Study on the word "LOVE"

Study on the word "LOVE"

Study on the word "Love" in the Greek language.

Let's first look at the 4 types of love:

1. Agápe , or Christian love. In Latin, it is charitas (from whence comes our
word Charity. As English has the verb "cherish" from this Latin noun, the correct noun in
English would be cherishing.

It is unselfish Christian love as taught by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount and is summed up
by St. Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 13. This is the kind of love that every Christian believer should possess.

Agape (noun) and agapao (verb) -- This is the word of Godly love.
This special significance really comes in the New Testament
period. Agape is not found in secular literature, at least to any
great extent, during the biblical period. The writers of the
Septuagint use the noun some twenty times, but use the verb form
over 250 times. In general terms, the Septuagint
translators "invented" a new meaning for agape by using in to
replace the Hebrew hesed, a word meaning loving-kindness.

The New Testament writers continued the use of agape. While there
are situations where agape and philo seem to be used
interchangeably, most notably in John's writings, in general, agape
has become the love of God shown to His creation. In more than one
sense of the word, agape becomes grace in action.

The point of this is that agape is a verb or noun of action. Men
must choose to exercise agape, the same as God has chosen. It is not
an emotional or passive position, but one of deciding to love. This
is how we can love our unsaved neighbors as well as our enemies. We
choose to exercise the same agape towards them that God has shown
us!
Agape (Charity) is the love that brings forth caring regardless of circumstance. Lewis recognizes this as the greatest of loves, and sees it as a specifically Christian virtue. The chapter on the subject focuses on the need of subordinating the natural loves to the love of God, who is full of charitable love.



2. Philía (Philo) or the love between friends.
Philo -- This is the general word for love and affection. It is used
for attraction of people to one another without regard for family
relationships, such as philadelphia, the love of a friend or
brother, 2 Pet 2:17. It is frequently used in compound forms and, as
such, may be used for attraction to inanimate objects --
philosophia -- the love of knowledge, Col 2:8.
Philo is more of a Friendship love and is a strong bond existing between people who share common interest or activity.


3. Stergo / storge -- Affection is fondness through familiarity, especially between family members or people who have otherwise found themselves together by chanceThis word means to feel affection, especially the
affection between parents and children. or familial love, especially between parents and their
children and also with close relatives. It is also used of the affection of a people for their king or a dog for his master. It
does not appear in the New Testament, except in compound form in Romans 12:10 (philostorgos) where it is translated as "devoted." The negative form (astorgos) appears in Romans 1:31 ("heartless, " "unloving") and 2 Timothy 3:3 ("without
love," "unloving"). . It is described as the most natural, emotive, and widely diffused of loves: natural in that it is present without coercion; emotive because it is the result of fondness due to familiarity; and most widely diffused because it pays the least attention to those characteristics deemed "valuable" or worthy of love and, as a result, is able to transcend most discriminating factors. Ironically, its strength is also what makes it vulnerable. Affection has the appearance of being "built-in" or "ready made", says Lewis, and as a result people come to expect, even to demand, its presence”irrespective of their behavior and its natural consequences.

"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not
charity..... ..." (1 Corin. 13:3). This pertains to the pure love, and not the erotic type of love the world speaks of.


4. Eros - is a worldly, lustful love. Eros - Romance
Eros is love in the sense of 'being in love'. This is distinct from sexuality, which Lewis calls Venus, although he does spend time discussing sexual activity and its spiritual significance in both a pagan and a Christian sense. He identifies eros as indifferent. It is Venus that desires the sexual aspect of a relationship, while Eros longs for the emotional connection with the other person.
This type of love is conditional, whereas God's love is unconditional.

We are commanded to love one another, even if someone is unlovely. We don't need to associate with an unlovely
person, but to keep our right relationship with our heavenly Father, we need to forgive them if they have offended us.


THE LOVE CHAPTER - 1 Corinthians 13 The Love Chapter
1 Corin. 13 is considered and called the "love chapter" as it speaks to us of love. The greatest love of all is the
love that God showed us (John 3:16) when He gave us His Son so we might have eternal life. Paul tells us in the
closing verse of chapter 13, "the greatest of these is love."

In verse 2 he says that a person who has "faith without love is nothing". One can believe in Christ, yet have
no love. The Bible tells us that even demons believe and tremble. And, of course, they are devoid of love.


In a section of the "Sermon on the Mount" (found in our teaching book, Matthew 7:21-23), Jesus pictures a
professing believer, standing before Christ the judge. The person reminds the Lord that while on earth he had cast
out demons and had done many wonderful works. Jesus makes the statement, "I never knew you." It is possible
to "profess Jesus with our lips" and have a humanistic faith that will remove mountains of difficulties, yet still
have none of the love of Christ in our hearts. One may "bestow all his goods to feed the poor" but unless "love"
is the motivating incentive, it profits nothing.

As Christians we need to love our enemies, so how much more should we love our neighbor? Our brothers and sisters
in Christ? Our coworkers? Our church body? Family? Friends? Love is the supreme gift of God. When love is absent what
we do amounts to nothing. Where love abounds, the soul is happy.

When love is the motivating factor in what we are and what we do ane what we say, and what we give, our lights will so
shine that others may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven.
May you all have a Jesus filled Day!
Theresa Q. Pavone,A.TH, B.TH