We've all probably heard the song 'What is Love' by Haddaway:
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
The NT Greek graciously reminds us that there are different types of love with the words 'storge' (familial love), 'phileo' (brotherly/peer love), 'eros' (sexual love), and 'agapao' (God's love, the God-kind of love). While there are more types of love than the four listed in Greek, it's good to be reminded that 'love' means different things at different times and for different things.
Haddaway had some insight into what the sum definition of love is: "Don't hurt me." Romans 13:10 summarizes love the same way: "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law."
In 1John, John talks in depth about love. He defines 'hate' as the opposite of love but then defines 'hate' as 'apathy' and 'indifference' toward others, stating that believers who are passive or indifferent about showing their brethren love are guilty of 'hate'. This makes sense when you consider that people can hurt people not only through active actions of hostility but also through inaction and indifference.
The Bible has a lot to say about love. Is love meeting fellow christians in church once a week, smiling and saying and doing the right things, feeding the homeless, doing neighborhood evangelism, and going overseas to minister to others? When the NT talks about love, what kind of love is it primarily talking about, and how does a believer fulfill the command to love?
What is love?
Oh baby, don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more
The NT Greek graciously reminds us that there are different types of love with the words 'storge' (familial love), 'phileo' (brotherly/peer love), 'eros' (sexual love), and 'agapao' (God's love, the God-kind of love). While there are more types of love than the four listed in Greek, it's good to be reminded that 'love' means different things at different times and for different things.
Haddaway had some insight into what the sum definition of love is: "Don't hurt me." Romans 13:10 summarizes love the same way: "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law."
In 1John, John talks in depth about love. He defines 'hate' as the opposite of love but then defines 'hate' as 'apathy' and 'indifference' toward others, stating that believers who are passive or indifferent about showing their brethren love are guilty of 'hate'. This makes sense when you consider that people can hurt people not only through active actions of hostility but also through inaction and indifference.
The Bible has a lot to say about love. Is love meeting fellow christians in church once a week, smiling and saying and doing the right things, feeding the homeless, doing neighborhood evangelism, and going overseas to minister to others? When the NT talks about love, what kind of love is it primarily talking about, and how does a believer fulfill the command to love?
- 3
- 3
- 1
- Show all