Understanding "Agape Love" as the Highest Form of Intimacy - RelateStrong Blog | Boone Center for the Family (2024)
What is love?
Songs and Hallmark cards may shout one thing, but in the Bible, love — and more specifically, agape love — is what frames the Great Commandment.
The first part of the Great Commandment, as phrased in the Message, tells us to "Love God, your God, with your whole heart; Love him with all that's in you, love Him with all you've got!" (Deuteronomy 6:5).
The second part of the Great Commandment is to love others as one would love oneself. In speaking this, Jesus is referencing an Old Testament teaching as recorded in Leviticus 19:18.
"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18
Agape Love Defined The kind of love that doesn't retaliate is what we call agape love. Agape love, which is most often crowned as the highest form of Christian love, is the kind of love and action that shows empathy; extends the desire for good of the beloved; wants the best; extends help or demonstrates good intentions; and is intended for everyone. Agape love is sacrificial.
But it's certainly not easy. Loving with agape love means not always getting our way. Sometimes it means requiring us to act in the best interest of the other. To show empathy and understanding and to extend grace, especially when it's hardest to give.
Reflect What are some ways agape love "goes against" love as defined by popular culture?
The word agape is used in its plural form (agapai) in the New Testament to describe a meal or feast eaten by early Christians, as in Jude 1:12 and 2nd Peter 2:13.
love means not always getting our way. Sometimes it means requiring us to act in the best interest of the other. To show empathy and understanding and to extend grace, especially when it's hardest to give.
Agape love, often considered the highest form of love, embodies selflessness, sacrifice, and unconditional care for others. This profound concept, rooted in ancient philosophical and religious traditions, transcends mere feelings, emphasizing actions and commitment.
Marriages without agape (the biblical term for love) will most likely end up in disaster. Couples should always be friends, but you can only build a home on agape.
Biblical agape love is the love of choice, the love of serving with humility, the highest kind of love, the noblest kind of devotion, the love of the will (intentional, a conscious choice) and not motivated by superficial appearance, emotional attraction, or sentimental relationship.
wrote that agape love is an “overflowing love which is purely spontaneous, unmotivated, groundless, and creative.” He adds that agape love “springs from the need of the other person – his need for belonging to the best in the human family.”
Agape love, which is most often crowned as the highest form of Christian love, is the kind of love and action that shows empathy; extends the desire for good of the beloved; wants the best; extends help or demonstrates good intentions; and is intended for everyone. Agape love is sacrificial.
“Agape” love is action-oriented. We must do loving things, like serving and giving forgiving. We probably won't feel like doing these things in the moment, but true, Christ-like love isn't rooted in feelings. Real love always seeks the good of the other person.
Agape love is the kind of love that is unconditional love and ever-lasting. It is the kind that we both should give and look for. It gives without asking for anything in return and is "true love" There are no expectations. It is self sacrificing.
Platonic love is generally the type of love that exists in friendships and with family members, while romantic love usually exists in romantic relationships. Meanwhile, familial love or parent-child love is a specific type of platonic love normally experienced within families.
While individual experiences may vary, here are some common feelings and characteristics associated with agape: Overwhelming Love: A deep and intense feeling of love that goes beyond personal connections and extends to all beings. A sense of boundless, unconditional love that may feel overwhelming in its magnitude.
Agape-love “bears all things,” or “always protects.” Love bears all things by protecting others from exposure, ridicule or harm. Genuine love does not gossip or listen to gossip. Even when a sin is certain, love tries to correct it with the least possible harm to people.
Agape love is a term for the highest form of love. It is considered in Christian circles as “God's Love.” It's where God will unwaveringly love you with intense unconditional love, no matter how awful you may feel about yourself or what wrongs you might have done. God's love, in this context, is “unconditional.”
“Agape love is unconditional, never dependent on reciprocity, and given freely in the most challenging times," states Domenique Harrison, MPH, LMFT, LPCC. "The provider of agape love gives selflessly, expansively, and intentionally for the vitality of the receiver.
The term agape refers to unconditional love. Christianity teaches that this is the highest type of love, and it is the love that Jesus has for humans. Agape involves feeling so much love for someone that you put them before yourself. The most famous teaching of Christ on this is from the Last Supper in John's Gospel.
agape, in the New Testament, the fatherly love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God. In Scripture, the transcendent agape love is the highest form of love and is contrasted with eros, or erotic love, and philia, or brotherly love.
The most powerful love is unconditional love. This form of love is unwavering, unchanging, and endless, making it the epitome of what love can achieve.
There are four type of loves mentioned in the Holy Bible. AGAPE is the highest of them all. It is the purest form of love as there is just sacrifice without any demand.
Agape love is not dependent on the merit of the recipient but flows from the very nature of the one who loves. In the Bible, it is described as God's fundamental essence — “God is love” (1 John 4:8). It is through agape love that God reveals His character and reaches out to humanity.
Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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