Gabrielle Durette
Father Thomas More
DWC 101-1
7 December 2018
The Letter to the Romans vs. Plato; who provides a more clear image of love?
The Letter to the Romans places more of an emphasis on how God’s love is the ultimate example of how love should be lived out in world and that God’s love is only example of love humanity should be focused on; Plato’s Symposium explores less deeply on what true love is and focuses more on what type of love people can have with each other. While both texts provide examples of what love is, The Letter of the Roman’s provides a more clearer form of love than Plato’s Symposium; The Letter of the Roman’s exemplifies this more clear form of love through the target of audience, expressions and messages, plus showing the purpose of love in the texts.
Plato’s Symposium includes speeches from several different figures describing various types of love within the novel; the target of love is not very specific because the speeches have very different viewpoints on how love is conveyed to a certain target. One example out of the many is Phaedrus, who addresses how love can cause one to make sacrifices for loved ones, and the target of the love would be the person someone is making a sacrifice for. On the other hand, Pausanias explains two types of love people can experience. One type of love that Pausanias goes into depth about is the want and need for sexual desires, and the other type of love he explains is that of being in love with someone’s soul. Furthermore, another type of love in Plato’s work is how Dido loves Odysseus. Plato inserting these different speeches describing types of love creates complication for who the target of love should be. Providing too many examples of what love is does not create enough depth, and makes the target of love unclear to the reader. The audience does not have a concrete understanding what type of love they should be receiving as well, since Plato acknowledges three types of love from completely different people. In conclusion, the audience and readers could be unsure of how to receive this love. Plato providing several examples of different types of love because he wants to give his work more depth and to provide evidence to assert what Plato’s opinion of love is. The Bible provides a concrete example of love that is easier to understand and follow.
While Plato’s Symposium creates ambiguity for the reader because of his explanations of the various types of love and it should be placed, The Letter to the Romans provides a clearer message to the readers of what the target of God’s love is and how this love is being communicated to his target. The Holy Spirit communicating this love through God reveals that a divine power is showing this love to whoever the target of the love is. The Letter to the Roman also emphasizes a clear difference between the divine power and the people, which reveals that the power of the love the divine power gives is extremely special. Paul explains how to receive God’s love by saying, “We know that all things work together for good for those people who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Paul stating how to receive God’s love makes it much more clear because someone simply has to be loyal and follow his kinship. Paul explains how God will provide this love to his target of audience. Paul explains the elements of how God and the Holy Spirit will communicate this love. Paul says, “And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). Paul emphasizes that putting faith into God’s love that will be given to us and will touch our hearts through the Holy Spirit is unwavering. When Paul says that this love comes specifically from God, but is transmitted through the Holy Spirit, he reveals to the reader the audience who is receiving this love; this form of love is very specific and direct. Revealing that God’s love will come through the Holy Spirit clearly explains how this love will be provided for the target of audience. The Bible providing a simple, specific, and clear form of love is easier to follow. Plato providing different types of love instead of one is very complex and difficult to comprehend.
The Symposium explains how love is expressed in many different forms and the messages are sent through this expression of love, but the love that is being explained within this work is very vague and can be interpreted in many different ways. For example, the Greek word eros provides interpretation to the readers. The readers can interpret this word as romantic love, friendship love, or simply just loving a material object. An example of complex explanation of love is in Phaedrus speech in which he is expressing his message of love. Phaedrus explains, “If only there were a way to start a city or an army made up of lovers and the boys they love. Theirs would be the best possible system of society, for they would hold back from all that is shameful, and seek honor in each other’s eyes” (Pg. 10 line 178e). Phaedrus is analyzes how people can feel shame if they are placed with someone they love. He also compares this a hero’s journey. Phaedrus mixing components of love and comparing it to honor can cause the readers confusion. This concept can cause confusion because the reader can be confused whether love is honor or simply love since Phaedrus mixes these two virtues. Even though Plato provides many examples, Plato only includes speeches that he believes will boost his works and what his opinions are. Also, this is not a holy book, it is someone is writing their opinions based off their own philosophy and beliefs. He is also incorporating other people’s opinions, which can possible weaken his argument since it is not Plato’s own ideas.
Paul exposes God’s ideas about love is; that people who love God will be loved back even more God. God will reciprocate even more love to someone who lives under his kinship and remains loyal to him. Paul’s purpose in explaining God’s loyalty is to exemplify that it is necessary for humanity to live out the same type of love to one’s neighbor and to people in their community. Paul believes everyone needs to love one another like God loves his people. He also believes and follows the concept that the definition of love was created by God. When Paul recounts how those who are called according to his purpose, Paul reveals that everyone who is called to love God was not an accident, and this idea that loving God is not an accident shows that God’s love is meant to be poured into our lives.