From the moment we’re conceived, we need love in the form of care and attention, and we continue to need love to thrive from then on. In discussing love, the Bible cuts right to the chase by declaring that: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).
In fact, Jesus summarized all of Scripture into two commands about love: love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. “All the Law and the Prophets,” Jesus explained, “hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:34-40).
God created the world and everything in it out of love, declaring His creations good—us included!—before blessing us and the rest of Creation (Genesis 1). Considering that God is love and we’re made in His image, it’s our responsibility to reflect God’s love in all of our interactions. The Bible tells us plainly that when we love one another, “God lives in us and His love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:12).
The New Testament, which was originally written in Greek, speaks of different kinds of love. The Greeks used four words to distinguish between different forms and intensities of love: agape, storge, phileo, and eros.
As Christians, we should familiarize ourselves with these four forms of love God meant for us to express in the different situations of our lives.
Let’s briefly explore each of these words for “love.”
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These verses serve as a source of renewal for the mind and restoration for the heart by reinforcing the notion that, while human weakness is inevitable, God's strength is always available to uplift, guide, and empower us.
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