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Definition and Meaning of Agape in Greek New Testament

The Greek word ἀγάπη (agapē) is a feminine noun that appears frequently in the New Testament, where it is consistently translated as "love" [3]. It is often used in conjunction with the verb ἀγαπάω (agapaō), meaning "to love" [6]. While the term is common in biblical and ecclesiastical writings, clear instances of its use outside these contexts are rare [3].

The Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, uses ἀγάπη to render the Hebrew word אַהֲבָה (ahavah), which also means "love" [3]. Other Greek words like ἀγάπησις (agapēsis) and φιλία (philia) are also used to translate אַהֲבָה, indicating a range of expressions for love in the ancient world [3].

In the New Testament, ἀγάπη encompasses several aspects of love:

  1. Love among humans: This includes love for one another, as seen in John 13:35 [3]. For example, Paul encourages the Ephesians to walk in love (Eph. 4:16) [9] and speaks of the love of the Colossians for all the saints (Col. 1:8) [17]. This love is characterized by a willingness to prioritize the good of others, even over one's own desires [10].
  2. Love for God: The New Testament also speaks of humanity's love for God, as referenced in 1 John 2:5 [3].
  3. Divine love: This refers to God's love for humanity [3]. The concept that "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16) is foundational to John's epistles [12, 15]. This divine love is the source and embodiment of all love [12].

The concept of ἀγάπη is central to Christian teaching. In Galatians, Paul states that faith works through love (Gal. 5:6) [1]. He also lists love as the first and chief fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) [17]. The apostle John emphasizes that love is a commandment, both old and new. It is "old" in that believers have heard it from the beginning, but "new" because it was clearly promulgated with Christianity, providing a new and highest motive for love: an instinctive love for Christ, who first loved humanity [14]. This commandment to love God and one's brother is intertwined, as one cannot truly love God without also loving one's brother (1 John 4:20) [16].

The enduring nature of ἀγάπη is highlighted in 1 Corinthians 13, often called the "love chapter." Unlike spiritual gifts, which will cease, love will last forever because God himself is love (1 John 4:7-12, 16) [11]. This love is not merely an emotion but an active principle, described through various characteristics such as patience, kindness, and selflessness [10].

Examples of ἀγάπη in the New Testament include:

The term ἀγάπη is distinct from other Greek words for love, such as φιλία (philia), which often denotes brotherly love or friendship, and ἔρως (erōs), which refers to passionate or romantic love. While the New Testament uses ἀγάπη extensively, it does not use ἔρως. The emphasis in ἀγάπη is often on benevolent, selfless, and sacrificial love, particularly as it reflects God's character [10]. This is evident in passages like 2 Corinthians 8:9, which speaks of Christ's self-sacrificial love, and Philippians 2:4-8, which describes Christ's humility and self-emptying for the good of others [10].

The fulfillment of the law is found in love (Rom. 13:10), and this love is the sure test of genuine faith [13]. The commandment to love is seen as encompassing all other divine commands [13]. This love is not something that can be generated by human effort alone but is cultivated "in the Spirit," which is the sphere in which true love is found [17].

Sources

  1. STEPBible TAGNT “Gal.5.6#14=NKO — Greek tagged text (TAGNT): ἀγάπης (agapēs) [love] "G0026=N-GSF"”
  2. STEPBible TAGNT “1Jn.3.17#25=NKO — Greek tagged text (TAGNT): ἀγάπη (agapē) [love] "G0026=N-NSF"”
  3. STEPBible TBESG “[G0026] G0026 = (G0026) — <b>ἀγάπη</b>, -ης, ἡ <BR /> [in LXX for אַהֲבָה, which is also rendered by ἀγάπησις and φιλία ;] <BR /> <b>love, goodwill, esteem</b>. Outside of bibl. and eccl. books, there is no clear instance (with Deiss., <i>LAE</i>, 18:4, 70:2, cf. the same writer in <i>Constr. Quar.</i>, ii, 4; and with MM, <i>VGT</i>, see word, cf. Dr. Moulton in <i>Exp. Times</i>, xxvi, 3, 139). In NT, like ἀγαπάω, -ῶ, <BR />__1. <b>Of men's love</b>: <BR />__(a) to one another, <ref='Jhn.13.35'>Jhn.13:35;</ref> <BR /> __(b) to God, <ref='1Jn.2.5.'>1Jn.2:5.</ref><BR /> __2. <b>Of divine love<”
  4. STEPBible TAGNT “Php.1.16[1.17]#04=NKO — Greek tagged text (TAGNT): ἀγάπης (agapēs) [love] "G0026=N-GSF"”
  5. STEPBible TAGNT “2Th.1.3#20=NKO — Greek tagged text (TAGNT): ἀγάπη (agapē) [love] "G0026=N-NSF"”
  6. Strong's Greek Dictionary “[G27] ἀγαπητός (agapētós) — Definition: beloved | Derivation: from G25 (ἀγαπάω); | KJV usage: (dearly, well) beloved, dear”
  7. STEPBible TAGNT “Jhn.15.10#09=NKO — Greek tagged text (TAGNT): ἀγάπῃ (agapē) [love] "G0026=N-DSF"”
  8. STEPBible TAGNT “Jhn.15.10#24=NKO — Greek tagged text (TAGNT): ἀγάπῃ.¶ (agapē) [love.] "G0026=N-DSF"”
  9. STEPBible TAGNT “Eph.4.16#30=NKO — Greek tagged text (TAGNT): ἀγάπῃ.¶ (agapē) [love.] "G0026=N-DSF"”
  10. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 13:4: 13:4-7 This description of Christian love emphasizes the willingness to give up one’s own desires for the good of others (see also 8:1–10:33; Rom 5:6-8; 15:3; 2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:4-8).”
  11. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 13:8: 13:8-13 Love, in contrast to spiritual gifts, will last forever. 13:8 Love will last forever, because God is love (cp. 1 Jn 4:7-12, 16).”
  12. 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 4:8: 4:8 God is love, the source and embodiment of all love. This concept and the concept that “God is light” (1:5) form the foundation on which John writes this letter.”
  13. 2 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 John 1:6: "Love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom 13:10), and the fulfilling of the law is the sure test of love. This is the commandment--Greek, "The commandment is this," namely, love, in which all God's other commandments are summed up.”
  14. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 2:8: a new commandment--It was "old," in that Christians as such had heard it from the first; but "new" (Greek, "kaine," not "nea": new and different from the old legal precept) in that it was first clearly promulgated with Christianity; though the inner spirit of the law was love even to enemies, yet it was enveloped in some bitter precepts which caused it to be temporarily almost unrecognized, till the Gospel came. Christianity first put love to brethren on the new and highest MOTIVE, instinctive love to Him who first loved us, constraining us to love all,”
  15. 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 4:16: God is love - See on Jo1 4:8 (note). He that dwelleth in love - he who is full of love to God and man is full of God, for God is love; and where such love is, there is God, for he is the fountain and maintainer of it.”
  16. 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 4:20: And this commandment have we from him,.... Either "from God", as the Alexandrian copy and the Vulgate Latin version read; and that to love the brethren is a commandment of God, is clear from Jo1 3:23; or from Christ, for it is also a command of his, even his new commandment, which he has given, and his people have received from him: that he who loveth God, love his brother also; see Joh 13:34; which is an argument persuading to attend to the one as well as to the other; for the same command that requires the one, requires the other: and he that transgresses it in on”
  17. Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:8: your love-- (Col 1:4); "to all the saints." in the Spirit--the sphere or element IN which alone true love is found; as distinguished from the state of those "in the flesh" (Rom 8:9). Yet even they needed to be stirred up to greater love (Col 3:12-14). Love is the first and chief fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22).”
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