Love, in regards to relationships as described in the Bible.
AGAPE
The first and most common is the word AGAPE, the noun form of the verb AGAPAO. The noun occurs 109 times in the New Testament, and the verb is used 117 times. In the Bible, the term is used to describe:
God's love for man in John 3:16 and Romans 5:8.
Jesus' love for man in Ephesians 5:2.
What man's love for God should be in Matthew 22:37 and I John 2:5.
What man's love for man should be in Matthew 22:39 and Romans 13:10.
PHILEO
The other form of love spoken of in the Bible is PHILEO, a verb found 24 times in the New Testament. Its adjective form, PHILOS, is used 28 times, but the noun form is not used in the Bible. The related PHILADELPHIA (meaning "brotherly love") appears in the New Testament six times.
EROS
The third form of "love" in the Greek language is EROS, from which we get our word "erotic." It refers to a purely carnal form of love, coming from the physical passions. It is not used in the Greek New Testament; however, in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament from which Christ and the disciples quoted), it is used in Proverbs 7:18 to refer to fleshly appetites. Obviously, this base form of love is to not to have sway in the Christian's life.
STORGOS
The final Greek word that can be translated "love" is STORGOS. It is not found in the New Testament, though its negative form of ASTORGOS is used in Romans 1:31 and II Timothy 3:3, where it is translated "unloving." It refers to familial love and is sometimes translated "natural affection"; it is the love that we should naturally have for parents, children, siblings, and other family members. From the condemnation of the lack of this affection, it is clear that God expects us to love our families.
AGAPE
The first and most common is the word AGAPE, the noun form of the verb AGAPAO. The noun occurs 109 times in the New Testament, and the verb is used 117 times. In the Bible, the term is used to describe:
God's love for man in John 3:16 and Romans 5:8.
Jesus' love for man in Ephesians 5:2.
What man's love for God should be in Matthew 22:37 and I John 2:5.
What man's love for man should be in Matthew 22:39 and Romans 13:10.
PHILEO
The other form of love spoken of in the Bible is PHILEO, a verb found 24 times in the New Testament. Its adjective form, PHILOS, is used 28 times, but the noun form is not used in the Bible. The related PHILADELPHIA (meaning "brotherly love") appears in the New Testament six times.
EROS
The third form of "love" in the Greek language is EROS, from which we get our word "erotic." It refers to a purely carnal form of love, coming from the physical passions. It is not used in the Greek New Testament; however, in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament from which Christ and the disciples quoted), it is used in Proverbs 7:18 to refer to fleshly appetites. Obviously, this base form of love is to not to have sway in the Christian's life.
STORGOS
The final Greek word that can be translated "love" is STORGOS. It is not found in the New Testament, though its negative form of ASTORGOS is used in Romans 1:31 and II Timothy 3:3, where it is translated "unloving." It refers to familial love and is sometimes translated "natural affection"; it is the love that we should naturally have for parents, children, siblings, and other family members. From the condemnation of the lack of this affection, it is clear that God expects us to love our families.
