3 KINDS OF LOVE
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. What are the three kinds of love found in the New Testament?
a) There are three kinds of love mentioned in the Bible that each use a different Greek word. This is one reason why it is a very good idea to understand a little bit about the translating of words from one language to another.
b) The scriptures that delineate two out of the three loves that New Testament writers discuss are in Jesus' short talk, after his resurrection, with Peter. The purpose of Jesus' discussion with Peter, who had denied him three times before he was crucified (Matthew 26:34), was not to test him but rather to encourage and strengthen him for the work God wanted him to do.
i) "So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you LOVE (agapao) Me more than these?'
ii) "He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I LOVE (phileō) You.'
iii) "He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' " (John 21:15, NKJV and emphasis throughout)
c) The first word Jesus used for this feeling was agapao. This word is Strong's Concordance #G25, which is the root for the Greek word agape (Strong's Concordance #G26). The best translation for Agape is that it means a caring or godly love for someone even if you do not know or like him or her. Only God himself can give it: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16 - 17). Nearly all of the references in Jesus' teachings use this word.
d) The word Peter used in the Bible to state the feelings he had toward Jesus (in all his responses) is phileo. It is Strong's Concordance #G5368. Its definition is 'to show signs of or otherwise denote brotherly affection.' This word is part of the name of the United States city known as Philadelphia. Humans, without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, can only give this emotion toward their fellow man.
e) The last of the three "loves" in Greek, which is not used in John 21, is eros. Although used in the classical Greek language the word does not appear in the Bible. We get the word erotic from this Greek word. Its use is usually in reference to sex. Part of the reason why this word is not in the New Testament is that God is more concerned about how we treat him AND each other rather than on our physical sensations.
The End ...
1. What are the three kinds of love found in the New Testament? a) There are three kinds of love mentioned in the Bible that each use a different Greek word. This is one reason why it is a very good idea to understand a little bit about the translating of words from one language to another.
b) The scriptures that delineate two out of the three loves that New Testament writers discuss are in Jesus' short talk, after his resurrection, with Peter. The purpose of Jesus' discussion with Peter, who had denied him three times before he was crucified (Matthew 26:34), was not to test him but rather to encourage and strengthen him for the work God wanted him to do.
i) "So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you LOVE (agapao) Me more than these?'
ii) "He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I LOVE (phileō) You.'
iii) "He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' " (John 21:15, NKJV and emphasis throughout)
c) The first word Jesus used for this feeling was agapao. This word is Strong's Concordance #G25, which is the root for the Greek word agape (Strong's Concordance #G26). The best translation for Agape is that it means a caring or godly love for someone even if you do not know or like him or her. Only God himself can give it: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16 - 17). Nearly all of the references in Jesus' teachings use this word.
d) The word Peter used in the Bible to state the feelings he had toward Jesus (in all his responses) is phileo. It is Strong's Concordance #G5368. Its definition is 'to show signs of or otherwise denote brotherly affection.' This word is part of the name of the United States city known as Philadelphia. Humans, without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, can only give this emotion toward their fellow man.
e) The last of the three "loves" in Greek, which is not used in John 21, is eros. Although used in the classical Greek language the word does not appear in the Bible. We get the word erotic from this Greek word. Its use is usually in reference to sex. Part of the reason why this word is not in the New Testament is that God is more concerned about how we treat him AND each other rather than on our physical sensations.
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