-to-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Love is the only obligation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;373549&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cOwe no one anything, except to love one another; for whoever loves another has fulfilled the law. For the [commandments]: \u2018You shall not commit adultery,\u2019 \u2018You shall not murder,\u2019 \u2028\u2018You shall not steal,\u2019 \u2018You shall not bear false witness,\u2019 \u2018You shall not covet,\u2019 or any other commandment\u2014all of these are summed up in this one word: \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself!\u2019 Love does no harm to one\u2019s neighbor;\u2028 therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.\u201d\u2028 <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Rom 13:8-10<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;155592&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Not owe anything to anyone<\/h3>\n<p>Don&#8217;t owe anyone anything &#8211; this introduction refers to the human being, what we are dealing with. Paul then quotes the part of the 10 Commandments that have to do with our fellow man and leaves out the parts that speak of the relationship with God. The focus is clear: this is about our behavior in this world.  <\/p>\n<p>Just before, Paul said, <em>&#8220;Pay to all the debts: Tax to whom the tax is due, duty to whom the duty is due &#8230;&#8221;<\/em> (Rom 13:7). Now he adds to this with the statement: &#8221; <strong>Do not owe anyone anything except to love one another<\/strong>. Our society is built on a financial system that is ultimately built only on guilt. Debt is essential to our economy. Interest and indebtedness (debt) are the normal. People get into debt with mortgages and many other things. Cities, cantons and states can get into debt. Paul exhorts us here to pay the debt, and be free. We should only be guilty of loving each other. This is a very different &#8220;debt&#8221; and denotes our attitude in this world toward others.        <\/p>\n<p>Of course, he does not mean the building up of &#8220;love-guilt,&#8221; but the attitude whereby we do not allow guilt of any kind to stand between us and others. Everything should be cleared up. Only the selfless love (Gr. <em>agape<\/em>) we should always have in mind for the others. This is something like a standing order, in which all other things are included.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;120894&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>He who loves the other has fulfilled the law<\/h3>\n<p>All the commandments culminate in this one command <em>: \u201cYou shall love your neighbor as yourself!\u201d<\/em> (Exodus 19:18), which is expanded elsewhere <em>to read, \u201cYou shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength\u201d<\/em> (Deuteronomy 6:5). This last statement follows directly from Israel\u2019s confession: <em>\u201cHear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is One!\u201d<\/em> (Deut. 6:4). From this unity of God derives undivided love for God. And for the Jew, these two truths come together:   <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cBut he [a lawyer] answered and said, \u2018You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.\u2019\u201d\u2028<\/em><br \/>\nLuke 10:27<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, a teacher of the law asks Jesus, <em>\u201cTeacher, which is the greatest commandment?\u201d<\/em> Jesus replied:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cBut he said to him, \u2018You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.\u2019 This is the greatest and first commandment. \u201cThe second is like it: \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.\u201d<\/em><br \/>\nMt 22:34\u201340<\/p>\n<p>Love for God and love for neighbor belong together. Together, they are the core of the Law and the Prophets. Law and prophets are only elaborations of these things. Since Paul in the letter to the Romans speaks here exclusively of the behavior towards our fellow men, he limits himself to the<em> &#8220;You shall love your neighbor as yourself&#8221;<\/em>. Whoever loves does not break the law, but fulfills it. Love is the &#8220;completion&#8221; of the law.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;188920&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Recognize the times<\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cAnd do this, knowing the time, that the hour has already come for us to be awakened from sleep; (for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed; the night is far gone, and the day is at hand.)\u201d\u2028<\/em><br \/>\nRomans 13:11\u201312<\/p>\n<p>There are a few more reasons to love:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We understand that God works in time, and not everything is realized today<\/li>\n<li>We understand that our salvation is closer today than yesterday.<\/li>\n<li>We are living toward the goal.<\/li>\n<li>We are living in anticipation of the day when Christ will appear, and God will bring us one step closer to His goal.<\/li>\n<li>We may already behave today as if Christ were already there.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Gospel is not just ethics. It is always about a reality in history and in the here and now. However, what is effected is not palpable, but spiritual. Much is absent or has not yet arrived. That is also part of this reality. We are all &#8220;in time.&#8221; This gives us the &#8220;today&#8221; but also a &#8220;future&#8221;.      <\/p>\n<p>This statement of Paul is an example and a testimony in one. How God meets us and comes to meet us in Christ Jesus is good news. This is the gospel of grace that is especially true today (Eph. 3:1-2). It tells about a God who works in and on the world, even if until now not everything is visible that is described. This God is for us, not against us. He bore witness to this on the cross. This story is handed down to us in the Bible.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;184182&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Recognize faith<\/h3>\n<p>What is faith all about? Faith is for human beings. Faith is not the same as \u201cknowledge,\u201d is certainly very different from \u201cseeing,\u201d and has nothing at all to do with \u201cignorance.\u201d People can believe and trust. These are one and the same word in the New Testament. We live out our capacity for trust day by day\u2014toward other people, but perhaps also toward this God who has entered our lives with an astonishing message.     <\/p>\n<p>Those who believe are neither aloof (&#8220;freaky&#8221;) nor unworldly, but have realized that it does matter what you think and where you stand in this world. Believing something has to do with confidence and trust, but also with how you want to see the world. That is why it is also deliberate and often a decision. We can accept things as important pillars of our existence. Things you don&#8217;t see, but that can turn your whole life around. You assume something without having any proof in your hand. We trust that God, through His Spirit, will open up to us many things that have meaning here and now, as well as for the future. This can be unreal, but it can also be grounded in one&#8217;s own experience and even in the experience and description of other people. The last we can perhaps read from the Bible and the impact on our lives.[\/vc_column_text][vc_button border_width=&#8221;0&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fkernbeisser.ch%2Fen%2Fwhat-is-faith%2F|title:What%20is%20faith%3F|target:_blank|&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;932064&#8243;]What is faith?[\/vc_button][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;195086&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Alignment of our life<\/h3>\n<p>The power of the Gospel begins where we are given answers and direction for thought and action. It is up to us to accept this, to classify it and to do something good with it. <\/p>\n<p>Now, as we set our minds on God day by day (cf. Psalm 1), we live in expectation of fulfillment (cf. Rom 8:22-30). This gives direction and alignment to our lives. We can nurture this and we can share what we have experienced and recognized with others. Thus faith also becomes a <strong>common<\/strong> life and knowledge (cf. Eph 3:18). We gain understanding and richness and much confidence from it. This is not only meaningful and enriching in the here and now, but also looks towards a fruit in the future. We have been sealed, Paul writes in Ephesians, toward a goal:      <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cIn Him [in Christ] you too [the believers from the nations], \u2028who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation\u2014in Him you who believe are also \u2028sealed with the Spirit of promise, \u2028the Holy Spirit \u2028(who is a down payment on our inheritance \u2028until the redemption of those set apart for us) \u2028to the praise of His glory.\u201d<\/em><br \/>\nEph 1:13\u201314<\/p>\n<p>So we do not have everything so far, but we &#8220;merely&#8221; have a promise, a promise. This is not palpable, but it is &#8220;spiritual&#8221;. This is the statement: we have been <em>sealed with the Spirit of promise<\/em> <strong>until<\/strong> the fulfillment comes. Sealed today, a fulfillment in the future. Both are there. Today is spiritually guaranteed what is promised to us for the future. On the one hand, we stand in this world today, but on the other hand, we may look ahead. This is not a look at a vague hereafter, but a look into the future and a trust that God will fulfill the promise one day. This is not something that has been lifted up, but rather saved &#8211; saved for the future and saved with God. This formulation makes us understand something and yet hope for something greater. The promise is the basis of our expectation. The Gospel addresses us as human beings, but equips us with grace and confidence, with a spiritual understanding that goes far beyond the &#8220;grasp&#8221; of a child.           <\/p>\n<p>Such an understanding speaks of trust, namely faith. This is not a blind faith, but a trusting devotion. We may not know or see much, but the message can gain reality in us, just as it is the expectation of that reality. That is great in this world.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;801069&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>Pragmatic approach to faith<\/h3>\n<p>Paul exhorts us to keep our focus forward: <em>&#8220;Consequently, let us put off the works of darkness and put on the weapons of light! As in the day, let us walk decently, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in fornication and dissipation, not in strife and jealousy&#8230;&#8221;<\/em> (Rom 13:12-13). The way of life and our everyday life should be guided by concrete steps, attitudes and deeds. It cannot be expressed more clearly than this: it is not yet day, but let us walk as we walk in the day. Let us honor God by thinking and acting from His purpose. Soberly, and in an attitude marked by love, as he just described before.    <\/p>\n<p>How to do it? Saying what you don&#8217;t want is not in itself a goal. The goal can and must be described only positively. Paul describes this as follows:   <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>&#8220;But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for lusts of the flesh.&#8221;<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Rom 13:14<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ is figurative language for how we may clothe ourselves with His attitude. Elsewhere it says, <em>&#8220;For all of you who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ&#8221;<\/em> (Gal 3:27). This imagery shows how we put off a certain behavior and put on another behavior after believing the gospel:  <\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em>\u201cBut now, put all these things aside: anger, rage, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouths. Do not lie to one another, since you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator \u2026\u201d<\/em><br \/>\nCol 3:8\u201311<\/p>\n<p>This is about the behavior we consciously adopt.  <strong>Two things to do: Take off + put on.<\/strong>  It is difficult to put on the summer clothes before we put away the winter clothes. We can&#8217;t endlessly put things on top of each other. Being a Christian does not mean just putting on something &#8220;extra&#8221;, like a colorful accessory, a hat or scarf for example. Being a Christian is more than a little glitz, glamour and glory. Those who are Christians do not have faith as a kind of umbrella, which we take with us to quickly unfold when a storm threatens, while everything underneath remains unchanged. If we stand in faith, then it&#8217;s all about the whole thing: the old is discarded and the new is put on. The new corresponds to the wealth we have received. Thus we are <em>&#8220;renewed in the image of Him who created us anew.&#8221;<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;953045&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>The only obligation<\/h3>\n<p>With all these references, being a Christian may seem complex. Many carry particularly heavily on supposed &#8220;requirements&#8221;, with which one would have to be fair before God, for example. With Paul, this is never an issue because God&#8217;s righteousness was 100% accomplished at the cross. It is free from religious burdens. However, this is about something else. It is not about acceptability with God, not even about acceptability with people, as if it were about a deal in which everyone &#8220;gives something&#8221;. None of that applies here. This is about a different reality. That is this: We are loved and everything has been fulfilled that stands between us and God. This is the good news.         <\/p>\n<p>We are therefore free <strong>from<\/strong> something, but also free <strong>for<\/strong> something. We are free from religious requirements toward God (this was settled in Christ), but are also liberated to generously carry the love and confidence we have received to those around us (we stand firm in this world). This is exactly as Paul describes it when he says: <em>&#8220;The love of Christ urges us &#8230;&#8221;<\/em> (2Cor 5:14-21). Therefore, not only can the law be reduced to a basic requirement, but so can the gospel. As far as the people around us are concerned, we have only one obligation and task, and that is to love them.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space empty_h=&#8221;2&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"pld-like-dislike-wrap pld-template-1\">\r\n    <div class=\"pld-like-wrap  pld-common-wrap\">\r\n    <a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" class=\"pld-like-trigger pld-like-dislike-trigger  \" title=\"\" data-post-id=\"43418\" data-trigger-type=\"like\" data-restriction=\"cookie\" data-already-liked=\"0\">\r\n                        <i class=\"fas fa-thumbs-up\"><\/i>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n    <span class=\"pld-like-count-wrap pld-count-wrap\">0    <\/span>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"pld-dislike-wrap  pld-common-wrap\">\r\n    <a href=\"javascript:void(0)\" class=\"pld-dislike-trigger pld-like-dislike-trigger  \" title=\"\" data-post-id=\"43418\" data-trigger-type=\"dislike\" data-restriction=\"cookie\" data-already-liked=\"0\">\r\n                        <i class=\"fas fa-thumbs-down\"><\/i>\r\n                <\/a>\r\n    <span class=\"pld-dislike-count-wrap pld-count-wrap\">0<\/span>\r\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rom 13:8-14<br \/>\nOwe no one anything except to love one another<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":62362,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[606,592],"tags":[695,593,700,692,556,562,599],"class_list":["post-43418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-books","category-life-and-faith","tag-being-a-christian","tag-dispute","tag-faith","tag-grace","tag-know-god","tag-lifestyle","tag-pauline-epistles"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Love is the only obligation &#8226; Kernbeisser<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Love is the only obligation &#8226; Kernbeisser\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Rom 13:8-14 Owe no one anything except to love one another\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kernbeisser\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-08-22T11:55:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-20T14:01:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/mother-child-envato.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Karsten Risseeuw\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Karsten Risseeuw\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0b580f13a753f529e71c4dfd4e01aea1\"},\"headline\":\"Love is the only obligation\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-22T11:55:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-20T14:01:27+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2308,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/mother-child-envato.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"being a christian\",\"Dispute\",\"Faith\",\"Grace\",\"Know God\",\"Lifestyle\",\"Pauline Epistles\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Bible books\",\"Life and faith\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/\",\"name\":\"Love is the only obligation &#8226; Kernbeisser\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/mother-child-envato.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-22T11:55:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-20T14:01:27+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/mother-child-envato.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/mother-child-envato.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1333,\"caption\":\"Side view of little kid facing mom and touching noses. They are looking at each other with care and sincere smile\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/only-obligation-is-to-love\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Startseite\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/core-biter-thoughts-on-the-bible\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Love is the only obligation\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Kernbeisser\",\"description\":\"Gedanken zur Bibel\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Kernbeisser Counceling\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/kernbeisser-logo-420x100px.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/wordpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/kernbeisser-logo-420x100px.png\",\"width\":420,\"height\":100,\"caption\":\"Kernbeisser Counceling\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/bsky.app\\\/profile\\\/kernbeisser.bsky.social\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0b580f13a753f529e71c4dfd4e01aea1\",\"name\":\"Karsten Risseeuw\",\"description\":\"Karsten Risseeuw (Jg. 1961) ist Theologe, Autor und Content Creator mit Schwerpunkt Paulus-Theologie. Seine evangelikale Pr\u00e4gung f\u00fchrte zu kritischen Fragen, die 2014 zur Gr\u00fcndung von kernbeisser.ch und sp\u00e4ter zum Start seines YouTube-Kanals f\u00fchrten. In einem jahrelangen Dekonstruktions- und Rekonstruktionsprozess entwickelte er eine theologische Position, die akademische Tiefe mit pers\u00f6nlicher Zug\u00e4nglichkeit verbindet. Risseeuw bewegt sich bewusst auf der Grenze zwischen evangelikaler Tradition und progressivem Christentum. Seine Arbeit richtet sich an fragende Evangelikale sowie Menschen, die in Dekonstruktionsprozessen stecken und intellektuelle Tiefe suchen, ohne ihren Glauben zu verlieren. Sein Ansatz: Weg vom religi\u00f6sen Leistungsdenken, hin zur paulinischen Botschaft der Gnade. Mit Hunderten Artikeln und einem mehrsprachigen Online-Angebot (Deutsch, Englisch, Niederl\u00e4ndisch) begleitet er Menschen durch theologische Umbr\u00fcche \u2013 europ\u00e4isch-sachlich, akademisch fundiert, aber nie elit\u00e4r. Es geht ihm nicht prim\u00e4r darum, \u00abwas\u00bb Menschen glauben, sondern \u00abwie\u00bb und \u00abwozu\u00bb sie glauben, damit Lebens- und Glaubensentfaltung stattfinden k\u00f6nnen.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/kernbeisser.ch\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Love is the only obligation &#8226; Kernbeisser","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Love is the only obligation &#8226; Kernbeisser","og_description":"Rom 13:8-14 Owe no one anything except to love one another","og_url":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/","og_site_name":"Kernbeisser","article_published_time":"2023-08-22T11:55:06+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-09-20T14:01:27+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1333,"url":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/mother-child-envato.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Karsten Risseeuw","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/"},"author":{"name":"Karsten Risseeuw","@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/0b580f13a753f529e71c4dfd4e01aea1"},"headline":"Love is the only obligation","datePublished":"2023-08-22T11:55:06+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-20T14:01:27+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/"},"wordCount":2308,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/mother-child-envato.jpg","keywords":["being a christian","Dispute","Faith","Grace","Know God","Lifestyle","Pauline Epistles"],"articleSection":["Bible books","Life and faith"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/","url":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/","name":"Love is the only obligation &#8226; Kernbeisser","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/mother-child-envato.jpg","datePublished":"2023-08-22T11:55:06+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-20T14:01:27+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/mother-child-envato.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/mother-child-envato.jpg","width":2000,"height":1333,"caption":"Side view of little kid facing mom and touching noses. They are looking at each other with care and sincere smile"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/only-obligation-is-to-love\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Startseite","item":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/core-biter-thoughts-on-the-bible\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Love is the only obligation"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/","name":"Kernbeisser","description":"Gedanken zur Bibel","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/#organization","name":"Kernbeisser Counceling","url":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/kernbeisser-logo-420x100px.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/kernbeisser-logo-420x100px.png","width":420,"height":100,"caption":"Kernbeisser Counceling"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/kernbeisser.bsky.social"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/0b580f13a753f529e71c4dfd4e01aea1","name":"Karsten Risseeuw","description":"Karsten Risseeuw (Jg. 1961) ist Theologe, Autor und Content Creator mit Schwerpunkt Paulus-Theologie. Seine evangelikale Pr\u00e4gung f\u00fchrte zu kritischen Fragen, die 2014 zur Gr\u00fcndung von kernbeisser.ch und sp\u00e4ter zum Start seines YouTube-Kanals f\u00fchrten. In einem jahrelangen Dekonstruktions- und Rekonstruktionsprozess entwickelte er eine theologische Position, die akademische Tiefe mit pers\u00f6nlicher Zug\u00e4nglichkeit verbindet. Risseeuw bewegt sich bewusst auf der Grenze zwischen evangelikaler Tradition und progressivem Christentum. Seine Arbeit richtet sich an fragende Evangelikale sowie Menschen, die in Dekonstruktionsprozessen stecken und intellektuelle Tiefe suchen, ohne ihren Glauben zu verlieren. Sein Ansatz: Weg vom religi\u00f6sen Leistungsdenken, hin zur paulinischen Botschaft der Gnade. Mit Hunderten Artikeln und einem mehrsprachigen Online-Angebot (Deutsch, Englisch, Niederl\u00e4ndisch) begleitet er Menschen durch theologische Umbr\u00fcche \u2013 europ\u00e4isch-sachlich, akademisch fundiert, aber nie elit\u00e4r. Es geht ihm nicht prim\u00e4r darum, \u00abwas\u00bb Menschen glauben, sondern \u00abwie\u00bb und \u00abwozu\u00bb sie glauben, damit Lebens- und Glaubensentfaltung stattfinden k\u00f6nnen.","sameAs":["http:\/\/kernbeisser.ch"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43418"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62455,"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43418\/revisions\/62455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}