Musing – World-view or Biblical “Love”; What’s the Difference?

 Hebraic Musing – World-view or Biblical “Love”; What’s the Difference?

We Christians like to point out that “God is Love.”  But what does “Love” mean?  How many ways is the word “Love” used in our everyday language?  There are at least seven types of “Love” in the Greek language (see Notes below).  Here are examples of how we use the word “Love” today (with the Greek word for each):

- I love my brother-in-law. (Storge, familial)

- I obviously love myself.  ♫ “... I think I’m grand, when I go to the show, I hold my hand...” ♫ (Philautic)

- I love my neighbors, they are good people. (Philia, a friendly, platonic relationship as in Philadelphia)

- I loved the flirtatious times Irene and I had during courtship. (Ludus, easy & fun times)

- I enjoy making love and all those erotic, passionate, lustful and pleasurable emotions!!! (Eros, as in erotic)

- I desperately try to love everybody without conditions, the way God loves us. (Agape, perfect, unconditional)

- My love for Irene has grown & matured. (Pragma, matured, devoted & committed)

- I love coffee. (a traditional misuse of the word love, I should use the non-relational “Like”)

While we try to be Christ-followers and learn about love by reading our Bibles, we have in our heads at least eight distinctly different definitions or descriptions for that critical word “Love”!  Our Bible focuses on only four of these forms of “Love”:

The four types of “Love” described in the Bible:

Agape – The highest and most noble form of love is reserved for the perfect, self-sacrificial and unconditional love that God has for us.  Agape, pronounced uh-GAH-pay, is what Jesus demonstrated on the cross for us by sacrificing his life and taking on the entire burden of sin for all mankind so that all may have life everlasting with Him in Heaven.

Storge – Pronounced stor-JAY.  Storge refers to love between family members. Think of how many examples of Storge you can find in the Bible between the many families mentioned: Noah and his children, fathers and mothers devoted to their children, Ruth and Naomi, just to name a few!  And we belong to the family of God!

Phileo/Philia – Philia is brotherly love in the Bible; have you ever heard the city of Philadelphia referred to as the city of “Brotherly Love?”  That’s because this form of love is Greek for the deep, emotional bonds that connect people to one another.  Often this is exemplified in friendship, but really it is also extended to those who show love and a natural care for others out of their love for people around them, like their neighbors.  We see examples of this kind of love between figures like David and Jonathan and especially in John 13:35 – “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” NKJV

Eros – Pronounced AIR-os.  Eros is what we would call physical love and/or lust.  This includes love found in Song of Solomon; and also includes the love found in unhealthy places where adultery and sexual immorality become idols for certain communities.

In SUMMARY – I would love to say that I love sharing God’s Word; BUT instead, I should say...
     I appreciate the opportunity to pass on what His Holy Spirit has shared with me.

Points to Ponder

Are we safe in taking the world’s use of the word “Love” at face value?

Love is the strongest emotion; it is the most profound, intense and life changing.

“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”   Why?

“For God so loved the world that he gave...”

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     July 25, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”      Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note - Seven of the types of “Love” in the Greek language:

Eros: Romantic Love
Eros is named after the Greek god of love and fertility. It involves passion, lust, and pleasure. It’s also where we got the term “erotica.” Cupid is modeled after Eros. This is the love that can act as a drug. We get high off of this type of love and experience deep sadness when it is tainted or taken away.

The Ancient Greeks believed Eros to be dangerous as it feeds off of our primal impulse to procreate and involves a loss of control. It stimulates romantic and sexual feelings that aren’t duplicated with other forms of love. For many, this makes it close to irresistible.

Philia: Friendly Love
The second type of love is Philia, which is authentic, intimate friendship. From Philia stems the idea of “platonic” relationships, meaning “without physical attraction.” The term was named after Greek philosopher Plato who felt that physical attraction was not a necessary element of love.

Agape: Universal Love
Agape is selfless, empathetic love. Such as the love for strangers and people whom we don’t know well. Agape love is bigger than you and me as it exhibits boundless compassion that is extended to everyone regardless of our connection to them. It is pure and sacrificial. It is perfect.

Ludus: Flirtatious Love
The Ancient Greeks thought of Ludus as a playful form of love. Think of a teenage crush or the affection demonstrated between young lovers. We were so light and free back then. Relationships were fun, and love felt easy.

Storge: Familial Love
The affection experienced among family members is Storge. This kinship-based love is protective, caring, nurturing, and unconditional. Storge is most common between parents and their children.

Pragma: Committed Love
Pragma is devoted, companionate love such as marriage and life-partnership. It is a love built on understanding, patience, and long-term investment. Pragma has matured over time — tried and tested by the challenges of life.

Philautic: Self-Love
The Ancient Greeks understood well that to effectively care for others, we must first learn to care for ourselves. Philautic sets the tone as self-love is the faucet from which all other love flows.