AGAPE LOVE: The Love of God

Unfortunately, for native English speakers, there is only one word in our vocabulary that is meant to express such depth of fondness or passion as love.  As such, we “love” both God, pizza, our dog and our spouse.  Obviously, (hopefully!) the “love” we have for these things is not equivalent, yet we are constrained by a single word.

Jesus, in speaking with the Apostle Peter, was not so constrained by his native tongue.  Not only did he speak Aramaic and Hebrew, but likely Koine Greek; the common language of the people in Jesus’ time and the original language of the New Testament (except for Matthew).

Unlike English, with Koine Greek there are three variations on the word Love: Agape, Philos, and Eros.  Agape is the highest form of love, expressed in our love for God, or a husband’s love for his wife.  Philos is brotherly love, like the love between friends, and the last is eros, which refers to sensual love, apt between a husband and wife and in conjunction with agape.

From the various Greek meanings for love we are able to grasp a greater sense of the conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21:15-17.  We read here that Jesus asks Peter three times if he [Peter] “loves” him [Jesus].  In our English Bible, the word “love” is used, but the deeper meaning of that love is obscured in translation.  For contained in these three questions and answers, there are two different Greek words for love used; agape and philos.

The first time Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Jesus uses the word agape, to which Peter replies, “Yes Lord, I love you,” with Peter using the word philos. These two different words for “love” indicate what kind of love Jesus is asking for, and what kind of love Peter is willing to give.

So Jesus asks Peter a second time, “Do you love (agape) me?” and Peter replies, “Yes, Lord I love (philos) you.”  But the third time Jesus questions Peter, he changes his word for love to mirror that of Peter’s two prior responses, for on the third occasion Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love (philos) me?” and Peter repeats a final time, “Yes, Lord…I love (philos) you.”

Jesus wanted Peter to love him with agape love, the highest form of love, but Peter, undoubtedly grieved by his recent denials of Christ, could only offer brotherly love.  Our gracious Lord, in understanding this, for he knew Peter’s heart, did not press Peter the third time for agape love, but instead altered his question to equal Peter’s reply by using brotherly love.  At the end of his life, Peter would face martyrdom with nothing less than agape love for his Savior.

The only true definition of Love is God, for God is Love, and he wondrously shared with us himself, both on the cross and in our ability to participate in the divine.

I still fall back on my limited vocabulary, for I do love God, and my dog, and pizza; but I also know God can discern which is which, from the intention of my heart.  Thankfully God speaks every language.