MAKNA “SAHABAT” DALAM YOH 15:12-17 TINJAUAN SEMANTIK SECARA HISTORIS-KRITIS

Abstract

Many Catholics spontaneously refer to Jesus as “our Lord and friend” in their personal prayers. This intimate designation is inspired by John 15:12–17, where Jesus Himself calls His disciples “friends.” However, this raises a theological question: does calling Jesus a friend imply equality between humans and God? This article presents a historical-critical investigation into the meaning of the word philos (friend) in that pericope, by examining its conceptual background in Jewish and Greek thought during the time of Jesus. Semantic analysis reveals that friendship in John 15:12–17 is rooted in hesed (steadfast love), involves the notion of the friend as another self, yet remains asymmetrical and does not eliminate Jesus’ role as Lord. Friendship in the Gospel of John does not equate humans with Jesus but rather highlights the depth of His self-giving love. The implication is that believers should remain vigilant not to manipulate this intimate relationship to legitimize their personal will as divine will. This study acknowledges its limitations, especially in terms of not utilizing the original Hebrew and Greek languages in depth, and not exploring the meaning of “servant”—which Jesus contrasts with “friend”—in Jewish and Roman thought.