What are the biblical types of love? Definition of Biblical Love Biblical teaching presents love as a foundational virtue that reflects the character and will of God. Numerous passages declare that love is essential, with 1 John 4:8 stating, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Scriptures reveal different aspects and types of love, each addressing various relational contexts. The Greek terms commonly highlighted in the New Testament—agape, phileo, eros, and storge—offer a framework for understanding how love manifests in believers’ lives. In the Old Testament, Hebrew words such as ahab (love in general) and chesed (steadfast, covenantal love) provide additional insight. Below are the principal types of love identified in Scripture, along with relevant passages and applications. 1. Agape: The Selfless and Sacrificial Love Agape is often described as the highest form of love, marked by selflessness and sacrificial giving. It is not based on emotion alone but is rooted in an intentional act of the will to seek the good of others. This love is prominently illustrated in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The giving of Christ for humanity’s salvation underscores the depth of agape. The Apostle Paul further clarifies its qualities in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Agape love encompasses active kindness, humility, selflessness, and endurance, demonstrated supremely through Christ’s sacrifice (Romans 5:8). 2. Phileo: Brotherly Affection and Friendship Phileo signifies deep friendship, affection, and close bonds often shared between friends or fellow believers. While agape focuses on unconditional willingness to serve, phileo underscores the warmth of connection. In John 11:35–36, Jesus weeps over Lazarus’s death, and onlookers exclaim, “See how He loved him!” This comment uses language hinting at phileo: a heartfelt connection. Phileo also appears in John 21:15–17, where Jesus and Peter exchange questions and affirmations of love. These verses illustrate how phileo can deepen into commitment and devotion when rooted in faith and obedience. 3. Eros: Marital Intimacy and Romantic Love Eros describes romantic or marital love characterized by physical and emotional intimacy. Though the word eros itself is not explicitly used in most English translations of Scripture, the concept is affirmed within the covenant of marriage. The Song of Solomon portrays the beauty of romantic love between husband and wife, declaring: “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” (Song of Solomon 6:3). This poetic celebration underscores the goodness of marital affection and the exclusivity of that union. Ephesians 5:25 connects marital love with the self-sacrificial model of Christ’s love: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” While this verse focuses primarily on agape love, it also encompasses the exclusive devotion and care that cultivate healthy marital intimacy. 4. Storge: Familial Devotion Storge refers to the natural affection within families—such as the bond between parents and children or among siblings. While the actual Greek term storge rarely appears in the New Testament, a related form appears in Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; outdo yourselves in honoring one another.” The Greek word philostorgos, embedded here, carries this sense of family affection alongside the theme of brotherly love. Biblical examples of storge can be observed in the tender bond between Mary and Jesus (Luke 2:48–51) or the protective love that siblings show one another. Through storge, Scripture affirms the importance of loyalty and devotion within the household of faith, paralleling family-like ties among believers. 5. Chesed: Covenant Faithfulness in the Old Testament Chesed is a Hebrew term denoting steadfast, covenantal love often translated as “loving devotion,” “kindness,” or “mercy.” It carries the idea of loyalty, faithfulness, and graciousness that characterizes God’s covenant relationship with His people. Psalm 136 repeatedly declares God’s chesed: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His loving devotion endures forever” (Psalm 136:1). This repetition underscores the unchanging nature of God’s love toward His covenant children. It is not merely an emotion; it is a commitment God continually honors. Chesed also appears in Micah 6:8, where believers are exhorted to “love mercy.” The verse calls for demonstrating the same steadfast love God shows His people. 6. Ahab: General Bond of Love in Hebrew Ahab is the general Hebrew term for love, encompassing various dimensions such as friendship, familial affection, and covenant love. It is found repeatedly throughout the Old Testament to describe love between people, as well as people’s love for God and God’s love for His covenant nation. Deuteronomy 6:5 highlights ahab in instructing God’s people: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This command illustrates how ahab is meant to be a holistic devotion encompassing every aspect of one’s being. 7. Love in Action: Practical Expressions Scripture’s teaching on love is never confined to theory. The Bible frequently demonstrates tangible examples to showcase love in action: • Providing for those in need. 1 John 3:17–18 declares, “If anyone has the world’s possessions and sees his brother in need but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?… let us not love in word and speech, but in action and truth.” • Praying for enemies. Matthew 5:44 commands, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” reflecting agape’s selfless character. • Showing hospitality. Hebrews 13:2 encourages believers to welcome strangers, thereby extending brotherly love beyond one’s immediate circle. This practical demonstration of love fulfills Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 22:37–39, where He sums up the Law and the Prophets by calling us to love God wholly and to love our neighbors as ourselves. 8. Love as a Central Command Both the Old and New Testaments emphasize that love is central to a faithful life. Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 lay the groundwork for love’s importance, which Jesus reaffirms in Matthew 22:37–40. The Apostle John further insists that genuine faith in Christ must produce genuine love for fellow believers (1 John 4:20–21). 9. Conclusion and Application Overall, Scripture presents multiple facets of love—agape, phileo, eros, storge, chesed, and ahab—as varying expressions of God’s character and design for relationships. Each type focuses on different contexts: sacrificial service, friendship, marital intimacy, family devotion, and covenant faithfulness. Yet they all converge in pointing back to the love God has demonstrated through Christ. Believers are consistently called to mirror this divine love in all spheres of life, imitating the sacrificial example of the Savior and learning to show kindness, compassion, honor, humility, and earnest devotion. As 1 Corinthians 13:13 declares, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.” |
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