What is love?

[Hizikyah]

Using "The Great 2 Commandments" as a starting point I ask, what is love? No our hearts version of love, or out minds version of love. What is love according to the Most High and His sent One, Yahshua/Jesus? We are told to love YWHH and love our neighbor, I think it would be beneficial to dwell on this?

John 7:16-17 "Yahshua answered, them, and said: My doctrine is not Mine, but His Who sent Me. If any man will do His will, he will know about this teaching--whether it comes from Yahweh, or whether I am speaking of My own authority."

John 12:48, "He who rejects Me, and does not follow My words has One Who judges him. The word that I have spoken, the same will be used to judge him in the last day."

John 5:24, "Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

Using "The Great 2 Commandments" as a starting point I ask, what is love?


Mattithyah 22:37-40,

"Yahshua said to him:

You must love Yahweh your Father with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Strong's Concordance
all is word #G3650 - holos

holos: whole, complete
Original Word: ὅλος, η, ον
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: holos
Phonetic Spelling: (hol'-os)
Short Definition: all, the whole, entire
Definition: all, the whole, entire, complete

 

[oldhermit]

Do you see a contrast between ἀγάπη above φιλέω?

 

[elf3]

What is love according to God? Or what does Scripture mean by "God is love"? It comes down to one word "Agape". The pure sacrificial love of God. This is how we are to love God and love our neighbors. Agape!

 

[Kerry]

Using "The Great 2 Commandments" as a starting point I ask, what is love? No our hearts version of love, or out minds version of love. What is love according to the Most High and His sent One, Yahshua/Jesus? We are told to love YWHH and love our neighbor, I think it would be beneficial to dwell on this?

John 7:16-17 "Yahshua answered, them, and said: My doctrine is not Mine, but His Who sent Me. If any man will do His will, he will know about this teaching--whether it comes from Yahweh, or whether I am speaking of My own authority."

John 12:48, "He who rejects Me, and does not follow My words has One Who judges him. The word that I have spoken, the same will be used to judge him in the last day."

John 5:24, "Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

Using "The Great 2 Commandments" as a starting point I ask, what is love?


Mattithyah 22:37-40,

"Yahshua said to him:

You must love Yahweh your Father with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Strong's Concordance
all is word #G3650 - holos

holos: whole, complete
Original Word: ὅλος, η, ον
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: holos
Phonetic Spelling: (hol'-os)
Short Definition: all, the whole, entire
Definition: all, the whole, entire, complete

This Jesus Saying, no man come s to the Father except through Me. There is no other way, no matter what you do. I am the way the truth and the life. It's there in plain english. Your works are filthy rags.

 

[Jon4TheCross]

No greater love has any man than this, to lay down his life for his friends.

The love of God is something that I believe we will learn more about for all eternity.

I agree that it is so good to meditate on the love of God...and when we learn something new it is good to practice it.

 

[Kerry]

There is nothing new under the sun.

 

[Jon4TheCross]

God never changes, but He makes all things new.

 

[dcontroversal]

Do you see a contrast between ἀγάπη above φιλέω?

Yes agape is a godly unconditional love and the other is a worldly friendship type of love.....

One is spiritual and the other somewhat worldly

 

[dcontroversal]

Love is a commandment and at the end of the day places everyone else first over self....!

1st before all is GOD
1st before self and after God is your neighbors

 

[elf3]

Major difference between the words "agape" and "phileo". This is totally misunderstood in John 21:15,16 in the question answer between Jesus and peter. Jesus asks "agape" Peter responds "phileo". Then in vs 17 Jesus asks "phileo" Peter answers "phileo". Did Peter understand that only God can have a 100% agape love or did Peter misunderstand? We are to strive for agape but we can never have complete agape because only God is Agape! Jesus was the true personification of agape!

 

[Kerry]

God is love, thats not ten so I'll say it again God is love. It gets deeper.

 

[oldhermit]

Major difference between the words "agape" and "phileo". This is totally misunderstood in John 21:15,16 in the question answer between Jesus and peter. Jesus asks "agape" Peter responds "phileo". Then in vs 17 Jesus asks "phileo" Peter answers "phileo". Did Peter understand that only God can have a 100% agape love or did Peter misunderstand? We are to strive for agape but we can never have complete agape because only God is Agape! Jesus was the true personification of agape!

I was working on some lessons in John and while reading the story of the raising of Lazarus I was struck be the use of both of these words in versed three and five so I began rethinking the relationship between these to aspects of love. The word John uses for love in verse five is ἠγάπα and the word used in verse three is φιλεῖς. I have heard many over the years attempt to elevate ἀγάπη above φιλέω as if it were somehow superior in nature but I think it is really unfair to try to contrast these two words. Φιλέω is love that is more closely related to the emotional attachment that one has for another. Φιλέω describes a passion or an emotional attachment. It is the affectionate love that exists between lovers for one another or of parents for their children or even friends for one another. We have attempted to attribute the ἀγάπη love to God's love toward us and φιλέω love as something that is a lesser type of love that is more generally descriptive of human love. We even tend to denigrate or cheapen φιλέω as something that is less noble than ἀγάπη because we tend to think of it in terms of human passions. But, how does one minimize the nature of φιλέω with regard to ἀγάπη? Ἀγάπη is more closely related to a rational response and is not necessarily dependent upon any passion or emotion. The Bible really never seems to hold these two words in contrast with one another. I think this is something we have done on our own. If we hold these two words in contrast to one another then we must ask which love is better. Is it better to feel deeply for someone or is it better to respond to someone in a charitable way even if there is no affection for that person? While ἀγάπη usually demonstrates a sacrificial response to the needs of another it does not necessarily suggest that there is any emotional attachment connected to the receiver. This is simply the act of meeting the needs of another and that act can be motivated by a number of reasons including the feeling of obligation even though I may actually despise that person. I can be motivated by the desire to be noticed by others, or the fear of being thought ill of by others if I do not respond to the need when it is in my power to do so, etc.... The exercise of ἀγάπη love without φιλέω is rather hollow. When we consider the benevolence of God toward man scripture uses both of these words to speak of God's love for us. The fact is, φιλέω is just as much of an extended property of God as is ἀγάπη. In John 3:16 John declared that the ἠγάπησεν of God toward us was demonstrated in the giving of his Son but, in John 16:27, Jesus reminded the apostles, “for the Father Himself loves (φιλεῖ – this is a deeply seated emotional attachment) you, because you have loved (φιλή) Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” The truth is that the demonstration of either type of love without the presence of the other is a denigration of love. One without the other is of little value. What would the ἀγάπη love of God be like if I knew he had no emotional passion for me? Where would the motivation be for the ἀγάπη? Scripture shows us that the ἀγάπη of God is motivated by his φιλέω – a deeply seated emotional attachment.

 

[AuphirahQueen]

1. There is God's love (Greek: agape, meaning, “to love in a social or moral sense”), which is unconditional love; and then there is, (Greek:phileo, meaning, “to be a friend to, have affection”) which is a fondness type of love.
   
   Jewish customs are different from ours of today. In other cultures men are more affectionate towards each other than American men. JESUS was showing love in a human/man form to his friend /brother in mission, purpose or calling of ABBA's Kingdom.

 

[elf3]

I was working on some lessons in John and while reading the story of the raising of Lazarus I was struck be the use of both of these words in versed three and five so I began rethinking the relationship between these to aspects of love. The word John uses for love in verse five is ἠγάπα and the word used in verse three is φιλεῖς. I have heard many over the years attempt to elevate ἀγάπη above φιλέω as if it were somehow superior in nature but I think it is really unfair to try to contrast these two words. Φιλέω is love that is more closely related to the emotional attachment that one has for another. Φιλέω describes a passion or an emotional attachment. It is the affectionate love that exists between lovers for one another or of parents for their children or even friends for one another. We have attempted to attribute the ἀγάπη love to God's love toward us and φιλέω love as something that is a lesser type of love that is more generally descriptive of human love. We even tend to denigrate or cheapen φιλέω as something that is less noble than ἀγάπη because we tend to think of it in terms of human passions. But, how does one minimize the nature of φιλέω with regard to ἀγάπη? Ἀγάπη is more closely related to a rational response and is not necessarily dependent upon any passion or emotion. The Bible really never seems to hold these two words in contrast with one another. I think this is something we have done on our own. If we hold these two words in contrast to one another then we must ask which love is better. Is it better to feel deeply for someone or is it better to respond to someone in a charitable way even if there is no affection for that person? While ἀγάπη usually demonstrates a sacrificial response to the needs of another it does not necessarily suggest that there is any emotional attachment connected to the receiver. This is simply the act of meeting the needs of another and that act can be motivated by a number of reasons including the feeling of obligation even though I may actually despise that person. I can be motivated by the desire to be noticed by others, or the fear of being thought ill of by others if I do not respond to the need when it is in my power to do so, etc.... The exercise of ἀγάπη love without φιλέω is rather hollow. When we consider the benevolence of God toward man scripture uses both of these words to speak of God's love for us. The fact is, φιλέω is just as much of an extended property of God as is ἀγάπη. In John 3:16 John declared that the ἠγάπησεν of God toward us was demonstrated in the giving of his Son but, in John 16:27, Jesus reminded the apostles, “for the Father Himself loves (φιλεῖ – this is a deeply seated emotional attachment) you, because you have loved (φιλή) Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father.” The truth is that the demonstration of either type of love without the presence of the other is a denigration of love. One without the other is of little value. What would the ἀγάπη love of God be like if I knew he had no emotional passion for me? Where would the motivation be for the ἀγάπη? Scripture shows us that the ἀγάπη of God is motivated by his φιλέω – a deeply seated emotional attachment.

I have thought about this also as both are a type of sacrificial love. But I think (I do not in any way believe I know more) there is a difference. Here is my reasoning. Phileo is defined as a brotherly love; one will die for someone he loves. Agape is a total self sacrificial love; one will die for someone who despises them. Jesus showed agape love on the cross. Stephen showed phileo when stoned. Stephen still asks God to forgive them but Stephen died for someone he loved..Jesus. God always "is" agape love. We are not always agape but we can be always phileo.

See my reasoning?

 

[p_rehbein]

Wrong question................not "what is love?" rather.............. "WHO is love?"..............

easier to understand then...............

 

[psychomom]

it all starts here:

1 John 4:9-11
By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. http://biblehub.com/1_john/4-11.htmBeloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 

[elf3]

I think it's easy for us to say we will die for someone who hates us but if we were to be brutally honest do you think we would? I would die for any of my brothers and sisters in Christ and I wold die for my faith in Christ. But, I could not be certain I would die for someone who hated me. Jesus did.

 

[Joidevivre]

I Cor. 13: 1-13 Describes what our love should be:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices in the truth. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.

If you look at what scripture tells us that love is, we see that it always benefits others. Directed outwards - not inward towards ourselves. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is only possible to practice this love with the Holy Spirit within us.

God's love is sacrificial - a pattern for the way we should love.

 

[Angela53510]

I wrote a song with the title of this post before I was saved. It took a few years, but God gave me new lyrics, and I reworked the song into a question answered with Jesus.

"God sent his Son, to die for sin,
that we might be new creatures in him,
Love so great, it cannot be denied,
New life in him, forever to abide,

What is love to you?
What is love to me?
Love is Jesus in our hearts,
Love is Jesus in our hearts.

And of course, all the other scriptures mentioned here.

"God is love." 1 John 4:8,16

 

[Hizikyah]

No greater love has any man than this, to lay down his life for his friends.

The love of God is something that I believe we will learn more about for all eternity.

I agree that it is so good to meditate on the love of God...and when we learn something new it is good to practice it.

I think post this is great. I had the feeling like this is the best 1st step to understanding love... Thinking about what He did for us.

Isayah 53, "Who has believed our report? To whom is the arm of Yahweh revealed? For He will grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground. He has no form nor comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by Yahweh, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut of from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; but He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet His bruises; (willful sacrifice), pleased Yahweh; for He was put to much grief. Now He has brought the offering for sin. He will see His seed, He will prolong days, and the pleasure of Yahweh will succeed in His hands. He will see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied; by His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, for He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the plunder with the strong; because He poured out His soul to death, and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Matthew 27:45-54 (NASB) 45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 47 And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49 But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Mattithyah 27:45-54, "Then from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Yahshua יהושע cried out with a loud voice, saying: Yli! Yli! lamah ozabatniy?! which means: My Strength! My Strength! Why have You forsaken Me?! Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said; This Man calls for Yliyah. Then immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar; sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to Him to drink. The rest said; Leave Him alone! Let us see if Yliyah will come to save Him. Yahshua, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded up His Spirit. And behold, the veil of the Most Holy Place was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the Holy ones who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the Holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Yahshua, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying; Truly this was the Son of Yahweh יהוה !"


Psalm 22, "My Strength! My Strength! Why have You forsaken Me? O why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O Yahweh I cry in the daytime and at night; I am not silent but You do not hear. But You are holy, Who have the praises of Israyl. Our fathers trusted You; they trusted You, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed. But I am a worm, and no man, but despised! I am scorned by men and despised by the people. Those who see Me laugh, they shoot their lips, they shake their heads, saying: He trusted on Yahweh! Let Him save Him! Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him! But You took Me from My mother's womb, Yahweh! You made Me trust in You, even from My mother's breast. I was cast upon You from My birth; from My mother's womb, You are My Strength. Be not far from Me, for trouble is near, and there are none to help but You. Many bulls have surrounded Me; bulls of Bashan have compassed and beset Me; They gape on Me with their mouths, as ravening and roaring lions. I am poured out like water, and all My strength has left Me. My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a pottery sherd, and My tongue cleaves to My jaws. You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs and the assembly of the wicked have compassed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My tallit they cast lots. But You, O Yahweh, be not far from Me! O My Strength, make haste to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, and My precious life from the power of the dog; the assembly of the wicked. Save Me from the lion's mouth, and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me, Yahweh! All praise is Yours! I will declare Your Name to My brothers! In the midst of the congregation I will give You praise! You who reverence Yahweh, praise Him! Glorify Him, Yaaqob's seed! Reverence Him, all you offspring of Israyl! For Yahweh has not despised, He has not abhorred the affliction of the Afflicted, nor has He hid His face from Me; for when I cried to Yahweh, He heard! My praise shall be of You, O Yahweh, in the great congregation! I will pay My vows before those who reverence You! The poor shall eat and they shall be satisfied. HalleluYahweh! Those who seek Yahweh, may they live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to Yahweh! All the families of the Gentiles will bow down before Him; For the kingdom is Yahweh's, and He rules over the nations! All the rich and powerful upon the earth shall eat and worship; all they that go down to the dust of the earth shall bow before Him; for Yahweh will restore them to life. A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to Yahweh as a generation. They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this!"

John (Yahchanan) 15:5-16, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, produces much fruit; but without Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away like a branch, and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and letting My words; abide in you, you will ask what you will, and it will be done for you. In this is My Father glorified: when you produce much fruit; and in this way you become My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you; continue in My love. If you keep My Commands, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's Commands, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be complete. This is My Command: Love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: that one would lay down his life on behalf of his brothers.You are My brothers, if you do whatever I command you."