What are the
different types of love?

Q. What are types of LOVE mentioned in the New Testament?  Which types of love are we to have toward JESUS?

(Submitted by: G. R.)

A. There are at least THREE different words used in the Scriptures to denote different types of love. 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.

The New Testament was written in Greek. Although there are at least THREE words in the Greek language that are used to denote different types of love, the English language has only ONE word for love. This can make it especially difficult to comprehend what the Bible is conveying and teaching about the types of love.

The scriptures that delineate two of the three types of love the New Testament writers could refer to can be found in Jesus' short talk, after his resurrection, with Peter. These Bible verses are found in the book of John. The purpose of Jesus' discussion with Peter, who had denied him three times before he was crucified (Matthew 26:34), was to encourage and strengthen him for the work God wanted him to do.

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you LOVE (Greek: αγαπάω or agapao) Me more than these?'

"He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord;  You know that I LOVE (Greek: φιλέω or phileō) You.'

"He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' " (John 21:15, NKJV and emphasis throughout)

Nearly all of the references to Jesus' teachings on the types of love are of this variety, even the one where John laid on Jesus' bosom as the one Jesus loved. (John 13:23)

"He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you LOVE (Greek: αγαπάω or agapao) Me?'

"He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord;  You know that I LOVE (Greek: φιλέω or phileō) You.'

"He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.'

"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you LOVE (Greek: φιλέω or phileō) Me?'

"Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?'

"And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things;  You know that I LOVE (Greek: φιλέω or phileō) You.'

"Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.' " (verses 16-17)

The word Peter used for the type of love he meant, in all three of his responses to Jesus' questions, is phileo. It is Strong's Concordance #G5368 and is basically defined as to love, to show signs of love or to denote brotherly love.

The city of Philadelphia in the United States is called the city of brotherly love. Humans, without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, can only give this kind of love for either God or their fellow man.

The third word for types of love in the Greek, which is not used in John 21, is eros. Although not found in Scriptures, it was used in classical Greek writings. We get the English word erotic from this word and its use is generally related to sex. Part of the reason why this word is not found in the New Testament is that God is more concerned about how we treat him AND each other rather than on our physical sensations.