Agape

I am drafting this post on Resurrection Sunday and I wanted to do a post that is relevant to this glorious day.  I recently read something this past week that made me think about a sermon I heard many years ago.  It was about the four Greek words used in the New Testament period for Love.  Eros, Storge, Phileo and Agape or Agapao.  I then went yesterday with my teenage son to see the new movie “Risen”.  In the movie they depict our Lord asking Peter, do you Love Me, and as we know in John 21:15-17, our Lord asked Peter three times if he Loved Him, and Peter of course answered that he did.

I don’t know why but that conversation resonated with me last night.  I had on my mind to do this post today on Love.  I researched that conversation in the KJV and in a Greek New Testament.  I discovered something that struck me as I researched it.  I would first like to discuss the four words above.

The word Eros is not in the bible and refers to the sexual Love one has for another.  It is probably not in the bible, in my opinion as God is not concerned with this Love as it is a human specific emotion.  The second it Storge, which is family Love.  The Love we have for family members, remember the old saying “blood is thicker than water”.

The two main words for Love in the New Testament are Phileo and Agape.  Phileo is defined in the Strong’s Concordance (G5368) as “to be a friend to(fond of[an individual or an object])” it goes on to describe it as Love of the heart and head.  The city Philadelphia (City of Brotherly Love) is named after this word. This love is the Love we show our friends and people we are fond of, a brotherly love.  This is the saying so many use ” I love you man” type of love. It can also be the love of an object by definition.  For example a football team, if your friend was over at your house cheering for the opposite team of yours, how long would he be there.  I had a pastor tell me one time he couldn’t have anyone over at his house when he was watching college football, because he was so into it, and couldn’t stand someone cheering for the opposite team. I would have an issue with his situation as my wife and I only agree on one sports team and that is in hockey.

Then we have Agape Love, defined by Strong’s Concordance (G25-26), as “to Love much, in a social or moral sense.” It is dear Love, and is the highest of the four types of Love.  I researched some information I could find regarding these types of Love on the web, and found some people stating they did not believe we as humans could experience and exhibit this type of Love.  Some said only with the Holy Spirits indwelling can we experience this type of Love.

All agreed this is the type of Love God has for us.  He has a Love that is deeper than we experience normally. I found it interesting that the verse in John above was after our Lord had risen from the grave and had appeared to the disciples a couple times.  He asks peter, whom had drawn his sword to defend our Lord in the garden, three times if peter Loved Him. This was also after peter had denied him three times. There is a very interesting number system in the Bible, but that is a different topic.  Verse 17 states Peter was grieved when our Lord asked him the third time if he Loved him.

After studying Peter, and I think most who study him in detail would agree, I think Peter was asking himself why does he keep asking me this, and was frustrated.  I have heard lessons and sermons on why our Lord said this to peter.  I do think it is a depiction of the great commission regarding the disciples not doing what our Lord taught them, and the Lord was stressing the point to them to go and tell the gospel. After all what had the apostles been doing since Christ died, not going and telling!

My study last night though revealed something further regarding this conversation.  Our Lord and Saviour Jesus, used the word Agape in Greek, when he asked if Peter Loved him, with Agape Love.  Peter answered with Phileo Love that he did.  Our Lord was asking Peter if he Loved him enough to forsake everything on this earth and die for him.

Peter answered him that he was his friend and liked hanging around with him.  Sometimes things are lost in translation, but I think there is a lesson here.  We say we Love God and we do some things for the church and God, much like we do for our friends and maybe family.

But, God has asked us do we Love (Agape) Him? Are you willing to forsake all and Love Him above everything else in this world, willing to die for Him.  Even today we have different types of Love in our lives.  Our Lord suffered the torture, the agony of the cross, three days in the grave, and then ascended to heaven, to sit at the right hand of God making intercession for you.

When He asks, do you Love Me, do you answer Phileo or do you answer Agape?   In Christ.