Author	Thread: whats it mean to love
elishabroadway View Profile History	whats it mean to love Posted : 14 Feb, 2012 09:20 PM There is a lot of misunderstanding about what the Bible means when it talks about "love". The New Testament was written in Greek. Ancient Greeks recognized that there are different types of love. As a result there are several words in Greek that we translate today into the single word of love. The two most important are: Phileo - means to have an affection (sentiment, passion or feeling) for. A fondness based in the heart. What the Greeks meant by Phileo love is what we normally think of the words "brotherly love" meaning today. Agape - means to choose to seek the best for others. This is a love based in the mind. We can chose to show agape love by actively thinking about, and deciding how we act toward other people. Agape is the word used when the Bible talks about Christian love for one another. Agape love is talking about our behavior towards others, not our feelings. Phileo love is about feelings. Agape love is about how we act toward others. The problem we have in America is that, unlike the Bible, we do not distinguish between these two types of love. We know that we are called to love one another, but we think that means we must like one another and accept everything other people say and do. The Bible talks about agape love, and we think it means phileo love. A good example is homosexuality. Christians love (agape) homosexuals. What this means is that we want the best for homosexuals. Christians treat homosexuals the same as they treat anyone else -- wanting the best that can be had for everyone. However, that does not mean Christians accept homosexuality as being a good lifestyle. Homosexuality is a sin. God hates sin. Post Reply
View Profile History	whats it mean to love Posted : 15 Feb, 2012 12:53 PM Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, And Love your neighbor(everyone) as yourself . All unrighteousness is Sin. And, there are more than two types of Love, I believe there is four not sure of the Names for them. 1 Unconditional love- Agape 2 love for Spouse 3 love for family 4 and friends Post Reply
View Profile History	whats it mean to love Posted : 15 Feb, 2012 02:07 PM Epithumia: Is of Greek origin and is a love based on a strong desire of many sorts. Many times it is associated with lust or sometimes to covet. While epithumia love can draw couples closer together it can also be divisive as it can lead to an uncontrollable desire to have or to own. Epithumia love is a double edged sword and is most likely manifested in a positive manner in the early stages of a relationship. Eros: This the love most associated with romance. It is that head-over-heals feeling we get when a relationship moves forward. Your world and mind circles about your loved one and they are always on your mind. You strive for time together romantically. It is manifested in poetry, words of affirmation, love making, that special look in the eyes.�. A feeling that you could not be happy in life without their companionship and love. Eros love is wholly emotional and cannot be summoned at will. Sadly while most of us have experience eros love in our lives it is not sustainable. Most experts estimate that it will only last 18 � 24 months in the best of relationship before the relationship moves on to another form of love. While eros love is not sustainable, it can cycle in and out of a relationship over its course. Storge: (Also Greek) Storge love is often described as a comfortable old shoe relationship comprised of natural affection and a sense of belonging to each other. Storge love represents a safe haven for couples as it is a place of acceptance, mutual respect and shelter. Many couple dwell in storge love for years and misunderstand it as mundane or boring. But in effect it is a very safe place but can simply lack that spark we seek. It can also serve as the moat around your marriage protecting it from outside forces and allow the other types of loves to dwell and flourish. Storge love can co-exist with other types of love and can be likened to a foundation made up of trust and safety. Phileo: This love cherishes and has tender affection for the beloved but it expects a response. It is a love of relationship, comradeship, sharing, communication and friendship. While eros makes lovers phileo makes a close companionship that is all trusting. They share each other�s thoughts, feelings, attitudes, plans and dreams. They confide in each other the most intimate secrets, fears and needs that they would not share with another. A marriage without phileo will be unsatisfactory no matter the passion in the bedroom. Agape: Many have heard me speak of agape love in several posts over the last year. Agape love is of particular significance to marriages in troubled waters, especially if one partner has disconnected. To love agapely is to love your spouse completely, love them wholly, but expect nothing in return from them at the current time. Agape love is different from eros love in that it is not sexual, nor romantic in nature. Its nature is that of self sacrifice but is not unconditional. You can love your spouse completely and still have boundaries and maintain your self respect. Agape love is also different from the other kinds of love in that you can choose it. You can elect to love your spouse this way because it is what is best for your family and marriage. It is a giving of yourself for the betterment of the marriage. Agape love can help you to �protect� yourself emotionally during difficult times as you love your spouse but expect nothing in return. Many I talk to have difficulty in trying to apply this type of love but if the marriage is in trouble and the detached spouse still cares for you but is in danger of leaving agape love can do wonders both for you and the marriage. Post Reply
View Profile History	whats it mean to love Posted : 17 Feb, 2012 04:19 PM There are at least 10 Greek words which direct a person to understand what a person is saying when they say that they love someone or something. Post Reply