God\u2019s will is for us to be reconciled to Him, and He has done this through His Son, Jesus \u2014 all because of love. God in Christ is the epitome of pure love, and only by it can we become a part of His family. Anything less is sin, the opposite of love, and sin leads to death rather than to fullness of life.<\/p>\n
All Christians must understand this important word, as we have been commanded to \u201clove one another\u201d as Jesus has loved us (John 15:12, 13, 17). This love shows humanity that we\u2019re the children of God, Christians living in an ungodly society yet shining brightly as a beacon for the world to see.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What is love, then?<\/p>\n
God is love (1 John 4:16). We may also define it in three more words: \u201cunselfish, outgoing concern\u201d; love is sacrificial. Biblically defined, love is of God. First Corinthians 13 says it is kind and never selfish. Anything else is not true, godly love.<\/p>\n
In the English language we use the word love<\/em> all the time. But to understand the meaning of the word, we must know the context in which it is used. For example, simply saying, \u201cI love you\u201d in English can refer to affection for a friend, relative, or lover. Or love can mean passion for a variety of objects, like cars. Love can also apply to something deeper \u2014 spiritual love. This is why context is so important to understand the different loves<\/em>. Sometimes even the tone in which the word is said is needed to perceive the intended meaning.<\/p>\n Not so in Greek, the language in which the New Testament was written. There our single love<\/em> is differentiated by several Greek words. Let\u2019s look at three \u2014 agape, philia<\/em>, and eros <\/em>\u2014 in light of the biblical concept of love as being \u201cunselfish, outgoing concern.\u201d While these three can and do overlap, their basic distinctions are helpful:<\/p>\n Agape<\/em>: Divine love between God and creation<\/p>\n Philia<\/em>: Devoted love between friends and family<\/p>\n Eros<\/em>: Romantic love between a husband and wife<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While the verb agapao<\/em> is common in Classical Greek, the noun agape<\/em> is rare. Agapao<\/em> is often a synonym for the verbal forms of philia<\/em> and eros<\/em> and conveys the idea of favor or fondness. This favor, on rare occasions, can refer to a generous act of one for another. But the distinctive character of agape <\/em>love,<\/em> as we think of it, is almost entirely derived from its particular New Testament use as the love of God or the love of Christ.<\/p>\n In John 3:16, for instance, we read, \u201cGod so loved [agapao<\/em>] the world, that He gave. . . .\u201d God\u2019s gift of His only begotten Son expresses this special agape <\/em>love, God\u2019s unselfish, outgoing concern for the whole world. This is the same love that Christ exemplified in giving Himself for us on the cross and the same love He has for His church (Ephesians 5:2, 24). It\u2019s also the love that Jesus commands us to have for one another (John 13:34). So agape<\/em> is God\u2019s love in Christ toward us and that love reciprocated to Him. Though common in Paul\u2019s epistles, it is most plain in the writings of John, where 79 of the New Testament\u2019s 215 instances of agape\/agapao<\/em> appear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Classical Greek, the verb phileo<\/em> referred to a natural affection among relatives and friends. This sense can be found in the New Testament. A good example is 2 Peter 1:7, where the compound word philadelphia <\/em>is used to refer to brotherly love now reenvisioned by the faith (cf Romans 12:10). In Luke, the more general sense of friendship is often conveyed by the noun philos<\/em> (\u201cfriend,\u201d 11:5-8). It is not much used in Paul\u2019s epistles (but note 1 Corinthians 16:22), yet in John\u2019s writings the philia<\/em> word group can not only carry basic brother-friend connotations but also serve as a synonym with the agape<\/em> word group (5:20; 11:3, 5, 11; cf 19:26; 20:2).<\/p>\n John 21:15-17 is an interesting case. Twice Jesus asks Peter, \u201cDo you love [agapao<\/em>] Me. . . ?\u201d Twice Peter answers \u201cYes, Lord; You know that I love [phileo<\/em>] You.\u201d The third time the distinction breaks down, and both Jesus and Peter say phileo<\/em> (v. 17). So is a distinction or equivalence to be discerned here? It is not clear, but overall the New Testament makes a basic distinction: Philia love<\/em> is unselfish, outgoing concern toward others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The verb erao<\/em> and the noun eros<\/em> do not appear in the New Testament. In Classical Greek, eros<\/em> referred to romantic, sexual love between a man and woman. This love involves the desire and craving to have and possess. This, combined with common pagan excesses in regard to ecstasy and fertility, are probably why the New Testament doesn\u2019t utilize the word.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the distinction is helpful. God is no prude. The Bible is full of sexual encounters, but God instructs us to keep sexual eros love<\/em>, which is not dirty but part of His good creation, between a husband and wife (Proverbs 5:18, 19; Song of Solomon; 1 Timothy 3:2). God\u2019s first commandment to Adam and Eve was to be fruitful and multiply, becoming one flesh in marriage (Genesis 1:28; 2:24). When Paul talks about marriage and the love husbands should have toward their wives in Ephesians 5:25-33, agapao<\/em> is his word of choice for love<\/em>. So with these biblical amendments in mind, pagan eros<\/em> being appropriately tamed by God\u2019s will for sex, we can think of eros love<\/em> as unselfish, outgoing concern toward a spouse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can we imagine a world where all people live by agape<\/em>, philia<\/em>, and eros<\/em>? Can we imagine a world where all love is defined and lived as \u201cdivine unselfish, outgoing concern,\u201d total agape<\/em> love of God and man for each other? Can we imagine a world where friendship, or philia <\/em>love, is defined and lived as \u201cunselfish, outgoing concern\u201d for our neighbors? Can we imagine a world where in marriage, sexual eros <\/em>love is defined and lived as \u201cunselfish, outgoing concern\u201d for one\u2019s lover and spouse?<\/p>\n Imagine a marriage in which both husband and wife practice all three kinds of love \u2014 as God\u2019s children, as best friends, and as committed lovers. There would be no arguments or divorce, only complete and loving harmony. Imagine a world where all people practiced agape<\/em> and philia<\/em> love for one another. There would be no war, no murder, no theft, lying, or coveting. Imagine a world where everyone loved God fully with His complete agape<\/em> love, whereby He loved us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When we expand our definition of love<\/em> from the English to a better understanding of these three Greek words, we can expand our concept of godly, unselfish, outgoing concern toward all. This is how the kingdom of God on earth starts: through the fulfillment of His love.<\/p>\n Jesus says, \u201cThis is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you\u201d (John 15:12). Truly we should all practice this love. What a wonderful life it would be. This love is what makes the world go around!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" God\u2019s will is for us to be reconciled to Him, and He has done this through His Son, Jesus \u2014 all because of love. God in Christ is the epitome of pure love, and only by it can we become a part of His family. Anything less is sin, the opposite of love, and sin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":360,"featured_media":4040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nAgape<\/h2>\n
Philia<\/h2>\n
Eros<\/h2>\n
Imagine<\/h2>\n
A bigger love<\/h2>\n