So how do we truly comprehend this thing called love?<\/h3>\n
I think to fully comprehend love the Bible takes it to depths that every other definition pales compared to it. But you have to consult the original languages in which the Bible was written in to fully understand. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The New Testament was originally written in Greek. Let\u2019s look at these words in these languages.<\/p>\n
Key Hebrew terms for love include:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Main Greek Words for Love:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The Bible then goes on in 1 Corinthians 13<\/a> to describe the characteristics of true love:<\/p>\n \u201c4\u00a0<\/sup>Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5\u00a0<\/sup>or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6\u00a0<\/sup>it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7\u00a0<\/sup>Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8\u00a0<\/sup>Love never ends. 13\u00a0<\/sup>So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, \u201cSimon son of John, do you love [Agape] me more than these?\u201d Perhaps he asked him three times to correspond with his three denials of Jesus when Jesus was arrested (Luke 22:54-62)<\/a>, but more importantly, Jesus was trying to expose and challenge Peter. Agape love is unconditional and complete as God loves. Phileo only expresses love at the level of a friend. Jesus was seeking Peter\u2019s agape love, but Peter answered honestly when all he could own up to was loving Jesus as a friend. The third time Jesus asked Peter, he used the word Phileo as if he was saying he would meet Peter at the level of friend, but it was also evident that he was challenging Peter to love him even deeper.<\/p>\n And so is the challenge to each of us from the Lord to tap into his Agape love, a deeper love than we could ever totally comprehend, but as we endeavor to draw closer to him, the closer he will draw to us (James 4:8<\/a>). This is the kind of love Jesus was speaking about when he told us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44-45<\/a>). In the natural it isn\u2019t possible to love our enemies and this is in no way implying that we are glad to see our enemies but it does imply a love that looks past the fact that we do not love them in the natural but we can love them enough to pray for them and to be kind to them as\u00a0 Romans 12:19-20<\/a> instructs us:<\/strong> \u201cDo not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God\u2019s wrath\u2026 If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.\u201d This isn\u2019t saying we are going to be happy and say \u2018Oh goody, here comes my enemy\u2019 but that we can remind ourselves that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8<\/a>) and desire the same mercy and grace for even those who hate us because deep in our hearts as born again disciples of Christ we know that God can also change them into whom God desires them to be. I have often had to pray and be honest before God that I could not love this or that person and ask God to love them through me. We are incapable within our own flesh to love someone with this kind of love, but God is willing to give us this kind of love.<\/p>\n All other types of love are but expressions of Agape love. All other forms of love stem from Agape love. It is written in 1 John 4:8 that God IS love. God doesn\u2019t just love us, but he IS love. Everything he does is for our good. He loves us just as we are, but he also loves us too much to leave us that way. He wants to form his children into his likeness (Romans 8:29<\/a>). Think about the deepest, most satisfying love you have. It may be a family member or a close friend or our spouse. As we draw upon God\u2019s love he wants to make that love we have for them even deeper. Jesus himself proved what true love was when he died on a cross to save us from our sins, for there is no greater love than one who would lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13<\/a>). I know someone who told me that even when being intimate (sex) with his wife that they invite the Holy Spirit to be present and let them experience God\u2019s deep love even in their physical act of love and how much deeper and more intimate their experience together was. That may seem a little uncomfortable to some of you reading this but keep in mind that Hebrews 13:4 says \u201cMarriage is honorable and the bed undefiled.\u201d Sexual intimacy between a married man and woman is blessed of God. Just read the Song of Solomon<\/a> if you don\u2019t believe it!<\/p>\n Only God\u2019s love can melt our hearts full of hate. Only he can change our hearts of stone and place a new heart within us. \u00a0Ezekiel 36:26 says, \u201cI will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.\u201d Only he can give us the capacity to love someone unforgivable so that we can forgive them. He even said that the true sign of brothers and sisters in Christ would be recognized by the love we have for one another (John 13:35<\/a>). This is a foundational Christian teaching where Jesus defines love\u2014specifically, self-sacrificial agape love\u2014as the primary identifier of his followers, intended to act as a witness to the world.\u00a0Jesus gave this command at the Last Supper, shortly before his crucifixion, framing it as a new, essential commandment. This kind of love is defined by actions rather than mere emotions, involving acts of service, kindness, forgiveness, and caring for others\u2019 needs over one\u2019s own. This kind of love is meant to be countercultural and unified, demonstrating a supernatural source that distinguishes Christians above others in society. This kind of love is only possible because of God\u2019s love in us.<\/p>\n The Fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23, represents nine visible attributes of a Christian life empowered by the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience (forbearance\/longsuffering), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Rather than individual fruits, it is a single,9-fold \u201cfruit\u201d (singular in Greek) indicating transformed character.\u00a0It is produced by the Holy Spirit dwelling within, not by human effort or \u201cself-improvement\u201d. It serves as proof of a living connection to Christ, similar to how a healthy tree bears good fruit. These traits conform believers to the image of Jesus Christ, who perfectly exemplified all nine traits. It contrasts with the \u201cworks of the flesh\u201d mentioned earlier in Galatians 5:19-21<\/a>. The Fruit of the Spirit is cultivated as believers submit their lives to God and walk in the Spirit. It does not come naturally, but as we submit to Christ, it becomes more natural.<\/p>\n So, you see, ultimately, love is not merely a fleeting sentiment; it is the very essence of the Divine woven into the fabric of our existence. While our human languages struggle to categorize its many nuances\u2014from the playful to the practical\u2014the heights of Agape<\/em> remain the gold standard to which we are called. It is a love that transcends our natural limitations, enabling us to forgive the unforgivable and serve the undeserving. As we cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit and align our hearts with the One who is<\/em> love, we find that our capacity to care for others, our families, and even our enemies is transformed. Love is the evidence of a life touched by God, a light that distinguishes us in a darkened world, and the greatest gift we can ever hope to receive or give.<\/p>\n\n
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There is an interesting exchange between Jesus and Peter in John 21:15-17 that illustrates the different words for love, contrasting the English language with the original Greek language:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cYes, Lord,\u201d he said, \u201cyou know that I love [Phileo] you.\u201d
\nJesus said, \u201cFeed my lambs.\u201d
\nAgain Jesus said, \u201cSimon son of John, do you love [Agape] me?\u201d
\nHe answered, \u201cYes, Lord, you know that I love [Phileo] you.\u201d
\nJesus said, \u201cTake care of my sheep.\u201d
\nThe third time he said to him, \u201cSimon son of John, do you love [Phileo] me?\u201d
\nPeter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, \u201cDo you love [Phileo] me?\u201d He said, \u201cLord, you know all things; you know that I love [Phileo] you.\u201d
\nJesus said, \u201cFeed my sheep.<\/p>\nA deeper love than we could ever totally comprehend<\/h3>\n
God wishes to enhance us with his love as it is expressed in all its forms.<\/h3>\n
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