The best kind of love says, "I love you, period. Even with your weaknesses, even if you change, even if someone better looking comes along. Even if you have zoo-breath in the morning. I want to give myself to you."
Paul, an early Christian writer, eloquently described this unconditional love: "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. ...Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever...."
When I was younger, I used to have a fun time during Bible Study at church. I would argue with my elders and challenge the faith that was Christianity. I was the class brat and I'd use science and philosophy to rebuke the accepted Chirstian theology. I think I gave poor uncle Lye Hock (my Bible Study class leader and church deacon) an ulcer.
My most memorable class was when we studied about the love of God. How much does God love you? How does God love you? These notes on the Greek definitions of love are from my memory.
Storge is familial love. It is a strong bond of affection between people in a family unit.
Eros is romantic love - sweaty palms and butterflies in the stomach. The word erotic takes its root meaning from this love. This is a possessive and physical love.
Phileo is brotherly love, for which the American city of Philadelphia is named. This is the love we feel, or should feel, for our fellow man. It is empathy -- the ability to put ourselves ‘in another man's shoes.' It is appreciation, the acknowledgment of the value of the person or thing we have affection for.
Agape is pure love, selfless love. Love with no thought of personal gain, a conscious decision to give of yourself to another purely because you want them to be happy. We tend to think of love as a give and take. But agape is love without any thought of reward or benefit.
Paul, an early Christian writer, eloquently described this unconditional love: "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. ...Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever...."
When I was younger, I used to have a fun time during Bible Study at church. I would argue with my elders and challenge the faith that was Christianity. I was the class brat and I'd use science and philosophy to rebuke the accepted Chirstian theology. I think I gave poor uncle Lye Hock (my Bible Study class leader and church deacon) an ulcer.
My most memorable class was when we studied about the love of God. How much does God love you? How does God love you? These notes on the Greek definitions of love are from my memory.
Storge is familial love. It is a strong bond of affection between people in a family unit.
Eros is romantic love - sweaty palms and butterflies in the stomach. The word erotic takes its root meaning from this love. This is a possessive and physical love.
Phileo is brotherly love, for which the American city of Philadelphia is named. This is the love we feel, or should feel, for our fellow man. It is empathy -- the ability to put ourselves ‘in another man's shoes.' It is appreciation, the acknowledgment of the value of the person or thing we have affection for.
Agape is pure love, selfless love. Love with no thought of personal gain, a conscious decision to give of yourself to another purely because you want them to be happy. We tend to think of love as a give and take. But agape is love without any thought of reward or benefit.
Agape is God's love..
Thank you for reading. May you be blessed in all that you do.
No comments:
Post a Comment