I think it would be beneficial to explore the roots of the Christian use of "love" in order to re-center ourselves on the truth.
The The New Testament was originally written in Ancient Greek. There are four words for "love" in Ancient Greek.
- Eros - A love that desires to possess the beloved. It is where we get the word "Erotic" from.
- Philia - A mutual affection or friendship. It is where we get "Philadelphia", the city of brotherly love.
- Storge - A familial affection. The duty-bound love you have for your family.
- Agape - A love that is innocent or selfless. An example would be the love you have for someone who is dependent on you, like an infant, for which you won't get anything in return.
When the Hebrew scholars translated the Old Testament from Hebrew to Ancient Greek, they did not use Eros or Philia once. They only used Agape. One of the reasons for this might be because the words "Eros" and "Philia" had been tainted by society and were also used to refer to sexual relationships.
It was still an interesting choice for the scholars because "agape" was used so rarely. In fact, it was used so infrequently that, until recently, historians hadn't found an example of the noun form of agape outside of Biblical texts!
When the New Testament was written, the scholars used Storge, Philia, and Agape (never Eros). However, they always used Agape to describe Christ's love. (See a spectacular example of how this contrast was used in the appendix!)
So, while Agape meant an "innocent love" in pre-Christian Greek. In the Christian vocabulary, Agape came to mean a sacrificial love. It is a love that hopes for no return. It is a love modeled after Christ's love for us.
Love came to mean Sacrifice.
Ramifications
If Love is Sacrifice, our understanding of language is completely transformed...
In this light, many of the things people claim to do "for love" are shown to be quite selfish or completely nonsensical. And more importantly, the Greatest Commandments, issued by Christ, become much more concrete:
+
(This post is part of a mini-series on Love.)
+
The story of Jesus questioning Peter three times is famous. But it takes on profound new meaning when read in the original language of Ancient Greek where distinctions between types of love can be shown. Read below:
When the New Testament was written, the scholars used Storge, Philia, and Agape (never Eros). However, they always used Agape to describe Christ's love. (See a spectacular example of how this contrast was used in the appendix!)
So, while Agape meant an "innocent love" in pre-Christian Greek. In the Christian vocabulary, Agape came to mean a sacrificial love. It is a love that hopes for no return. It is a love modeled after Christ's love for us.
Love came to mean Sacrifice.
Ramifications
If Love is Sacrifice, our understanding of language is completely transformed...
- "I love you" really means "I sacrifice for you"
- "True love conquers all" really means "True sacrifice conquers all"
- "God is Love" really means "God is Sacrifice" (which fits Christ)
In this light, many of the things people claim to do "for love" are shown to be quite selfish or completely nonsensical. And more importantly, the Greatest Commandments, issued by Christ, become much more concrete:
- "Love God with all you are" becomes "Sacrifice all you are to God"
- "Love one another as yourself" becomes "Sacrifice for each other as you would for yourself"
Those are much more actionable than the fluffy "have happy thoughts and good feelings for God" that we used to get with the modern definition of "love".
Conclusion
Love means so much more than we have been led to believe. We've been shortchanged.
We need to recapture the true meaning of love by using this definition of love in conversation and by living this definition of love in our lives.
Yes, it will take a lot of work to retake the word, but...you know...to love something is to sacrifice for it.
Keep Pursuing
Additional Material
Conclusion
Love means so much more than we have been led to believe. We've been shortchanged.
We need to recapture the true meaning of love by using this definition of love in conversation and by living this definition of love in our lives.
Yes, it will take a lot of work to retake the word, but...you know...to love something is to sacrifice for it.
Keep Pursuing
Additional Material
+
(This post is part of a mini-series on Love.)
+
The story of Jesus questioning Peter three times is famous. But it takes on profound new meaning when read in the original language of Ancient Greek where distinctions between types of love can be shown. Read below:
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you AGAPE me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I PHILIA you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you AGAPE me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I PHILIA you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you PHILIA me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you PHILIA me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I PHILIA you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17
Tell me that doesn't make the story more valuable! Here we see Jesus asking, "Do you love me enough to sacrifice for me?" and Peter answering, "Yeah, I love you like a brother".
That was not what Jesus asked. Peter was dodging the question. So finally, the third time, Jesus says, "So you love me like a brother huh?" to which Peter replies, "You already know that". You can almost hear shame in his voice. (Some scholars in the Church contend this was the first confession of the first pope.)
That was not what Jesus asked. Peter was dodging the question. So finally, the third time, Jesus says, "So you love me like a brother huh?" to which Peter replies, "You already know that". You can almost hear shame in his voice. (Some scholars in the Church contend this was the first confession of the first pope.)
