in the world. It is about power—transformation through rebirth—and about how that power defeats the world’s impulses that once controlled us. JOHN’S UNYIELDING INTEREST in love is one well-known hallmark of his letters. Again and again he affirms the importance of love and outlines what might prompt such love. But what inspired such interest? I believe his pastoral context of working in a sorely divided church forced him to ponder deeply how to bring a warring church to unity. Thus, John is doing
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