Synonyms (AGAPAW-PHILEW)

Steven R. Lo Vullo doulos at chorus.net
Sun Jan 7 15:22:57 EST 2001


On 1/7/01 11:06 AM, Theodore H Mann wrote:

> I haven't followed this thread too closely, so I hope this hasn't
> already been discussed.
> In the circles with which my wife and I associate, we are very often
> told that AGAPAW always refers to a much higher form of love than FILEW;
> that AGAPAW is reserved for the kind of love God has for His son and for
> His children, and is the kind of love one Christian should have for
> another.  (Therefore Peter's responses to Jesus in Jn. 21 indicate a
> lower from of love.)  I wonder if anyone else encounters similar
> definitions.  
> Don't the following references pretty much refute that notion?
> 
> 1.  Lk.6:32  "And if you love (AGAPE) those who love you, what credit is
> that to you?  For even sinners love (AGAPE) those who  love (AGAPE)
> them."
> 2.  Lk. 11:43  "Woe to you Pharisees! For you love (AGAPE) the front
> seats in the synagogues
 "
> 3.  Lk. 16:13  "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate
> the one, and love (AGAPE) the other
 "
> 4.  Jn. 5:20  "For the Father loves (FILEO) the Son
 "
> 5.  Jn. 16:27  ".. for the Father Himself loves (FILEO) you, because you
> have loved (FILEO) me.. "
> 6.  Jn. 20:2  "And so she [Mary] ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the
> other disciple whom Jesus loved (FILEO).. "
> 7.  1 Cor. 16:22  "If any one does not love (FILEO) the Lord, let him be
> accursed."
> 8.  2 Tim. 4:10 ".. for Demas, having loved (AGAPE) this present world
 "
> 9.  Tit. 3:4 "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love
> (FILEO) for mankind  appeared
 "
> 10.  Tit. 3:15  "Greet those who love (FILEO) us in the faith
 "
> 11.  Rev. 3:19  "Those whom I love (FILEO), I reprove and discipline.. "

Yes, it would seem that texts such as these would be enough to put to rest
the idea that AGAPAW ALWAYS means "self-sacrificing love that has the
highest good of its object in view," while PHILEW ALWAYS expresses a love
inferior to or at least of a different nature than AGAPAW. But these texts
will not settle the issue. I used some of them in our last go-round and
found that there is a never-ending supply of long, drawn-out explanations of
why these texts only SUPPORT the view they are calling into question.

Steve Lo Vullo,
Madison, WI

 




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