Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The Greek word translated as “loved” in this verse is “agapaō.” Unlike English where we use the word, “love” for a variety of purposes, agapaō has a very specific meaning. The Strong’s Concordance defines this word as, “to love (in a social or moral sense).” This is not a possessive love, or a casual love, or even an emotional love. Agapaō is caring for someone who is not worth caring for. Agapaō is being patient with someone who doesn’t understand what you are trying to tell them. Agapaō is valuing a relationship in spite of the million obstacles that tend to come between people. Differences in opinions, beliefs, moods, wants, needs, and yes, even smell all conspire to frustrate love.
Let’s Discuss: What do you think of when you hear the word, “love?”
My favorite way to define love is in relationship to the Hebrew word – Hessed. While the context always drives the specific meaning being used, hessed is best defined as “loyal love” or “faithful love”.
Nathan,
Thank you! Loyalty and faithfulness are truly attributes of love.
In the end, I realize that I don’t really have much to add. My own subjective impressions when I hear the word “love” and what would be useful to share are not really one in the same.
After writing for several minutes now, I just have to scratch it. What I ultimately conceive is simply how blown away I am by God’s capacity for complete perfection in love, in seeing beyond our limitless imperfections.
I don’t really even know what I think when I think of love, or how I would share it. But I know what I know about Christ’s love personally in my life and when I feel this working in others. I think we all know this in our own way and there is no higher form of love offered to man than what is found here.
NMOP3PISdn
Thank you for checking in. Actually, your comment expresses the end goal of this blog quite well. My hope is to offer people something to think about. Enriching our understanding of anything, including Scripture, requires taking our assumptions out of the closet once in awhile and re-evaluating them. In this case the question is, “Do I really understand what love is?” To hear that you are thinking about this question is extremely rewarding for me. Thank you!
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” -John 15:13
I like and agree with the previous comments. I have heard the definition that love is God’s intended best for another. I like that. Love could be whatever is best for another to achieve God’s purposes in their lives. That could be “tough” love or something more gracious. Obedience is not love, but is one way to demonstrate love for our Creator (John 14). 1 Corinthians 13 actually defines love through a lengthy description, especially verses 4 – 8. That may be the best description I can think of from Scripture.
Thank you, Rich! I “love” the way you tie us back to Scripture! 🙂
I guess I would also add 1 John 4 as a good description of what love is.
Eros, phileo and agape are Greek words for the English word “love”, although eros is actually probably better described as lust. Phileo is brotherly love, which is noble in many instances, but could be described as “you scratch my back and I will scratch yours.” These two types of “love” are abundant in our world. God’s love for us is unconditional and unending. Romans 5:6-8 summarizes his love for weak, unworthy, sinful me. Romans 8:35-39 tells me that I cannot be separated from God’s agape.