love Summary and Overview

This word seems to require explanation only in the case of its use by our Lord in his interview with "Simon, the son of Jonas," after his resurrection (John 21:16, 17). When our Lord says, "Lovest thou me?" he uses the Greek word "agapas"; and when Simon answers, he uses the Greek word "philo", i.e., "I love." This is the usage in the first and second questions put by our Lord; but in the third our Lord uses Simon's word. The distinction between these two Greek words is thus fitly described by Trench:, ""Agapan" has more of judgment and deliberate choice; "philein" has more of attachment and peculiar personal affection. Thus the 'Lovest thou' (Gr. agapas) on the lips of the Lord seems to Peter at this moment too cold a word, as though his Lord were keeping him at a distance, or at least not inviting him to draw near, as in the passionate yearning of his heart he desired now to do. Therefore he puts by the word and substitutes his own stronger 'I love' (Gr. philo) in its room. A second time he does the same. And now he has conquered; for when the Lord demands a third time whether he loves him, he does it in the word which alone will satisfy Peter ('Lovest thou,' Gr. phileis), which alone claims from him that personal attachment and affection with which indeed he knows that his heart is full." In 1 Cor. 13 the apostle sets forth the excellency of love, as the word "charity" there is rendered in the Revised Version.

LOVE . This term signifies one of the constituent principles of our nature, and in the perfect exercise of it is comprehended the whole of our duty to God and to our fellow-creatures. Matt 22:37-40; Rom 13:8, 1 Kgs 16:10; Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8. Hence it evidently comprehends all holiness of heart and life. The highest and most glorious display of the divine character which has ever been made to man is the love of God in Jesus Christ, Rom 5:8, and the great principle and fruit of both faith and obedience consists in the possession and exercise of love. John 13:34-35,. LOVE-FEASTS were held in connection with the Lord's Supper, and paid for out of the common fund. Jude 12; 2 Pet 2:13. When the community of goods had ceased, Chrysostom says, the rich provided them. Originally these feasts were held in the churches, but this was forbidden by the Council of Laodicaea a.d. 320. and in the following century the custom was dropped or assumed other forms.

"The fulfilling of the law" (Romans 13:8; Romans 13:10), the prominent perfection of God (1 John 4:8; 1 John 4:16), manifested to us (1 John 4:10) when we loved not Him (John 3:16). Passing our powers of knowledge (Ephesians 3:19), everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3), free and gratuitous (Hosea 14:4), enduring to the end (John 13:1). The two Greek words for "love" are distinct: phileo, the love of impulse, ardent affection and feeling; agapao, the love of esteem, regard. John 21:15, "Simon, lovest (agapas, esteemest) thou Me?" Agapas sounds too cold to Peter, now burning with love; so he replies, "Thou knowest that I LOVE (philo) Thee." "Simon, esteemest thou (agapas) Me? ... Thou knowest that I LOVE Thee." At the third time Peter gained his point. "Simon, LOVEST (phileis) thou Me?" Love to one another is the proof to the world of discipleship (John 13:35).