A Study on Love

[wayfaring man]

Greetings all,

Doing a study on the word love, and found that there were mainly three, yea four Greek words which have been translated , or are used to describe various forms of "love" -

1. love of the flesh - sensual, erotic love ( eros )

[ The Greek word eros is not used in The New Testament, possibly because of it's ties to Greek mythology ]

2. love of preeminence - to wish, desire, to have - [ more for oneself ] ( thelō, ethelō )

And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: <-----> Mark 12:38+39

3. love of the mind - to like or prefer by reason or choice ( phileo&#772; )

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. <-----> Revelation 3:19

4. love of the heart - deep love which empowers faithfulness ( agape )

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. <-----> Jude 1:21

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And there are also at least seven Hebrew words which are translated "love", in The Old Testament.

1. ( agabah ) - inordinate love; [unrestrained amorousness ]

And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredom more than her sister in her whoredom. <-----> Ezekiel 23:11

2. ( egeb ) - verbal love; [to love in word/tongue]

And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness. <-----> Ezekiel 33:31

3. ( dod ) - passionate / sexual love; properly - to boil; : also the love of a relative / uncle.

How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! <-----> Song of Solomon 4:10

4. ( rayah, reya ) - a personal love; a husband, wife, lover, brother, sister, companion.

Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. <-----> Song of Solomon 4:7

5. ( ahab ) - friendly love; to like, have warmth / affection for.

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD. <-----> Leviticus 19:18

6. ( racham ) - compassionate love; to show mercy / suffer with.

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. <-----> Psalm 18:1

7. ( chashaq, chasak ) - saving love; to cling, join, deliver, preserve, observe, restrain, refrain, withhold, forbear, keep, punish, reserve, spare.

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou has in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou has cast all my sins behind thy back. <-----> Isaiah 38:17

May The Lord Be Pleased to Bless & Keep.

wm

 

[razzelflabben]

Keep studying, it's the most amazing study in the world. In fact, love is the core of God, it is HIs heart and mind, yet we gloss over it as if it was nothing. Scripture tells us that love is to vast for even knowledge to be able to contain it.

Amazing study...

 

[wayfaring man]

Keep studying, it's the most amazing study in the world. In fact, love is the core of God, it is HIs heart and mind, yet we gloss over it as if it was nothing. Scripture tells us that love is to vast for even knowledge to be able to contain it.

Amazing study...

Yea, it's like reaching for the stars with outstretched hands, even though we're unable to grasp them at present, it's a spiritually healthful exercise to apply to our life.

wm

 

[razzelflabben]

It, (biblical love) also holds all the answers to lifes questions. But first we have to at least begin to grasp it's meaning.

 

[wayfaring man]

It, (biblical love) also holds all the answers to lifes questions. But first we have to at least begin to grasp it's meaning.

To clarify a bit -

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. <-----> Ephesians 3:16-19

There's no way we can know Christ's love as unregenerated sinners with fleshly minds... but if we ask and seek God for The Gift of His Spirit ( that's the reaching part ) - then The Spirit of God can and will quicken us to reveal the fullness thereof unto us , as we are united in spirit with Christ.

...As it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. <-----> 1st Corinthians 2:9-11

...He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. <-----> 1st Corinthians 6:17

Yet, we may still lack the words, or the language to express such a Gift...

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. <-----> 2nd Corinthians 9:15

And this underscores that for now upon earth -

... The kingdom of God is within you. <---> Luke 17:21

And in this way God does also -

...[Hide] these things from the wise and prudent, and... [reveal] them unto babes. <---> From Matthew 11:25

That no flesh should glory in his presence. <-----> 1st Corinthians 1:29

Which also allows for a judgment to come in which -

God will save the afflicted people , but the hypocrites will be fearfully surprised. ( Psalm 18:27 + Isaiah 33:14 )

He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it. <-----> Matthew 10:39

Which is how God will replace the fallen ones, with those of us who will already have instilled within a steadfast grasp of Christ's humility which freely allows the truth of God to be represented in the fullness of the glory thereof.

Which is why Satan and his angels don't particularly care for us, and will attempt to trip us up, ( if they can ) so that we cannot receive what they are losing / have lost.

Which also weeds out all of us, except those who draw upon , and rely on Christ, His mercy, grace, wisdom, virtue, and strength of character.

Which also grants us the sense of being forever gloriously grateful and joyfully indebted to Him Who loves us and gave Himself for us. To The Glory of The Father Who commanded it all from before the foundations of the world. Amen.

May The Lord Be Magnified !

wm

 

[razzelflabben]

So I've been working on a "short" definition of love (biblical love) see what you think...btw, the order is important.

Love is putting another above self as the result of living in humility. Thus leading us into a covenant that transforms us into beings that are alive in Christ. Restoring to us the value that God created us with.

 

[wayfaring man]

That's got some good correlation to it.

Here's another attempt - Love is God casting out all the fear that keeps us spiritually insecure, which enables us to gladly put [esteem or prefer] others above our own self, (daily laying down our mortal life in service to Christ, the brethren, and The Gospel of our Salvation).

wm

 

[razzelflabben]

There is so much to love that I don't think any short definition will do it justice.

 

[Emmy]

Dear razzelflabben. Jesus said: the first and great Command is: Love God with all your hearts, all your souls, and all your minds. How do we do that? Remember that God made us, without God we would not be. God made us in His image, we are the only beings in this Universe who can think and reason. To love God is to remember always who God is, and to know what He did for us, to know how much He loves us, and to realise that Jesus reconciled us to God, we show with all we do, or say, that we love Him and trust Him to want our best always. The second Commandment, which is like the first: love our neighbour as ourselves. How do we do that? Jesus said: love like ourselves, not more than us. We also know that God can see our hearts, He knows how sincerely we try to follow our Lord`s loving advice to us. It is straightforward and God will approve and bless us. To love others as we love ourselves is up to us, we know what we would do, or NOT do to ourselves. Jesus is always ready to help and guide us, the Holy Spirit will give us Love to share with each other, all we do is to ask SINCERELY for help. Jesus promised us: " Ask and ye will receive." And jesus also taught us: " Father forgive us our sins as we forgive those sins against us." And the Love Jesus means is selfless and no conditions asked. I say this with love, razzelflabben. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[razzelflabben]

So am I correct in assuming you disagree with me because you think that biblical love is not doing anything more for another person than what we would do for ourselves....in other words, no sacrificial love from your standpoint?

 

[Emmy]

Dear razzelflabben. Jesus died that we might live, His Love for us is sacrificial, when a soldier dies for his loved ones and his country, that is also sacrificial, yet love others as we love our selves, is possible for each one of us. It is what God wants from each of us, and in time it will come naturally, if we follow Jesus Words: " the first and great Commandment, and the second like unto it." We were made Good, we know what loving selflessly is, and God wants loving sons and daughters. There are times when our love has to be sacrificial, and then we need God and all His Love surround us. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[razzelflabben]

Dear razzelflabben. Jesus died that we might live, His Love for us is sacrificial, when a soldier dies for his loved ones and his country, that is also sacrificial, yet love others as we love our selves, is possible for each one of us. It is what God wants from each of us, and in time it will come naturally, if we follow Jesus Words: " the first and great Commandment, and the second like unto it." We were made Good, we know what loving selflessly is, and God wants loving sons and daughters. There are times when our love has to be sacrificial, and then we need God and all His Love surround us. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

Emmy, I still didn't get an answer to my question, so let me expound a bit about love.

Because love puts another above self, two things become true 1. love is about sacrifice, even if we do not feel like it is, iow's sacrifical love isn't about giving up who we are, it's about giving of ourselves. and 2. putting others above self does not mean that we don't also love ourselves. In fact, it means that we find that we love ourselves more because we dismiss the selfishness that marks a life of sin and in it's place, we put humility, an act that loves more than we could ever love by living in the world.

Now, let's also talk about love and life for a brief moment. God promises us abundant life, but the life God promises is a life lived in love. When we remove love from our lives, we cease to really live. Now that being said, we can also say that this life lives, this sacrificial love of putting another above self, happens because love is not (I Cor 13) ashamed. IOW's it goes into the heart of the situation, into the mire as it were to love those that are unlovable, even our enemy (good samaritan). It is a love that is given to us by the indwelling of the HS (Gal. 5:22-23) and is only possible by that HS. Any other form of this love, is a counterfit and does not result in the same wonders we see spoken of in I Cor. 13....

does that clarify for you what I am saying about love, since I am still confused by what you think you disagree with me about?

 

[godisreal36]

The true meaning of love, so hard for us humans, we need god to teach us for sure. I struggle to love as the bible defines it:Lov Does not easily get offended, always forgives and so on. May God help us learn and practice his love.

If anyone lacks something, just ask god for it, this includes love especially i think. Knock and it shall be opened, seek and you will find. God is awesome, i feel love for him.

The bible says if you love god, you'll keep his commandments, i try to love god, i struggle with it but he's in control now so I'm not worried. Praise Jesus, he is real love.

 

[razzelflabben]

The true meaning of love, so hard for us humans, we need god to teach us for sure. I struggle to love as the bible defines it:Lov Does not easily get offended, always forgives and so on. May God help us learn and practice his love.

If anyone lacks something, just ask god for it, this includes love especially i think. Knock and it shall be opened, seek and you will find. God is awesome, i feel love for him.

The bible says if you love god, you'll keep his commandments, i try to love god, i struggle with it but he's in control now so I'm not worried. Praise Jesus, he is real love.

The funny thing is, we claim to love God (all of us, I don't personally know you) but we fail to love Him with characteristics that match those found in I Cor. 13...we fail to wait quietly for Him, we are not kind to Him, but instead, blame Him for everything in our lives we don't like. etc. The thing I have had to ask myself many times, is how or when have I really Loved my Lord. We often confuse real love with man's understanding of love, but love is not a warm fuzzy, it's much beyond this, and when we get into the depths of a study on love, we come back to the question, what marks of love have I offered to my King this day?

 

[wayfaring man]

There is so much to love that I don't think any short definition will do it justice.

You seem prone to fluctuate back and forth to from one opposing emphasis to another....

Perhaps love doesn't require "justice".

Perhaps all love requires is honesty and respect.

Because love is more of a "giver" than a "receiver".

Love is caring and sharing.

wm

 

[mortalministries]

Yea i totally agree Bro keep up the studies it will help u

 

[wayfaring man]

Yea i totally agree Bro keep up the studies it will help u

Hi + thanks,

Yea, it sort of surprised me, I did a similar study years ago, but this recent one turned up quite a bit that I don't remember seeing in the previous study.

God's Word is so rich and full of knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and inspiration, unto revelation !

wm

 

[wayfaring man]

Love is God casting out all the fear that keeps us spiritually insecure, which enables us to gladly put [esteem or prefer] others above our own self, (daily laying down our mortal life in service to Christ, the brethren, and The Gospel of our Salvation).

Am led to give support to this effort of describing Biblical love.

Love is God casting out all the fear that keeps us spiritually insecure

God is love <---> From 1st John 4:8+16

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
We love him, because he first loved us. <-----> 1st John 4:18+19

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. <-----> 1st John 4:9+10

For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. <-----> Hebrews 2:14+15

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. <-----> 1st John 4:11

which enables us to gladly put [esteem or prefer] others above our own self, (daily laying down our mortal life in service to Christ, the brethren, and The Gospel of our Salvation)

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; <-----> Romans 12:10

Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. <-----> Philippians 2:2-4

And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. <-----> 2nd Corinthians 12:15

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. <-----> 1st Corinthians 15:31

And he [ Jesus ] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. <-----> Luke 9:23

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. <-----> Romans 12:1

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. <-----> 1st John 3:16

...The Holy Ghost witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. <-----> Acts 20:23+24

He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. <-----> John 12:25

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. <-----> 1st Corinthians 9:22+23

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. <-----> Mark 8:35

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. <-----> John 15:12-14

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. <-----> 1st John 5:2+3

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. <-----> Galatians 5:13

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: <-----> Ephesians 4:14+15

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. <-----> Romans 13:8-10

If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: <-----> James 2:8

He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. <-----> 1st John 2:10

And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. <-----> 1st John 3:23

If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also. <-----> 1st John 4:20+21

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. <-----> 1st John 3:18+19

May The Lord Be Pleased !

wm

 

[SeraphimsCherub]

Hi...sister's & brother's in Christ! i can't speak for others' concerning (Agapie) Love; but i know from GOD'S personal dealing's with me in my experience's with His Holy Spirit , Who Lives within me! One of the greatest Revelation's that Christ Jesus has shown me in Life! Is that with out His Power, i am absolutely powerless,empty & cold and void of the Power to will (((GOD'S Agapie Love)))unless He Graciously Fill's me & Will's me by His Spirit through Christ to Do so! ! It doesn't matter if:1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ASV) 1Co 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love is the Only Power that can Both, Beget life
& Kill all sin
Amen!!!

 

[razzelflabben]

You seem prone to fluctuate back and forth to from one opposing emphasis to another....

Perhaps love doesn't require "justice".

Perhaps all love requires is honesty and respect.

Because love is more of a "giver" than a "receiver".

Love is caring and sharing.

wm

Not sure I'm following you here, what do you think I'm fluctuating on? Love is putting others above self because we are living in humility the kind of humility that marked our Lords life here on earth...now tell me this, is God just? Was Jesus just when He overthrew the money changers table? Acts of Love! Love isn't just some warm fuzzy though we can feel warm fuzzies in the midst of love.

Look at our love for our children, the same love that kisses their booboos and makes the hurt go away, punishes the child when they do something dangerous. Both are acts of love, on makes the child feel warm and comfortable, the other, distress. Biblical love is no different in this respect.

And since I'm not real sure what you are intending here, let me also say this....if all love ever did was give and never receive, love would cease to exist. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is receive, the biggest example I can think of is salvation. Salvation is God's desire for us, therefore it is an act of love to receive it. In fact, there is a scripture that talks about the ministry of giving and receiving....
Philippians 4:15-19 (King James Version)


15Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.


I have had a long and painful time learning this truth, but without someone to receive love, love would cease to exist...love, real love, is both giving and receiving...that is why humility is so important, because humility removes our excuse to not receive...