The English language can be quite a finnicky one, due to the "melting pot" nature, combining multiple language roots into one. One major culprit is the word "Love". I don't love my mother the same way I love an In-N-Out Double Double Cheeseburger, do I?
The word we call "Love" has many different meanings, and the Greek does a good job showing it. I've decided to show some of the Greek words, because they are mentioned in the Bible itself.
The 3 main forms of love are:
Agape is "Unconditional Love", the love God possesses for us
Philia is "Brotherly Love", the kind of love that is like between brothers
Eros, is the sexual passion, where the word "Erotic" is from
One of the biggest examples that these interpretations can be taken out of context are when Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him (John 21:15-17). The first two times Jesus asked, Jesus used the word "agape", to mean "Unconditionally". Peter responded saying "You know I philio you." The third time Jesus asked, He used "philio", and that was why Peter was grieved. Brings a whole different context to the story, right?
Remember, one of the keys to scripture is CONTEXT. For example, the King James Bible talks about Unicorns. However look at the scientific name of a Rhinoceros: "Rhinoceros unicornis". Now the following verse makes sense:
Numbers 23:22 “God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.”
In conclusion, I will say, remember to search the bible. If something is confusing, go to the root.
The word we call "Love" has many different meanings, and the Greek does a good job showing it. I've decided to show some of the Greek words, because they are mentioned in the Bible itself.
The 3 main forms of love are:
Agape is "Unconditional Love", the love God possesses for us
Philia is "Brotherly Love", the kind of love that is like between brothers
Eros, is the sexual passion, where the word "Erotic" is from
One of the biggest examples that these interpretations can be taken out of context are when Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him (John 21:15-17). The first two times Jesus asked, Jesus used the word "agape", to mean "Unconditionally". Peter responded saying "You know I philio you." The third time Jesus asked, He used "philio", and that was why Peter was grieved. Brings a whole different context to the story, right?
Remember, one of the keys to scripture is CONTEXT. For example, the King James Bible talks about Unicorns. However look at the scientific name of a Rhinoceros: "Rhinoceros unicornis". Now the following verse makes sense:
Numbers 23:22 “God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.”
In conclusion, I will say, remember to search the bible. If something is confusing, go to the root.