What is agape in greek

Affection or benevolence; specially plural a love-feast -- feast of charity -ably , dear, love. KJV: if ye have love one to another. KJV: in my love. KJV: in his love. KJV: from the love of Christ? Alex US English. David US English. Mark US English. Daniel British. Libby British. Mia British. Karen Australian. Hayley Australian. Natasha Australian. Veena Indian. Priya Indian. Neerja Indian. Zira US English. Oliver British. Greek and Hebrew study involves more than a mere ability to parse verbs and look up words in a lexicon or concordance or in one of several analytical tools in ways that can be taught in a matter of two to four hours of instruction.

It is the tracing of these connecting points in the syntax of a passage that is so vital in constructing sermons that reflect the original authority of the word of God. I as a Bible teacher try to live by the wisdom in this little point from the late Greek grammarian and seminary professor Rod Decker :. I often tell my students that if you cannot show a local church audience the meaning of a passage from an English Bible, then you should think twice as to whether you really want to insist on a particular interpretation.

And now to love, because John 21 provides a perfect example of what Dr. Decker is talking about. I was further told that these two Greek words pointed to two vastly different kinds of love, the one selfless and non-emotional and the other merely emotional and friend-ish.

This very common interpretation sounds so rich at first glance that I could wish it were accurate. But it runs afoul of the Bible study guidelines I laid out earlier, because it relies heavily on alleged Greek word meanings instead of a contextually sensitive reading of the entire passage in its context.

The fact is that the Bible never says anywhere that real love, ideal love, is non-emotional. One of the problems with using Greek without knowing it well is that you tend to fail to apply your principles rigorously. Are all synonyms in John 21 used to point up their differences rather than their similarities? Even though the various Greek words for love are all translated to the same English word in most instances, they held different meanings for the Greek-speaking readers.

This differentiation can be helpful for us to think about what love means, especially in discussing the highest form of love, agape love. Lewis identified four types of love in the Bible in the Greek. Storge might also be called affection or familial love. Storge is based on familiarity. A person will love their family regardless of whether they are people the person would be drawn to otherwise; family members often have nothing in common except familiarity and blood.

Storge is a comfortable affection that can be taken for granted, but it can also be very powerful. Eros is romantic love. Eros is often associated with sexual desire and lust, but it can also be a good thing in a marriage relationship when accompanied by and bolstering with other kinds of love.

Philia is friendship love. This word is used in the Bible. Whereas lovers are both preoccupied with each other, friends are both preoccupied with the same things.

Friends, of course, care about one another, but it is similar interests that attract them to one another.