Answer: The English word "love" occurs more than 311 times in the King James Bible, with slight variations of the word occurring at least ten other times. I appreciate this comnentary. One Christian writer found four words in particular, from ancient Greek, that capture the essence of several types of love we are capable of showing. The same word is used to describe many different types of love. Learn Religions. A few months later, she sends word to him that she is pregnant, and David instantly starts plotting her husbands death. The quest for freedom is a theme found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Given Jacobs incredible love for her, though, we might assume they would have had pragma eventually. They dont deserve love. Our love must extend to those who do not deserve it. All the Law and the Prophets, Jesus explained, hang on these two commandments (Matthew 22:34-40). This kind of love is giving, even if you get nothing in return. In discussing love, the Bible cuts right to the chase by declaring that: "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8). Others may think of a song,a movieora book. Agape love is perfect, unconditional, sacrificial, and pure. 3.1 Storge - empathy bond. (Proverbs 5:1819; see also Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Ecclesiastes 9:9). Jesus repeatedly taught His disciples and thousands of others about agape love, and He openly displayed it everywhere He went. And God blessed him for it. It occurs when both people share the same values and respect each other it's commonly referred to as "brotherly love." Love Catalyst: The mind Within the boundaries of marriage this kind of love is to be celebrated and enjoyed as a blessing form God. Those words are Agape, Storge, Phileo, and Eros. Is it the kind of love God expresses to us, or the kind of love we attempt to express back to Him? But after Pentecost, Peter was so full of God's love that he spoke from his heart and 3,000 people were converted. Are the Rapture and the Second Coming the Same Thing? Eros can be a very dangerous thing if not reigned in quickly. Over the years, scholars have broken down the text of the Bible and divided each example of love into one of our categories: Eros, Storge, Philia, and Agape. God had obviously blessed him with great strength, but it is evident he was not very blessed with common sense or impulse control. The Bible says that mankind is made in the image of God, and that God is love. ", Looking for some light reading this summer? It is a wonderful cycle that can change the world for the better. Zavada, Jack. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). David and Jonathan are prime examples of this type of friendship. The other was a regular fellowship meal they held, to which the local poor were invited. Philia is the kind of love found in friendships. We have received the overflowing love of God. Considering that God is love and were made in His image, its our responsibility to reflect Gods love in all of our interactions. I t was If we get sick, we might take the necessary medicine or go to a doctor so we can feel better. Or is it that fleeting and temporary feeling that makes us say, "I love guacamole!"? 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Dolores Smyth is a nationally published faith and parenting writer. We must care for one another, serve one another, and demonstrate affection for one another. You cant do one without the other. If you want to read more Bible verses about love you can check out this list: Bible Verses About Love. Gods love for us is the foundation of this love. He simply couldnt fathom that God would love him so much as to die for him. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love." Agape is the most well-known of the 4 types of love in the Bible and is also the highest form of love. The phrase The Four Loves came from the title of a 1960 book penned by C.S. Could you please share your sources for these words and your understanding of them? Though they were both already married, he immediately sent for her so he could be intimate with her. But our enemies? Do We Have the Authority of Jesus to Forgive Someones Sin? 3.3 Eros - romantic love. They had each others backs in good times and bad. function ml_webform_success_2847088(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-2847088 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-2847088 .row-form").hide()}, "Narnia the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy the place where adventure begins. People love restaurants, sports teams, countries, and countless other things. And now abide in faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13. People in loving relationships feel your love have few doctor visits, shorter hospital visits, have less pain, and have more positive emotions. Little Lucy is the first to find a secret wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. What is the Proper Christian Response to the Unrest in America? Unfortunately, our modern English translations of those Scriptures typically boil everything down to the same word: "love.". Writer. The concept of brotherly love that unites believers is unique to Christianity. Heather Adams is an author, speaker, and singer living in Connecticut. This is what Paul is referring to in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9; hes warning young believers to follow Gods plan for eros love. While the love we find in our families, spouses, and friends are good gifts from God, they all fall short. But the word love describes an emotion with vastly differing degrees of intensity. They certainly had eros and storge. Sam O'Neal is the co-author of "Bible Stories You May Have Forgotten" and "The Bible Answer Book." This Greek word describes the love family members have for one another. Adoration is praising God for who He is. Did you know that there are four types of love found in the Bible? Many examples of family love are found in Scripture, such as the mutual protection among Noah and his wife, the love of Jacob for his sons, and the strong love the sisters Martha and Mary had for their brother Lazarus. "The Four Types of Love in the Bible." Article Images Copyright , The Four Types of Love in Scripture and How to Experience Them Today. This is a love that the world simply does not know. God has poured out incredible, overflowing, overwhelming love upon us. Best-friends-kind-of love. Heres the way I would sum up how we can apply this to our life in our interactions with others. Pastor. 10 Promises God Has for the Overwhelmed and Anxious Soul, Stay at Home Mom, You Are Enough Just as You Are, 5 Verses You Thought Were in the Bible but Aren't, A Prayer for the Filling of the Holy Spirit - Your Daily Prayer - July 23, 10 Worship Songs I'd Be Fine with Never Singing Again (And Why), A Prayer for Our Kids to Follow Christ - Your Daily Prayer - July 22, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, 5 Signs You're in Spiritual Warfare and How to Fight It, 3 Guided Prayers to Renew Your Mind Today, 5 Ways to Communicate Love to Your Children, 5 Entertaining Things for Your Kids to Do on the Family Road Trip, 5 Ways to Heal in Your Relationship with a Narcissistic Spouse, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. https://www.learnreligions.com/types-of-love-in-the-bible-700177 (accessed July 25, 2023). In his book, Lewis wrote: Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our natural lives.. Explore the 8 Different Types of Love By Rachael Pace, Expert Blogger 9.7k Reads Updated: 5 May, 2021 Love can be in any shape, form, color, and size; Lovers can love each other uniquely. We'll explore these different types of love in the Bible, and, as we do, we'll discover what love truly means and how to follow Jesus Christ's command to "love one another.". The king gave them gourmet food and wine every day, but Daniel did not want to defile himself with such an ungodly diet. They supported and encouraged one another. Should Christians Invest in the Stock Market? Dr. Neel Burton at Psychology Today describes self-esteem as the emotional appraisal of our own worth relative to that of othersIt is the matrix through which we think, feel, and act, and reflects and determines our relation to ourselves, to others, and to the world.. Its a practical kind of love that stands the test of time. It was love that took Jesus to the cross and it was love that held Him there. Putting a Biblical Perspective on World History for Your Kids Part 2: Whatever Happened to the Canaanites? Samson slept with harlots (Judges 16:1) and burned entire grain fields in revenge (Judges 15:5). The New Testament, which was originally written in Greek, speaks of different kinds of love. We know this because a conjugation of the word agapewas used in the Greek translation of Jesuss command to love one another as Christ Himself has loved us (John 13:35). Tweet . The most common form of philia is close friendship. how can it beThat Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?Amazing love! Though the word itself is not in the Bible, examples of God-given romantic love are everywhere. Flee from sexual immorality. 160. Eroslove refers to romantic or sexual love, and is the root of the English word erotic. Promiscuity was rampant in Bible times, just as it is today, and the Bible continually reserves eros love for marriage. According to Ecclesiastes 9:9, she eventually became his first wife (that is, before he married 699 other women and kept 300 concubines). From time to time, a prominent person will say that marriage is a bad, unspiritual thing. Its why there are so many songs and books and movies about love. (John 3:16). Even the way we define love can be depicted in many different ways. Thank you. When he and his friends Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abed-Nego) were captured by the Babylonian army, they were taken to King Nebuchadnezzars palace to learn the Chaldean language and Babylonian culture. It can be tough to know who your true friends really are. Aristotle believed that a person can bear goodwill to another for one of three reasons: that he is useful; that he is pleasant;. Even though the term eros is not found in the Old Testament, Song of Solomon vividly portrays the passion of erotic love. Lewis. Of the eight Greek types of love, seven of them are sprinkled throughout Gods word. Were not just servants, we are actually children of the living God! Journey back to Narnia and rediscover how far God's great love for you will go. I also noticed that someone else had left a very helpful and constructive comment that you did not reply to, so I figured it was because the medium page is not checked often. This is the type of care that exists between family members, friends, or companions. God loves us because its who he is. It matures and grows over time into something truly special. God didnt just say He loves us. Now that we understand what the Bible is let us see how many versions of the Bible are there. It may be helpful to offer a brief understanding of who has defined grace and its varying types. Love is a central theme in the Bible and is a primary attribute of God. Eros - Romantic, Passionate Love (Of the Body) I have several sources I use including a fantastic Greek to English translation Bible as well as pastors and psychologists I consulted. 4 http://www.steppesoffaith.com/faith/7-types-love-bible "For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son." John 3:16 Have you seen the latest New York Life commercial on television?. Eros (Pronounced: AIR-ohs) is the Greek word for sensual or romantic love. When eros love is pursued above everything else, the result is pain. 1. Additionally, the Old Testament was translated into Greek (the Septuagint). By. Built on a familiarity between people, the emphasis of storge is on devotion and intimacy that develops over time. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35, CSB). He was essentially asking Peter if he loved Him like a best friend (note: this was the third question Jesus asked in John 21:17). Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. It's a beautiful ad describing the characteristics of love according to the Greek language. very enlightening. Noting the many intricacies and nuances of love, the Greeks decided that love could be broken down into seven specific types. Joy is an essential component of the Christian life, and it appears over a hundred times in the Bible. God Himself is love and He defines love for us. There, were told that Jesus wept at the sight of His friend Mary and others weeping over the death of Lazarus (John 11:33-35). The four he chose were: Lewis makes the point that all of them can, and often do, intertwine. (Song Of Solomon 8:6-7), Proverbs talks about the healing qualities of love. All rights reserved. The early church actually used the term to describe two separate activities they practiced. Therefore we should love with each other with deep affection of storge love. I left a comment on this post on medium as well, but Im not sure how often you check it so Ill leave a comment here too. And by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before Him.. " While the Oxford dictionary defines it as " a . Phileo love is seen in Scripture in the passage about the raising of Lazarus. Eros represents the idea of sexual passion and desire. A great example of philautia in the Bible is Daniel. Why Jesus Wept During His Triumphal Entry. Sources indicate that the King James Version mentions love 442 times, while it is written 689 times in the NIV bible. We cant fully satisfy a persons desire to be loved but we can point them to the One who can. Heather's blog, Worship Walk Ministries, offers weekly Scripture passages and insights to ponder. Following his resurrection, Jesus asked the apostle Peter if he loved him (agape). So Abraham loved his son Isaac ( Gen. 22:2 ), Isaac loved his son Esau ( Gen. 25:28 ), and "Israel loved Joseph more than all his children" ( Gen. 37:3 ). Is It Okay for Christians to Put Up a Christmas Tree? God gave us this kind of desire with the clear instruction to express it only within the bonds of marriage. Who Wrote Pauls Letters in the New Testament? Because I love you, I must show you grace. But the word love describes an emotion with vastly differing degrees of intensity. It takes pragma for a couple to last that long enduring lifes ups and downs while waiting for Gods promise to come true.