What is the BIBLE'S
definition of LOVE?

There are FOUR words in the Greek language for love but only ONE word for love in English. What then IS Love? Why did Jesus, after his resurrection, use TWO different words for love when he asked PETER if he loved him?

When we talk of love in our society, we can mean the love of a mate, parent or child; we can mean a deep friendship or "liking" for a person or thing; or we can mean sexual love. Love in the Greek language is expressed by four different words. Only three of these words are used in the Bible.

1. Eros, which is sexual or romantic love.
2. Phileo, which is a brotherly love toward someone we really like.
3. Agape, which is the deepest love, which is based on doing good things for another person.
4. Storgay, which is the love of one's relatives. It is a relatively unknown word that is used only twice in scripture and only as a compound word.

Even though the two Greek words Phileo and Agape are used quite often in scripture they can sometimes cause confusion.

For example, one passage that is not clear in the King James (or New King James) Bible is the one that showcases the difference between Agape and Phileo.

Peter had denied Jesus three times while Jesus was on trial (Matthew 26:44; Matthew 26:69-75). Jesus seems to be reminding Peter of his three denials with his three-time questioning of him in John 21. Unfortunately, the English translation hides an important part of the three questions. Let's examine the Greek with each of Jesus' questions and Peter's responses.

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (agape) Me more than these?'  He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You.' " (John 21:15, NKJV throughout)

What we miss with the English is that Peter is answering with a different word. Jesus is using "agape," which is sacrificial love. Peter is answering with "phileo," brotherly love.

"He said to him again a second time,  'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (agape) Me?'  He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You.'" (John 21:16)

This is a repentant Peter. He implied before Jesus' death that his devotion was so great for Jesus that it was greater than all the others (Matthew 23:33, 35). In his first question, Jesus asked if Peter had agape greater than all the others. Peter could only answer that he had phileo for Christ. In this second question, Christ has dropped the "more than these," lessening the requirement. Peter still only answers he has phileo for Jesus. This is a humble Peter who now recognizes his weakness. Now we can see why Peter was grieved with the third question.

"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (phileo) Me?'  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love (phileo) Me?' " (John 21:17)

Christ had dropped the requirement to only brotherly love, which Peter had been saying all along.

Agape, the Love of God

What is this Greek word "agape" for love as the Bible defines it? In Mark 12 we find Jesus stating:

"'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'  This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this:  'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

Here the word Jesus used for love is "agape."

In 1John 5:3 we find:

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome."

Here again the word for love is the Greek "agape." The book of 2John repeats this by stating:

"This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. " (2John 1:6)

The apostle James says:

"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,  'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you do well; " (James 2:8)

The law of God has, as its first four commands, instruction on how to love God. God also is our neighbor in the universe (Jeremiah 12:14). He is the neighbor that rules.

So we see that love — as translated from the Greek word Agape — is keeping the commandments of God. It is not just FEELING good but it is DOING good for:

"Love does no harm to a neighbor;  therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10).

Storgay, the wonderful love in the Church family!

Besides keeping all God's commandments, the true church of God is to have a special family relationship. Here is where the Greek word Storgay is found in a compound word with Phileo. The King James Bible states that Paul taught that those who believe in God should be:

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; " (Romans 12:10)

The Greek word translated as "kindly affectionate" is philostorgos (Strong's Concordance #G5387) and means a loving friendship-family relationship.

While teaching the crowds one day Jesus' mother Mary and his brothers came to visit him. When he was told his mother and brothers came to see him Jesus said:

"But He answered them, saying,  'Who is My mother, or My brothers? . . . For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.' " (Mark 3:33, 35).

Believers, just like Jesus, are to consider and treat those who obey God and do His will as if they were close family members!