I’m trying to figure out lately why Christianity lodges itself in the very involved and horribly translated language of the synoptic gospels, which were written for Jewish audiences with advanced theological knowledge. Meanwhile, we all but ignore the two New Testament texts written for Gentile people: 1 John and the John gospel—where the insistent message is “love one another.”

Jesus didn’t tell people to cut out their eyes, and that isn’t a “metaphor” for dealing with life’s problems. Asserting these statements are “hyperbolic” or reducing the complexity until it becomes coherent, is not acceptable. Because actually, these are terms in Jewish theology which appear to have specific meaning, but which may never be understood. They were not written for Gentile Christian audiences and were never explained.

Love one another. That is the theology for Gentile Christian people. It is the revelation we have not wanted to accept, or even quote.