A question from a novice!
Moon-Ryul Jung
moon at saint.soongsil.ac.kr
Sun Mar 19 09:28:41 EST 2000
On 03/19/00, "Jim West <jwest at highland.net>" wrote:
> At 08:10 PM 3/19/00 +0000, you wrote:
> >Hi,
> >I have a question on the definition of AGAPH: What distinguishes this word
> >from other Greek words meaning love? From its usage in 1 John 3:16 and
> >elsewhere, I have always connected this word with self-sacrifice or self
> >denial. However hardly any lexicons I have used seem to make this link. Am
> >I correct in believing that AGAPH is self-denying love and this is what
> >distinguishes it from other Greek words for love?
>
> there are a variety of words in Greek that are translated "love" in english-
> each with various shades of meaning.
>
> eros = possessiveness, selfish love, sexual love.
> philos = communal, brotherly love.
> philanthropia = love of humanity.
> storgh = love for ones immediate family; the love of parents for children
> and children for parents.
> agaph = selfless love, self sacrificing love, self giving love which
> requires no reciprocation.
>
Jim,
I cannot pinpoint to it, but I sort of remember that in LXX,
AGAPAW is frequently used to express the love relationship
between men and women, even the one that is quite selfish.
If so, on what ground did you consider AGAPH as selfless love, self
sacrificing
love?
Moon
Moon R. Jung
Associate Professor
Sogang Univ, Seoul, Korea
> best,
>
> jim
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Jim West, ThD
> jwest at highland.net
> http://web.infoave.net/~jwest
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