Should Christians Be JEALOUS?

JEALOUSY- is it a quality that Christians should cultivate? As Christians, we are encouraged to "pursue love," and we are told that "love is not jealous." (1 Corinthians 13:4; 14:1)  On the other hand, we also told that "Jehovah . . .is a jealous God" and we are commanded to "become imitators of God."  (Exodus 34:14; Ephesians 5:1)  Why the seeming contradiction?

It is because Hebrew and Greek words translated "jealousy" in the Bible carry a wide range of meanings.  They can have either a positive or a negative connotation, depending on how the words are used.  For instance, the Hebrew word translated "jealousy" can mean "insistence on exclusive devotion; toleration of no rivalry; zeal; ardor; jealousy [righteous or sinful[;envying."  The corresponding Greek word has a similar distorted emotion toward a suspected rival or one believe to be enjoying an advantage. (Proverbs 14:30) They can also refer to a positive expression of God-given quality-wanting to protect a loved one from harm. 2 Corinthians 11:2. 

Next time: The Superlative Example

From the Watchtower magazine, 2002