Christians - Who can explain the different between these three?

Question

The Greek language has three words for love, to describe different aspects of love.

Eros, Phileo, and Agape.

Explain the meaning of each?

Answer 1

There are three primary words used in the Greek language in which our Christian New Testament was first written to desrcibe the different kinds of love.

One word is EROS - It refers to physical passion particularly as it relates to sexual desire. The term is common in the secular Greek language but is is not found in the New Testament scriptures.

A second word PHILIA - It is a good word, a wholesome emotion of human affection. From the Greek term we get our English word "filial" which means "of a son or daughter, one of the family." the essence of this word is tenderness, dearness, preciousness. It is the highest form of love and devotion of which the natural man is capable of attaining. The New Testament recognizes it as honorable, and some form of the word occurs several times in its text.

A third term is AGAPE - That is the word for divine love. It is the only term for love used when references is in the Bible to God's love for sinners, God's love for His dear children through Jesus Christ, or God's love manifest through the people of God. It means love which reaches out for the benefit of the beloved. It is love which delights to lift, to bless, to help. It is love in its highest form.

Answer 2

Eros is romantic love. It is the love between a man and a woman, a husband and a wife. Phileo is the love of friendship. The easiest way to descirbe this love is to see the relationship between David and Jonathan. They loved another one with a Phileo type of love. Agape is unconditional love. It is the love that God gives us.

Answer 3

eros = romantic love"ardent emotional attachment or involvement between people; a love affair,"
Agape love is represented by God's love for us. It is a non-partial, sacrificial love probably best demonstrated by the gift in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." This kind of love is unconditional.
Phileo, is considered "brotherly love." It is usually based upon how others treat us and our feelings in any given situation. It involves direct interaction and sometimes comes with a price tag of expectation, wanting something back in return. It's a demonstrative form of love offered through the soul. But, it's also a command from God. "Let us love one another, because love comes from God." (1 John 4:7)

Answer 4

You are not quite correct. Hindus believe that Brahman is "incarnated" in may forms not "reincarnated". Also, Hindus do believe that there are many gods. I used to live in a Hindu ashram but am a Christian because of a personal search and God's Grace. However, you bring up a good point. Most people are ignorant about other religions. I have great respect for true Hindu Yogis but Jesus is the best.

Answer 5

Eros in English is better translated as intimacy or lust, or "making love".

Phileo is brotherly/fraternal love, in Greek this refers to the love between any two people who are friends or family.

Agape is a sacrificial love that applies only to God.
It is a purely selfless form of love.

Answer 6

Eros: Physical, fleshly love. Teenage love.

Phileos: Brotherly, fraternal love. The love between soldiers in a unit.

Agape: Unconditional, Godly love. The willingness to give up everything for the greater good of another.

Answer 7

Eros, phileo, and agape are the three pre-biblical words for love.1 Eros is not found in Biblical usage, but it is where the English word "erotic" is derived and has to do with the sensual passions.

phileo-love is the natural affection in all people for the appetite of the senses. Eros is Immoral, so phileo is ammoral. It can be both good and bad, both wicked or right, depending on the moral condition of the lvoers. Such as meant by Paul in Titus 1:15, "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."

agape is the divine nature which only the child of God has access to in this life, through receiving the Holy Spirit in salvation. Agape is, though Lexicons do attempt to define it, beyond all understanding, as it is the very character of the Godhead.

Agape is from God, and God alone. There is no natural agape within any man. Agape, therefore, must be an implanted characteristic if found within any man. Let it be repeated: there isn't any agape ever in any unsaved person, nor can agape be understood by the unsaved. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1Corinthians 2:14)." What does agape mean? God defines apage for us in John 3:16 by saying, "For God so loved the world ,that He gave His only . . . " A very simple definition and explanation of agape therefore is, "the giving of oneself-- But this is inadequate, because there are lost people who would qualify by this kind of action, if left here with no further explanation.

Agape is eternal, hence never failing, totally independent of the object of its favor. Agape has its own character and is not dependent upon being "pleasured" as with phileo. Agape is an affection which stands in spite of any element of attractiveness, desirability, or even value. It also can even be hated by the object of its affection, without damaging its intensity or character. We learn in Romans 5:8 that God's love extended through our sin nature, without diminishing at all. "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinnrs, Christ died for us." Who died in Christ/ We are told in I John 3:16 that God died; "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us...."

Answer 8

Eros is an erotic love. The love which is shared by two married people when consummating their marriage.

Phileo is a brotherly type of love. A love you would have for your country or accomplishments.

Agape is unconditional love. A love that loves no matter what. A love that's strong enough to die for.

Answer 9

The word, Eros, which is not found in the Bible, is translated as "sexual", or perhaps "romantic", love; the word, Phileo (which is *actually* spelled, "Philia"), is translated as "brotherly" love; the word, Agape, is translated in I Cor.13 in the KJV, as "charity". Agape *actually* means unmerited, undeserved, unconditional, love.

When Jesus asked Simon Peter, three times, "do you love Me, He used "Agape" twice; Peter responded with 'Philia' twice; then the third time, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Do you 'Philia'" Me. This grieved Simon Peter greatly. *This* is *why*!

Answer 10

eros, sexual love (or 'instinctive' love, could be non-sexual); philia, friendship love; agape, self-denying love.

C.S. Lewis wrote a book called 'the Four Loves' (including 'storge') which is an excellent little exposition of these. It is written from a Christian perspective but a classicist will not notice. And of course Wikipedia has an article about it! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Loves