BIBLE STUDY LOVE: THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL By Captain Obert Chemhuru Territorial Human Resources and Labour Relations Secretary 1. Introduction • Love is one of the most powerful emotions humans can experience. For Christian believers, love is the truest test of genuine faith. Through the Bible, we discover how to experience love in its many forms and to share it with others as God intended 2. What is love (Rudo, Luthando)? • The word, “love” in English can be defined as follows: o strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties o attraction based on sexual desire: affection and tenderness felt by lovers o affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests • Another definition of love given is that it is an act of giving and caring for someone else. The old saying goes, “Love is not love until you give it away”. This shows us that love is a practical attribute. While it is unseen it is something that is felt and recognised by our actions • This means that love refers to the physical, emotional and spiritual connectedness that happens between two beings because of trust and experiences among them 3. Types of Love in the Bible • The English word love does not serve justice in clearly bringing out the distinction between the various types of love hence the need to resort to Greek and the original languages of the bible. This helps in drawing the line between the various types. • Four unique forms of love are found in Scripture. They are communicated through four Greek words namely Eros, Storge, Philia, and Agape 1. Eros • Eros is the Greek word for sensual or romantic love. The term originated from the mythological Greek god of love, sexual desire, physical attraction, and physical love. Love in the form of Eros seeks its own interest and satisfaction • God is very clear in the Bible that eros love is reserved for marriage which is to be celebrated and enjoyed as beautiful blessing from God: "Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love." (Proverbs 5:18–19; see also Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Ecclesiastes 9:9) This is the love which is expressed in the Songs of Solomon • It is important to note that this is the only type of love which allows sexual intimacy and romance. It is reserved only for marriage. Today’s generation though have immersed themselves into Eros outside marriages resulting in som much socio – cultural challenges and spiritual defilement. • Furthermore, believers should know that Eros is God’s gift to one man and one woman who are in marriage. Again, we must note that this love is expressed between man and woman and not to any form of homosexual expressions. 2. Storge • Storge is a term for love in the Bible that describes family love. This is the affectionate bond that develops naturally between parents and children, and brothers and sisters • Many examples of family love are found in Scripture, such as the mutual protection among Noah and his wife, the love of Jacob for his sons, and the strong love the sisters Martha and Mary had for their brother Lazarus • "philostorgos," is found in Romans 12:10, which commands believers to "be devoted" to one another with brotherly affection. Christians are members of God's family. Our lives are knit together by something stronger than physical ties—the bonds of the Spirit. • This love calls for us to love our nuclear and extended, biological family and prioritise their wellbeing. We are called to love our brothers in practical rather than verbal ways. How often do we love the stranger on the street yet hate our own biological parents etc? Love like Chairty must begin within our own • In most cases we do not show hate and dislike to our brother but choose to be indifferent. We say I neither like nor hate him. I just do not have feelings for them. Storge requires that we love our brother rather than stand on the neutral ground. 3. Philia • Philia is the type of intimate love in the Bible that most Christians practice toward each other. This Greek term describes the powerful emotional bond seen deep friendships. It is a love that has no romantic attractions. Aristotle believed that a person could bear goodwill to another for one of three reasons: that he is useful; that he is pleasant; and above all, that he is good, that is, rational and virtuous. • Philia originates from the Greek term phílos, a noun meaning "beloved, dear ... a friend; someone dearly loved (prized) in a personal, intimate way; a trusted confidant held dear in a close bond of personal affection." Philia expresses experience-based love. It is brotherly love. • "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." (John 13:35) • Examples of Philia love in the Bible: o Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself. (I Samuel 18 v 1 – 3) o 1 Thessalonians 4 v 9 / Hebrews 13 v 1 / 2 Peter 1 v 7 / James 2 v 23) • Philia requires as believers we should embrace each other's co-exist in brotherly love. Under Philia the church should not have people who do not like each other. The body of believers must embrace and love ech other irrespective of social status. Afterall in Christ we are all brothers and Sisters. 4. Agape • Agape (Pronounced: Uh-GAH-pay) is the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. This term defines God's immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is the divine love that comes from God. Agape love is perfect, unconditional, sacrificial, and pure. • Jesus Christ demonstrated this kind of divine love to his Father and to all humanity in the way he lived and died: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) • Following his resurrection, Jesus asked the apostle Peter if he loved him (agape). Peter replied three times that he did, but the word he used was phileo or brotherly love (John 21:15–19). Peter had not yet received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; he was incapable of agape love. • Agape is the term that defines God's immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is his ongoing, outgoing, self-sacrificing concern for lost and fallen people. God gives this love without condition, unreservedly to those who are undeserving and inferior to himself. • Agape ["aga-pay"] is universal love, such as the love for strangers, nature, or God. Unlike storge, it does not depend on filiation or familiarity 4. Other types of love • It is important to note that there are other types of love which are worthy knowing about. They are also derived or better understood in Greek terminology : 1. Ludus • Ludus is playful or uncommitted love. It can involve activities such as teasing and dancing, or more overt flirting, seducing, and conjugating. The focus is on fun, and sometimes also on conquest, with no strings attached. • Ludus relationships are casual, undemanding, and uncomplicated, but, for all that, can be very long-lasting. Ludus works best when both parties are mature and self-sufficient. Problems arise when one party mistakes ludus for eros, whereas ludus is, in fact, much more compatible with philia 2. Pragma • Pragma is a kind of practical love founded on reason or duty and one’s longer-term interests. Sexual attraction takes a back seat in favour of personal qualities and compatibilities, shared goals, and "making it work". • In the days of arranged marriages, pragma must have been very common. Although unfashionable, and at a polar opposite of romantic love, it remains widespread, most visibly in certain high-profile celebrity and political pairings. 3. Philautia • Philautia is self-love, which can be healthy or unhealthy. Unhealthy self-love is akin to hubris. In Ancient Greece, people could be accused of hubris if they placed themselves above the gods, or, like certain modern politicians, above the greater good. Healthy self-love, on the other hand, is akin to self-esteem, which is our cognitive and, above all, emotional appraisal of our own worth. More than that, it is the matrix through which we think, feel, and act, and reflects on our relation to ourselves, to others, and to the world. • In everyday language, "self-esteem" and "self-confidence" tend to be used interchangeably. However, self-esteem and self-confidence do not always go hand in hand. It is possible to be highly self-confident and yet to have profoundly low self-esteem, as is the case, for example, with many performers and celebrities. 5. The Nature of Biblical Love • The book of Corinthians gives us the most vivid picture of love. Paul says, o “Love is patient and kind; o love does not envy or boast; o it is not arrogant or rude. o It does not insist on its own way; o it is not irritable or resentful; o it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. o Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). • Is immaterial but can be felt. Love is what people feel around when they are around you. It is like an aroma that feels the air yet it cannot be touched or felt by any one. • Believers must also realise that Love can be fake and it can be genuine. 6. Application • Understand the type of love by which you love. o In John 21:15-19, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times and Peter responds three times that he does in fact love him. Three times Jesus tells Peter to take care of his sheep. Some people believe that this was a test of Peter’s love for Jesus. Jesus asks the question used the verb ἀγαπάω, Peter responds with the verb φιλέω. As it is usually taught, Jesus is using the verb which means “God’s self-sacrificial love” and Peter responds with the more mundane “I love you like I love ice cream” word. Peter is sitting with the risen Lord Jesus Christ who asks him “do you love me,” and Peter responds “I am really quite fond of you.” Peter is in a sense saying that he is not willing to die for Jesus, despite the fact that Jesus is sitting next to him with scars from the nails which held him to the cross!. When Jesus asks the third time, he uses φιλέω, allegedly toning down his language so Peter can agree with him1. o The world could be a better place if people understood by what love they love and are loved  Learn to discern by wat love you are loved • Learn to love people differently. It is important that people should learn to love different people in different ways. People are different and they receive and love differently hence should be loved differently according to who and what they are2. Let love Lead. #seasonofprayerandcommitment. - Salvationist online