QUESTION: Is it true that there are two different meanings to the word "love" in our Bibles?

ANSWER: Yes, that is true. Our King James version uses the same English word "love" for two different Greek words. Although these different words do not create a major flaw in the translation, it is good to notice that the Spirit of God used different words for our word "love."

The two different Greek words are agape and phileo. Let's look at them both briefly.

1. Agape. The Holy Spirit has used this word to define:

• God's love for His Son (John 17:26).
• God's love for the world (John 3:16).
• God's love for Christians (John 14:21).
• Christ's love for church (Eph. 5:25).
• Husband's love for wives (Eph. 5:25).
• Christians' love for one another (John 15:12).

We find from its use in the Bible that this love is causeless. We usually love someone because of some reason. God loved us when there was nothing in us to love (Rom. 5:8). This love is also unselfish. It does not seek anything in return. It is a sacrificing love. This kind of love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love was proved by His giving His own Son to die for us when we were His enemies. Truly His love is matchless! (John 3:16).

In the great love chapter of the Bible—1 Corinthians 13—-we find that the word agape has been translated as "charity." The preeminence of this love is seen in verses 4-7; and the permanence of this love in verses 8-13. This love never faileth and it is the greatest (1 Cor. 13:8,13).

2. Phileo. This word was used by the Greeks to designate mutual affection between two people. It is a love of "liking" and "fondness" and expresses the affection between friends who share common interests. It has often been called "brotherly love." It is translated "charity." It is interesting to note that the Bible uses both agape and phileo to describe:

a. the Father's love for the Son—John 3:35 agape and John 5:20 phileo.

b. The Father's love for the Christian—John 14:21 agape and John 16:27 phileo.

c. Christ's love for a disciple—John 13:23 agape and John 20:2 phileo.

The most interesting place where these two words occur are in the narrative of John 21:15-17. In the first two questions which the Lord asks, He uses the word agape. The use of phileo is used in all of Peter's answers and the Lord's third question.

We may learn from this that Peter no longer had confidence in himself. He had really boasted of his love for the Lord earlier (Matt. 21:33-35). Now after his sad failure Peter would not use the word which expressed the highest form of love—the agape love. In answer to the Lord's searching question—"Lovest (agape) thou Me more than these?" Peter answers, "Thou knowest that I love (phileo) Thee."

What a lesson for us also! We cannot Really boast of our love for Him which at best is weak but He knows we love Him. We can surely boast of His love for us! "The Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

God loved us when there was nothing in us to love.

—John D. McNeil