Agape Phileo Myth

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What’s In Your Bible: Agape vs Phileo Myth

AGAPE (noun) and AGAPAO (verb)

"Jacob have I loved (AGAPAO)" Rom 9:13

"Thou shalt love (AGAPAO) the Lord thy God with all thy heart . . . Thou shalt love (AGAPAO) thy neighbor as thyself." Matt 22:37-39

"thou shalt love ('AHAB) thy neighbor as thyself." Lev 19:18

"Demas hath forsaken me having loved (AGAPAO) this present world." 2 Tim 4:10

"men loved (AGAPAO) darkness rather than light." John 3:19

"For they loved (AGAPAO) the praise of men more than the praise of God." John 12:43

"sinners also love (AGAPAO) those that love them." Luke 6:32

The theories regarding the word "AGAPE" the “highest form of love” are many, i.e., selfless love, intimate love, moral love, spiritual love, Christian love.

Can darkness (John 3:19), praise of men (John 12:43), masters (Matt 6:4), the world (1 John 2:15; 2 Tim 4:10) nations (Luke 7:5), creditors (Luke 7:42), wages of unrighteousness (2 Peter 2:15), life (1 Peter 3:10) be loved in such away?

Strong’s says "'AHAB" (Lev 19:18), means "to have affection for (sexually or otherwise). Could Matt (Matt 22:37-39) have mis-rendered the Hebrew word for "love" of God and one's neighbor? Is the "original" Hebrew word for "love" in error (for one's neighbor — Lev 19:18 or for God —Deut 6:5 or for women 2 Sam 13:1; 1 Kings 11:1; 2 Chr 26:10)? Are the Hebrew and the English words for love too inclusive and in need of correction?

PHILEO

"the Father himself loveth (PHILEO) you, because ye have loved (PHILEO) me." John 16:27

"If any man love (PHILEO) not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema." 1 Cor 16:22

"For the Father loveth (PHILEO) the Son." John 5:20

"Greet them that love (PHILEO) us in the faith." Titus 3:15

Allegedly the word "PHILEO" means only a casual or friendly type of love. Does God love the Saints casually because they love His Son casually? Should we love our brothers in the faith casually? Should we love the Lord Jesus Christ casually? Does the Father love the Son or us casually? Is love in the faith casual?

Special thanks to Dr. Herb Evans for his scholarship on Agape vs. Phileo

Dr. Steven A. Hite

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15