Love : A Brief Etymology

There are several Greek words for “LOVE” , as the Greek language distinguished how the word is used.

· Agape ( agaph )

This word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional and thoughtful love.

Love ( agaph ) is patient, love ( agaph ) is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud – 1Corinthians 13:4

Agape is used in the N.T to describe the attitude of God toward His Son ( John 17:26 ), the human race, generally ( John 3:16 ; Rom 5:8 ) ; to convey His will to His children concerning their attitude on another  ( Matthew 22:39 ) ; and to express the essential nature of God ( 1John 4:8 ).

Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the Christian ( Galatians 5:22 ) ;  implicit obedience to His commandments ( John 14:15-21; 1John 2:5 , 5:3 ; 2John 1:6 ) ; sacrificial ( 1John 3:16 )

Although the word agape is often used to describe God’s love, yet it is also used in a negative sense  ( 2Timothy 4:10 ; John 12:43 ; John 3:19 )

· Phileo ( jila )

Phileo means friendship or brotherly love.  It is a dispassionate virtuous love, a concept developed by Aristotle ( 384 BC -322 BC ).  It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity.

Anyone who loves ( jilwn ) their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves ( jilwn ) their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me – Matthew 10:37

Also found elsewhere in N.T. besides being known as brotherly love ( John 11:3, 36 ) , phileo is also implies as human’s response to something that is found to be delightful ( Matthew 6:5, 23:6 ; Luke 20:46 ; Rev 22:15 )

The other 2 words of love in Greek language : Eros and storge, were never used in the N.T.

· Eros ( erwz )

Eros is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing.  However, eros does not have to be sexual in nature.  It can be interpreted as a love for someone whom you love more than the phileo. 

· Storge ( storgh )

Storge means ‘affection’.  It is natural affection, like the felt by parents for offspring, almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationship within the family.