Fourth, [1 John 3:16:] “We ought to lay down our lives for our brethren.”
Fourth, [1 John 3:16:] “We ought to lay down our lives for our brethren.”
§ 88. (IV) Christ says, “This is My commandment: that you love each other, even as I have loved you” (John 13:34). But Christ loved us to such an extent that He died for us. Therefore we also “ought to lay down our lives for our brethren,” as John concludes (1 John 3:16). But this is the greatest love, to which nothing can be added, for “greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Therefore no place remains for counsels and works of supererogation.
Bellarmine counters: “We are not obligated to give up our lives for our brothers except when that is necessary for their eternal salvation. Therefore if we do this when it is unnecessary but only useful, we will have performed a work of counsel or supererogation. And, similarly, if I benefit a neighbor when he is not in a situation of extremely serious need, I also am performing a work of supererogation.”
We respond. Either God’s glory or a neighbor’s welfare demands or does not demand that a life be laid down for the brothers. In the prior case, we are bound by the Law to neglect even life itself for our brother, because the Law requires of us whatever we are obligated to do for the advantage of our neighbor, since we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves [Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:39]. In the latter case, not only are we not bound to lay down our life for a brother, but it is even rash to undertake such a thing and be found wasteful of one’s life. Whatever comes from us to the benefit of a neighbor should proceed out of love, for if someone were to distribute all his goods to the poor but lack charity, it would benefit him nothing (1 Cor. 13:3). But now, the love for a neighbor prescribed in the Law is not like that, but is serious, sincere, and perfect.