[b-greek] Re: Synonyms (AGAPAW-PHILEW)

From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Sun Jan 07 2001 - 12:13:08 EST


At 12:06 PM -0500 1/7/01, 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; they refute any notion that there is a clear distinction that is
universally upheld in all NT texts.

--

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics/Washington University
One Brookings Drive/St. Louis, MO, USA 63130/(314) 935-4018
Home: 7222 Colgate Ave./St. Louis, MO 63130/(314) 726-5649
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/

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