Historical source transcription

The Synonymous Words for

"Love"

I. The Verb. 1. agapao = to regard with favour, to make much of a thing or a person, on principle. The cause or ground of No. 2. 2. phileo = to kiss, to be fond of, having regard to feeling as distinct from principle. The demonstration of No. 1. Hence No. 2 is never used of man's love to God: this is always No. 1. Both words are used of God's love to man. No. 2 is used of the Lord's love for Lazarus (John 11: 3, 36 ), but not in verse 5, where the sisters are included. See the notes on John 21: 15-17; and on John 12: 25 in The Companion Bible. II. The Noun. 1. agape. No. 2 below, was the common word used by the Greeks, for love; and even this is far lower than the New Testament philadelphia ( = love of the brethren). Agape is spontaneous love, irrespective of " rights ". The word was supposed to be peculiar to the New Testament, but it is found in the Papyri. 2. philanthropia = philanthropy, or love of man, which did not go beyond giving man his " rights ", among the Greeks. It is used in a far higher sense in Titus 3: 4; occurs elsewhere only in Acts 28: 2. Compare the Adverb philanthropos (Acts 27: 3, " courteously " ). III. The Adjective.

agapetos = beloved. The word used of the Lord Jesus by the Father. See Matthew 3: 17; 12: 18; 17: 5. Mark 1: 11; 9: 7. Luke 3: 22; 9: 35; and in Mark 12: 6. Luke 20: 13, by Himself. A special epithet of the Saints in the Epistles.