Bible

Bible Words: - In our Bible, I wish Jesus or God (or any person!) said to a person "I love you" or "I forgive you." What a great example it would have been if Jesus said to Judas "I love you" or "I forgive you." Christianity is based on these two concepts, and I am sorry not to see it said in the Bible. I hope I am wrong and you will show me where these statement are in the Bible. There are a few instances where people tell God (and maybe Jesus) they love them, but I am talking about people being told For the complete discussion, you already are here at http://www.donredding.com/iloveforgiveyou.htm l

Words in the Bible

Nowhere in the Bible is it said to a human "I love (or forgive) you," "thank you," "you are welcome (well, one time)", or "I am sorry."
"I love you" to a human is in the Bible 0 times, (ok maybe one time if you stretch it)
"love you" to a human is in the Bible 0 times
"have loved" to human is in the Bible 3 times
"I forgive you" is in the Bible 0 times
"forgive you " to a human is in the Bible 0 times
"forgive" in the Bible 0 times referring to telling a person they are forgiven, but 67 otherwise
"Thank you" to a human is in the Bible 0 times
"you are welcome" is in the Bible 1 time
"I am sorry" is in the Bible 0 times
"Please" is in the Bible 112 times
"Fear" is in the Bible 336 times.In Old Testament 258 times and in new 78
Love in Old Testament about 440 times and in New Testament about 158 times
- Most directed to God or Jesus, not to humans. If I am wrong, forgive me and please let me know, thanks.

Why is this so - that no one in the Bible says "I love (or forgive) you" - when often we are told we are to tell others we love them and we forgive them. Perhaps that is the American way or some other code of ethics. (The term "have loved" is found 3 times, but not a present tense.) Maybe it is assumed that is what the Bible means for us to do and that is good, but the facts remain that there are not clear examples in the Bible. I am not saying we should not tell others we love them or forgive them or that we should not love or forgive them. I am saying the Bible is not an example of those feelings being expressed in words diectly t6o any human being.

Surely in the thousands of years covered by the Bible someone would say these words and they would be significant enough to be quoted. Seems to me to be an important point as so many references to God and Jesus is about love and forgiveness.

Think of the power of Jesus forgiving Judas - what a concrete example of loving and forgiving an enemy that would be. What did Jesus do - he told Judas he would have been better off not to be born. That probably is true, but it can be said about a lot of us. Or if Jesus on the cross had forgiven instead of asking God to forgive. What powerful examples they would be. It is always easier to advise or ask someone to love and forgive than to say it

I have asked many people why they think "I love you (or I forgive you)" to a human is not in the Bible and here are some responses:

One minister said "back then" folks were not as touchy feely as we are now and such feelings were expressed in action (ie, Jesus on the cross); ok, I accept that as a good way to reconcile the difference but it still does not satisfy my questions.
Same person said "hard to say, really. For instance, in the Old Testament Jonathan tells David he loves him - and scholars think what that means is that he was pledging his total loyalty to him, expressing his commitment to die for him on the battlefield if need be. So when Jesus asks Peter about love, he uses this odd word "agape," which means a commitment to help those nobody else will help. So is Jesus thinking of himself as somebody nobody else will help? or is he really asking Peter about feeding his sheep, caring for his people, especially those nobody else would care for? and on forgiveness, I can't think of any more radical forgiveness than Jesus on the cross, asking God's forgiveness for the soldiers who just executed him - and rather brutally"
One famous minister said that there are many such references to this being said in the Bible but then did not provide examples.
Another referred to Jesus on the cross when Jesus asked God to do the forgiving.
A famous religious writer responded when I asked why did he think Jesus did not forgive Judas by saying there was never a Judas; it was just a reference to the Jewish people.
Another well know author said (I added the reading to the scriture references he gave, what do you think?) "Well there are so many references I hardly know where to begin. I guess start with

John 3.16--- God loves the world.

16" For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,^[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Secondly look at the Lord's prayer-- we ask God to forgive us as we forgive others.
Thirdly, there is Jesus' teach on forgiveness in Mt. 18.21-25.

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often^(A) will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?^(B) As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.^[a]

Then of course there is the famous woman caught in adultery story Jn. 7.53-8.11.

John 8
1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2^(A) Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and^(B) he sat down and taught them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5Now^(C) in the Law Moses commanded us^(D) to stone such women. So what do you say?" 6This they said^(E) to test him,^(F) that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ^(G) "Let him who is without sin among you^(H) be the first to throw a stone at her." 8And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, ^(I) "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on^(J) sin no more."]]

Rom. 5.5 is an especially good example--- God poured his love into our hearts.

Romans 5:5 (English Standard Version)

5 and^(A) hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love^(B) has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

1 John 4.16-21 is also a good one.

16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

A "well know TV preacher wrote a long letter saying: "Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and questions with xxxxx. It is a privilege to correspond with you. With regard to your question, “Why do you think neither God nor Jesus said ‘I love you’ or ‘I forgive you’ to a person?” we would point to verses such as Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:5, 10:21, Luke 5:20i, 7:48; John 11:5, 36; 13:1, 23, 34, 15:9, 12; 17:23 and 21:25, where Jesus did tell people they were loved or forgiven. We believe the most comprehensive way to address your question is by sending relevant material by xxxx. Please accept the resource listed on the enclosed sheet as a gift from the ministry. We hope that it will provide beneficial insight . .
We pray that the ministry of xxxx will serve you as a source of encouragement and spiritual growth in your walk of faith. May the very best of Gods blessings be yours. Prayerfully yours,(Below are the references:)

Matthew 9:2;

2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." (By whom?)

Mark 2:5, 10:21,

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (By whom?)
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Luke 5:20i, 7:48;

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." (By whom?)
48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

John 11:5, 36; 13:1, 23, 34, 15:9, 12; 17:23 and 21:25

5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love
23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
23 "I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

A friend found the following which comes closer than the famous folks above, I had not thought of using "have" before in the search:

Love:
John 15:12 - My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
John 15:9 - As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
Ephesians 3:19 - and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Revelation 3:19 - Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
Forgive:
Colossians 3:13 - Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Luke 5:20 - When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
John 8:11 - "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

vvvv

Here are some close ones using the past tense - what do you think:

Jeremiah 31:3 - The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:2-4 (in Context) Jeremiah 31 (Whole Chapter)
Malachi 1:2 - [ Jacob Loved, Esau Hated ] "I have loved you," says the LORD. "But you ask, 'How have you loved us?' "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" the LORD says. "Yet I have loved Jacob, Malachi 1:1-3 (in Context) Malachi 1 (Whole Chapter)
John 13:34 -"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.John 13:33-35 (in Context) John 13 (Whole Chapter)
John 15:12 - My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:11-13 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
Revelation 3:9 - I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Revelation 3:8-10 (in Context) Revelation 3 (Whole Chapter) :

Bible

Romans 5:5 (English Standard Version)