Jeremiah 31:3  “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

 
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  Karl Barth
 
Many scholars and theologians have questioned whether the renowned German theologian actually spoke these words. They call it urban legend or an evangelegend.  An evangelegend is a story used by evangelicals and conservative Christians which has no basis in fact, but makes a nice sermon illustration.  The frog that will not jump out of boiling water, the bumble bee that scientist say cannot fly but does are all evangelegends.   Some grammar school kids did the experiment with the frog and found he was no dummy, when the water got hot he jumped. Scientists do know and can explain how a bumble bee can fly and once more say they are designed to fly.
Before publishing his book a scholar wanted to use the illustration of Karl Barth’s Jesus loves me statement but he first wanted to be sure this event actually happened. So with the power of the internet and the far reaches of his blog he sought out witnesses to confirm if Karl Barth actually said these words.  He found some very creditable witnesses who say they do remember hearing Karl Barth lecture  at the University of Chicago in 1962 and do recall a question and answer time when Karl Barth was asked to summarize his life’s theology.  Another witness also said he heard Karl Barth say the same thing in Richmond, Virginia in 1962 at the Union Theological Seminary of Richmond.  He probably thought it created such PR that he used it a second time.   Christianity Today ran a cartoon which suggested the Karl Barth actually planted a student to ask the question so he could give his famous answer. Whether planted or not, the fact he never retracted the statement is evidence he really believed what he said.  Like it or not the evidence shows that the hero of many modern theologians summed up his life’s theology with the simple words: “Jesus loves me this I know.”  One of the premier thinkers of modern times, his works studied by countless seminaries and Bible schools throughout the world summed up his whole theology in the simple words: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  We tend to forget that God never went to college, He holds no doctorate degrees. We also forget that it is not education that gets you into heaven, but simple childlike faith. 

 My brother recently recommended a book to help me out with my doctoral dissertation. I was ready to hang up my Hebrew Bible after reading the works of this scholar.  This old boy was doing back flips with the Hebrew and Aramaic, filled his books with charts and diagrams that I began to feel ashamed of my puny little studies. But then I read a simple paragraph which summed up his entire works, the love of God is just a matter of your heart not your thought process.

 
An orthodox rabbi recently reviewed my book on Hebrew word studies and commented that it was good for people who like to study the Bible, but my understanding of Hebrew was just basic. Can you dig it?  To some Christians I’m like this deep Hebrew scholar, but to an orthodox rabbi I am just am amateur.
My studies have ultimately been a personal journey.   Although I am ordained into the Conservative Baptist Church, I have been involved in independent Bible churches, Methodist churches, Assembly of God churches, Catholic churches and I have yet to find a denomination or church that I can hang my hat and wave my flag declaring: “This church and denomination represents all that I believe.”  My doctrinal statement that is found on our website comes right out the catalogue of Moody Bible Institute.  After all these years I have not moved one jot or tittle from that statement.  But it is a statement that fits nicely in any evangelical church or denomination.  When it comes to finding a church that incorporates those little specifics, those doctrines that every denomination demands that you declare  to show your allegiance to that body, I am afraid I have yet to find it.  The more I study the Word of God the more blurred these little doctrinal issues that do not determine ones eternal state or relationship with God becomes. Yet, those glaring major tenets of faiths that all Bible believing churches agree upon become crystal clear.  It can be summed up in one belief, God loves us with an everlasting love, and we must simply accept that love by faith in Jesus Christ.
In the Hebrew this everlasting love is simply one word chasad.  God is going to draw us to Him with chasad.  Here is a list of English words that translators have used for chasad: everlasting love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, lovingkindness, favor, affection, good deeds, mercy, pity, beauty, piety, reproof, benevolent, holy, godly, grace, paternal love, marital love, romantic love

 
So which English word do we stick in this verse?  You know what, you do not need to be scholar, a Karl Barth or an orthodox rabbi to determine what it is that God uses to draw you to Him.  Next time you are alone with Jesus, snuggling real close to Him, sharing you inner most heart with Him as He shares his inner most heart with you, go over that list of English words that can be rendered from chasad and choose the word that best fits you and Jesus and you know what?  You have the best possible translation. 
 
After forty years of Biblical study, research and teaching, there is only one thing I can really share with you that is the defining nature of any ministry I may have and that is: “God loves you with a chasad (everlasting love or fill in the blank with any of those other words that mean chasad).

Subscribe to our free Daily Hebrew Word Study for in-depth commentary using Biblical Hebrew!

* indicates required