Hebraic Musing – God is Love; but What is Love?
The Greek language is known for specificity, and that’s
especially true when we look at the seven different but specific words Greeks
use to describe what we simply call “Love.” They would have
been shocked to hear us use a single word to whisper “I Love you” over a
candlelit meal or to sign an email “lots of love” or to say “I love pizza” or “going to bed to make love”! BTW – “Love” appears 509x in the NIV with a variety of
meanings! Maybe we should be more
specific in our word choice(s)? Here’s
the first four Biblical meanings:
1. Eros, or sexual passion. The first kind of love
was Eros, named after the Greek god of fertility, thus it represents the
idea of sexual passion and desire. This
can be a dangerous, fiery, and irrational form of love
that could take hold of you and possess you.
That loss of control frightened the Greeks. That’s odd, losing control is precisely what
many people now seek in a relationship. They want to fall “madly” in love.
Eros in the Bible is what we call romantic love,
like the love found in a bride’s profession
of passionate love for her husband in Song of
Solomon 1:1-2 -- “Let him kiss me with
the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine”. Eros love is the only type of love
that when practiced without restraint becomes sin or sexual immorality and idol
worship. (1 Corinth.6:18 & Galatians 5:19)
2. Phileo, or deep friendship. The second variety of love was Phileo or brotherly friendship, which Greeks
valued far more than the sexuality of Eros. Phileo is the deep brotherly
comradely friendship that developed between brothers in arms who had fought
side by side on the battlefield. How
much of this comradely love do we have in our lives? Phileo love
is seen in the account of the death of Lazarus when a witness pointed out the
depth of Jesus’s love using the word Phileo
to exclaim, “See how He loved him!” (John 11:36) Philadelphia is known as the city of
“Brotherly Love.” We are expected to extend Phileo love for our neighbor. “By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:35) Are we
really practicing Phileo Love when amassing
“friends” on Facebook?
3. Agape, or Love for everyone.
The most radical form of love is Agape the highest form of Christian love. It’s a
selfless love or Unconditional Love we should extend
to all people. C.S.Lewis called it “gift love.” Do we need to
revive our capacity to care about strangers. Perfect Agape Love
is famously described by Paul as “Love is patient, Love is kind…” in 1 Corinth.13:4-8.
It’s the highest and most noble form of love, the love
that God has for us. Jesus demonstrated
Agape Love for us on the cross by
sacrificing his life for the sins for all mankind.
4.
Storge is the Familial Love between family
members. How many examples of
familial love are in the Bible? Examples: Noah and his children, devotion to
children, Ruth and Naomi, Jairus for his sick
daughter to name just a few. Some Biblical figures displayed notable absence of Storge Love – Cain’s hatred for and murder of his brother
Abel (Genesis 4:1-11); and Joseph’s jealous brothers sold Joseph into slavery
(Genesis 37:18-36).
Greeks had three more words for love which God understandably did not
use in His Word:
5. Ludus, or playful love.
This form of love concerns the playful affection between children or casual couples; like
when flirting, teasing and dancing with strangers; such adult frivolity is
frowned on by Biblical morality.
6. Pragma: Enduring Love. The Greek root word “Pragma” applies to a
form of mature, realistic love more commonly found amongst long-established couples. Pragma is about making compromises to help
the relationship work over time by showing patience and tolerance. Do we expend too much energy on “falling in love” and not enough effort to “stand in love”? Is there enough effort to give love rather than just receiving it. Thus about
a third of marriages end up in divorce in the first
10 years. Do we need more Pragma Love?
7. Philautia, or self-love. Aristotle recognized two types of self-love. The unhealthy variety is associated
with narcissism, self-obsession and a focus on personal fame and fortune. And the healthy version enhances your
capacity to love – if you like
yourself and feel secure, you will have plenty of love to give others.
Points to ponder
Have you ever
said “I love something” when you should have said “I like him, her or it”?
Are we too
casual or sloppy when we use the word “Love”? What word(s) should we use?
♫ And
they'll know we are Christians by our love,
by our love,… ♫
Brother Joe a.k.a. Joe Brusherd
August
24, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages
exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly “Hebraic Musings” insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/
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