Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
To love (25) (agapao - see related study of noun agape) means to love unconditionally and sacrificially as God Himself loves sinful men (John 3:16), the way He loves the Son (John 3:35, 15:9, 17:23, 24). Note that agapao is a verb and by its verbal nature calls for action. This quality of love is not an emotion but is an action initiated by a volitional choice. MacArthur writes that agapao... expresses the purest, noblest form of love, which is volitionally driven, not motivated by superficial appearance, emotional attraction, or sentimental relationship. (MacArthur, John: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Moody Press or Logos) Wuest writes that Agapao speaks of a love which is awakened by a sense of value in an object which causes one to prize it. It springs from an apprehension of the preciousness of an object. It is a love of esteem and approbation. The quality of this love is determined by the character of the one who loves, and that of the object loved. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) Vine writes that... Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 John 4:9, 10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Ro 5:8 (note). It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, cp. Deuteronomy 7:7, 8. Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2Co 5:14; Ep 2:4 (note); Ep 3:19 (note); Ep 5:2 (note); Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the Christian, Galatians 5:22 (note). Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments, John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; 1Jn 2:5; 5:3; 2Jn 6. Self-will, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) Agapao in the perfect tense is translated "beloved" some 7 times (eg two times in Romans 9:25, Ephesians 1:6 of the Son, Colossians 3:12, 1Thessalonians 1:2, 2Thes 2:13 of believers, Revelation 20:9 of the "beloved city", Jerusalem.) Agapao is love that is... ...commanded of believers (John 13:34, 15:12, 15:17) ...empowered by the Holy Spirit in the heart of the surrendered saint (Gal 5:13, 14, 15, 16, 22) ...commanded of Spirit filled husbands for their wives even as Jesus demonstrated for His bride, the church, giving Himself up for her (Ep 5:25-note) ...to be given in the same way Spirit filled husbands love their own bodies (Ep 5:28-note) ...the love with which the Father loved the Son and which may be in believers (Jn 17:26) ...a debt we are to always seek to repay but can never fully discharge (Ro 13:8-note) ...taught by God (1Th 4:9-note) ...manifested by specific actions and attitudes (1Cor 13:4, 5, 6, 7, 8 -see notes 13:4 5 6 7 8) ...shown not just by words but by deeds (1Jn 3:17, cf such love in action as a manifestation of genuine faith in James 2:15, 16- note) ...manifested by keeping God's commandments (Jn 14:15, 21, 23, 24) ...the response Jesus called for one to demonstrate to his or her enemies (Mt 5:44-note) ...love calls for one to love one's neighbor as one's self (Mt 19:19) ...love that seeks the recipient's highest good, not activated by virtue in the recipient (undeserved) (Jn 3:16) ...not based on affection, sentiment or emotion but upon a decision of the will ...given or offered even if the love is not received or reciprocated ...love differs from phileo which is based on affection ...love that finds its perfect expression in Jesus Christ and the Cross (Jn 3:16, cp 1Jn 3:16) ...the love of the overcomers in Revelation who did not love their life even to death (Re 12:10-note) ...love that cannot be manifested by unregenerate individuals in its true Biblical sense of being Spirit enabled. Agapao when used in the context of the unregenerate means generally to have a high esteem for or to take pleasure in something. This type of agapao love is based on one showing a high regard for the object's perceived value or importance as shown in the following passages... Luke 7:5 of a Roman centurion who loved Israel Luke 11:43 of Pharisees who loved the front seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places John 3:19 of unregenerate men who loved the darkness rather than the light John 12:43 of the men who loved the approval of men rather than the approval God 2 Timothy 4:10 (note) of Demas who loved this present world and as a result deserted Paul and went to Thessalonica 1John 2:15 of those who love the world which indicates they do not possess the love of the Father within them (Compare uses in LXX translation of Ps 4:2, 11:5, 52:3, 4) 2 Peter 2:15 (note) of the false teachers who forsook and went astray from the right way because they like Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness Agapao is found 143 times in 110 NT verses in the NAS (5.43-Matt.5.44" class="scriptRef">Matt. 5:43, 44, 46; 6:24; 19" class="scriptRef">19.19" class="scriptRef">19:19; 22.8.37" class="scriptRef">37" class="scriptRef">22:37, 39; 21" class="scriptRef">Mk. 10:21; 15.12" class="scriptRef">12.30-Mark.12.31" class="scriptRef">12:30, 31, 33" class="scriptRef">33; Lk. 6:27, 32, 35" class="scriptRef">35; 7:5, 42, 47; 10:27; 11:43; 16.13" class="scriptRef">16:13; Jn. 3:16, 19, 35; 8:42; 17" class="scriptRef">10:17; 11:5; 12:43; 13:1, 23" class="scriptRef">23, 34; 14:15, 21, 23, 24, 28" class="scriptRef">28, 31; 15:9, 12, 17; 17:23, 24, 26; 19:26; 21:7, 15, 16, 20; Ro 8:28, 37; 9:13, 25" class="scriptRef">25; 13:8, 9; 1Co. 2:9; 8:3; 2Co 9:7; 11:11; 12:15; Ga 2:20; 5:14; Ep 1:6; 2:4; 5:2, 25, 28, 33; 6:24; Col 3:12, 19; 1Th 1:4; 4:9; 2Th 2:13, 16; 2Ti 4:8, 10; He 1:9; 12:6; James 1:12; 2:5, 8; 1Pe 1:8, 22; 2:17; 3:10; 2Pe 2:15; 1Jn 2:10, 15; 3:10,11, 14, 18, 23; 4:7f, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 21; 5:1,2; 2Jn 1:1, 5; 3Jn 1:1; Jude 1:1; Re 1:5; 3:9; 12:11; 20:9) Agapao is found 198 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (22" class="scriptRef">22.2" class="scriptRef">Ge 22:2; 13.4" class="scriptRef">4.67" class="scriptRef">7" class="scriptRef">7" class="scriptRef">24:67; 28" class="scriptRef">25:28; 29:18, 20" class="scriptRef">20" class="scriptRef">20, 30, 15.32" class="scriptRef">32" class="scriptRef">32; 34.3" class="scriptRef">34:3; 37:3; 44:20; Ex 20:6; 21" class="scriptRef">21.5" class="scriptRef">21:5; Lev. 19:18, 34; Deut. 4:37; 10" class="scriptRef">5:10; 6:5; 7:8, 9, 13" class="scriptRef">13; 12" class="scriptRef">12" class="scriptRef">10:12, 15" class="scriptRef">15" class="scriptRef">15, 18f; 11:1, 13, 22; 13:3; 16" class="scriptRef">15:16; 19:9; 21:15f; 23:5; 30:6, 16, 20; 32:15; 33:5, 12, 26; Jos. 22:5; 23:11; Jdg 5:31; 14.16" class="scriptRef">14:16; 16:4, 15; Ru 4:15; 1Sa 1:5; 16:21; 18:16, 20, 22, 28; 17" class="scriptRef">17" class="scriptRef">17" class="scriptRef">20:17; 2Sa 1:23; 7:18; 12:24; 13:1, 4, 15, 21; 19:6; 1 Ki. 3:3; 5:1; 10:9; 11:2; 1Chr. 17:16; 29:17; 2 Chr. 2:11; 9:8; 11:21; 20:7; Neh. 1:5; 13:26; Esther 6:9; Job 19:19; Ps. 4:2; 5:11; 11:5, 7; 18:1; 26:8; 29:6; 31:23; 33:5; 34:12; 37:28; 40:16; 45:7; 47:4; 51:6; 52:3f; 36" class="scriptRef">69:36; 70:4; 78:68; 84:11; 87:2; 94:19; 119.97" class="scriptRef">97.10" class="scriptRef">97:10; 99:4; 109:4, 17; 115:18; 119:47f, 97, 113, 119, 127, 132, 140, 159, 163, 165, 166, 167; 122:6; 145:20; 146:8; Pr 3:12; 4:3; 8:17, 21, 36; 9:8; 12:1; 13:24; 15:9, 12, 32; 16:13, 17; 19:8; 20:13; 21:17; 22:11, 14; 28:4, 13, 17; 30:15; Eccl. 5:10; 9:9; Song 1:3, 4, 7; 3:1, 2, 3; Isa. 1:23; 3:25; 5:1, 7; 41:8; 43:4; 44:2; 48:14; 51:2; 56:6; 57:8; 60:10; 61:8; 63:9; 66:10; Jer. 2:25; 5:31; 8:2; 11:15; 12:7; 14:10; 31:3; 49:25; La 1:2; Ezek. 16:37; Dan. 4:27; 9:4; Hos. 3:1; 4:18; 8:9, 11f; 9:1, 10, 15; 10:11; 11:1; 12:7; 14:4; Amos 4:5; 5:15; Mic 6:8; Zec 8:17, 19; 10:6; Mal 1:2; 2:11) The first use of agapao in the LXX corresponds to the first mention of love in the Bible in the context of Abraham's call to sacrifice Isaac... And He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love (LXX = agapao) , Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." (Genesis 22:2) Here are some other representative uses of agapao in the LXX... You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love (LXX = agapao) your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18) (Cited in at least 8 NT passages - Matthew 5:43; Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8) O love (Lxx = agapao in the aorist imperative) the LORD, all you His godly ones! The LORD preserves the faithful, And fully recompenses the proud doer. (Psalm 31:23) And the descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will dwell in it (Zion). (Psalm 69:36) Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; and let those who love Thy salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified." (Psalm 70:4) O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119:97) Peter emphasized the primacy of Christian love writing that... 1 Peter 1:22 (note) Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere (unhypocritical, unfeigned, lacking pretense or show and thus genuine) love of the brethren, fervently (ektenes = an athletic term = “striving with all of one’s energy” - used to describe a runner who is moving at maximum output with taut muscles straining and stretching to the limit) love one another from the heart (not just head knowledge, not just with words but with deeds) (Philadelphia is the fruit of the new birth into the family of God.) 1 Peter 4:8 (note) Above all (most important of all), keep fervent (ektenes = an athletic term = “striving with all of one’s energy” - used to describe a runner who is moving at maximum output with taut muscles straining and stretching to the limit) in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. (Comment: One aspect of this "covering" is to overlook sins against one's self if possible, and be ready to forgive as you have been forgiven.) In his first Epistle, John makes a number of important statements regarding the vital importance of Christian love. including its source, its manifestation, its effect on the one who demonstrates it, etc First, Christian love is evidence of genuine new birth. Conversely, not loving is evidence that one abides in spiritual death and is not born again. 1John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Secondly, Christian love is shown by its sacrificial nature, laying down of one's life. 1John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Third, Christian love is shown not just by words but by action. Agape love is not so much a feeling as it is an action. 1John 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. Fourth, manifesting genuine Christian love in deeds not just words will gives assurance regarding their salvation and confidence in prayer. 1John 3:19 (NLT) It is by our actions (of meeting other's needs) that we know we are living in the truth (that we are "children of God" {1John 3:10} and not "of the evil one" {1John 3:12}, so we will be confident when we stand before the Lord, 20 even if our hearts condemn us (our tangible evidences of demonstration of love for the brethren provide comfort to us when we feel guilty that we have not loved enough or we have doubts. We can come to Him now in confidence and look forward with confidence to standing before Him some day in the future - see 1John 3:21). For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Fifth, belief in Jesus is intimately related to love of the brethren and we are to show Christian love because God commanded us. If we obey we experience a greater sense of His abiding presence in us. 1John 3:23 And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. Sixth, Christian love should continue as it reflects God Who is love and the source of love. 1John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (In simple terms, John explains that if we don't love, we are note believers because the essence of God is love and to fail to demonstrate His love shows we do not belong to His family.) Seventh, God manifested His love by giving us what we need (propitiation for sins), not what we want and His love is the basis for our life in and through union with Christ... 1John 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Eighth, because of God's love for us we are to love one another. 1John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Ninth, loving others prove God abides in us. 1John 4:12 No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. Tenth, living a love filled life will result in a God filled life. 1John 4:16 And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ("all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them", NLT) Eleventh, practicing love gives us confidence that we can stand before the judgment seat of Christ and not fear. 1John 4:17 By this (by abiding in love - e.g., as shown by sacrificial laying down of our life, by meeting our neighbor's need with actions not just words, by keeping God's commandments as in 1John 2:5), love is perfected (as we practice love and manifest God's love, His love is brought to maturity) with us, that we may have confidence (boldness in speech) in the day of judgment (see bema - judgment of believers); because as He is (as Christ is - as we practice a life of love it shows we are like His Son, that we belong to His family, that we can have confidence at the judgment, cp 1John 2:28, 29 which says the same thing in slightly different words, cp 1John 3:1, 2, 3 "we are children of God...we shall be like Him {Jesus}"), so also are we in this world.18 There is no fear (the context is still the day of judgment - that there is no fear because we demonstrate a "perfected" love, a maturing love) in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. Comment: John Piper explains "In other words the reason there is no fear in love is that there is no threat of punishment for being a loving person. When you love someone with real practical deeds, you never hear a warning signal that says, "You're going to get punished for this." Fear is what you feel when you have done something that ought to be punished. But love is never threatened with punishment. So there is no fear in love." see Piper's full sermon Perfect Love Casts Out Fear Twelfth, love of the brethren shows we genuinely love God and is made possible only because He first loved us. 1John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. Thirteenth, love of God is shown by keeping His commandments and this shows we love the brethren. 1John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome (because we now have His Spirit to enable us to keep them). ONE ANOTHER One another (240) (allelon) means each other and speaks of a mutuality or sharing of sentiments between two persons or groups of persons. Allelon is a reciprocal pronoun which denotes that the encouragement and edification is to be a mutual beneficial activity. As each submits, encourages, loves, etc, the other members benefit. This is the God's description and prescription for a body of believers. One another is a common NT phrase (especially in Paul's letters) with most uses relating to some aspect of the building up of the body of Christ. As such the "one anothers" in the NT would make an excellent Sunday School study (or topical sermon series), taking time to meditate on each occurrence, asking whether it is being practiced (in the Spirit-note) in your local church and seeking to excel still more (cp Php 1:9, 10, 11-note; 1Th 3:12-note, 1Th 4:1-note), 1Th 4:10-note). Below is a list of the NT uses of one another (be sure to check the context for the most accurate interpretation). The Positive ><>><>><> ><> Ro 12:10-note, Ro 12:16-note; Ro 13:8-note; Ro 14:13-note, Ro 14:19-note; Ro 15:5-note, Ro 15:7-note, Ro 15:14-note; Ro 16:16-note; ><>1Co 12:25; 1Co 16:20; 2Co 13:12; ><> Ga 5:13; Ep 4:2-note, Ep 4:25-note, Ep 4:32-note; Ep 5:19-note, Ep 5:21-note; ><> Php 2:3-note; Col 3:13-note, Col 3:16-note ><> 1Th 3:12-note; 1Th 4:9-note, 1Th 4:18-note; 1Th 5:11-note, 1Th 5:13-note, 1Th 5:15-note; 2Th 1:3; ><> Heb 3:13-note; He 10:24, 25-note; ><> Jas 5:16, 1Pe 1:22-note; 1Pe 4:8, 9-note, 1Pe 4:10-note; 1Pe 5:5-note, 1Pe 5:14-note ><> 1Jn 1:7,3:11,23,4:7,11, 12, 2Jn 1:5 The Negative <><<><<>< <>< 1Co 6:7, 7:5, 11:33, Ga 5:15, Ga 5:26-note Col 3:9-note, Jas 4:11, 5:9 What does Christian love for one another look like? In 1Corinthians 13:4-7 Paul gives a practical, applicable, succinct description of agape love which is read during most wedding ceremonies but often forgotten by the time the honeymoon is over. This "divine checklist" on agape love needs to be read and re-read (consider once a week or at least once a month) by married couples as well as singles for such an exercise would surely prove profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in right behavior toward one another. Love is patient (has a long fuse), love is kind (provides what is needed), and is not (note every "not" in these verses = absolute negation = never!) jealous (possessive); love does not brag (does not say "look how loving I am", does not parade it's imagined superiority of others) and is not arrogant (exaggerated self conception), (see note 1Corinthians 13:4) does not act unbecomingly (ugly, indecent, rude); it does not seek its own (seek its own way like "it's my way or the highway!"), is not provoked (irritable; English paroxysm = sudden outburst of emotion), does not take into account a wrong suffered (like an accountant keeps written records on the ledger), (see note 1Corinthians 13:5) does not rejoice in unrighteousness (does not take delight in that which is offensive to God, does not justify wrong or make wrong look right), but rejoices with the truth (Love cheers whenever the truth wins out. It is glad to know that suspicions were unfounded. Love believes the best and is glad when the verdict is "Not guilty") (see note 1Corinthians 13:6) bears all things ("puts a roof over" = covers, keeps silent about, keeps confidential. Throws a cloak of silence over what is displeasing in another person. Protects from exposure, ridicule, or harm) believes all things (not gullible but seeing the best in others, giving them the benefit of the doubt), hopes all things (looking at the bright side of things and not conveying a sense of despair or pessimism. Avoiding a negative, critical spirit, instead being positive and hoping for what is good for another), endures all things (endures patiently and triumphantly and not passively putting up with the difficulties). (see note 1Corinthians 13:7) Remember that these practical aspects of supernatural love can only be carried out by a believer who is filled with, strengthened by and walking in the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18-note; Ep 3:16-note; Gal 5:16-note). 1Thessalonians 4:10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, (NASB: Lockman) Greek: kai gar poieite (2PPAI) auto eis pantas tous adelphous [tous] en hole te Makedonia. parakaloumen (1PPAI) de humas, adelphoi, perisseuein (PAN) mallon Amplified: And indeed you already are [extending and displaying your love] to all the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we beseech and earnestly exhort you, brethren, that you excel [in this matter] more and more, (Amplified Bible - Lockman) NLT: Indeed, your love is already strong toward all the Christians in all of Macedonia. Even so, dear friends, we beg you to love them more and more. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: and you are already extending your love to all the Macedonians. Yet we urge you to have more and more of this love, and to make ot your ambition to have no ambition!. (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: for you also are doing the same with respect to all the brethren in the whole of Macedonia. Now, as for you, I beg of you, please, brethren, that you see to it that you continually are increasing more and more [in this love], (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: for ye do it also to all the brethren who are in all Macedonia; and we call upon you, brethren, to abound still more, FOR INDEED YOU DO PRACTICE IT TOWARD ALL THE BRETHREN WHO ARE IN ALL MACEDONIA: kai gar poieite (2PPAI) auto eis pantas tous adelphous [tous] en ole te Makedonia: (1Thes 1:7; 2Corinthians 8:1,2,8, 9, 10; Ephesians 1:15; Colossians 1:4; 2Thessalonians 1:3; Philemon 1:5, 6, 7) For indeed - This phrase introduces the reason that they had no need to write to the saints in Thessalonica. Timothy had brought the good news to Paul that the Thessalonians were demonstrating both faith and love (see note 1Thes 3:6) and that this love was being manifest to brethren in all Macedonia. Practice (4160) (poieo) means to accomplish or do something that brings about a state or condition, in this case deeds that bore eloquent testimony to the authenticity of their Spirit driven love. Exactly how their love was manifested is not stated (? financial aid - cp 2Cor 8:1, 2ff). The main point is that whatever the manifestation was, it was clearly evident to their spiritual father Paul. All the brethren - Irregardless of whether they were Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or freeman - all were recipients of this love, which is another indication of the power of the gospel received to break down socio-economic barriers. On the other hand churches in which class distinctions still persist, demonstrate that there has been incomplete penetration and/or understanding of the power of the gospel which places all believers on level ground at the foot of Christ's Cross. Brethren (80) (adelphos from collative a = copulative prefix {joining together coordinate words} or connective particle serving to join or unite + delphús = womb) is literally one born from same womb and literally identifies a male having the same father and mother. Figuratively (as used throughout this epistle) adelphos refers to a close associate of a group of persons having well-defined membership, specifically identifying fellow believers in Christ united by the bond of affection. BUT WE URGE YOU, BRETHREN, TO EXCEL STILL MORE: parakaloumen (1PPAI) de humas, adelphoi, perisseuein (PAN) mallon: (1Thes 4:1;1Thes 3:12; Philippians 1:9; 3:13, 14, 15; 2Peter 3:18)

Be the first to react on this!

Group of Brands