Greek · G26 · unreviewed

ἀγάπη

Love

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ἀγάπη G26

Pronunciation agápē

What does ἀγάπη (agápē) mean in the Bible?

ἀγάπη (agápē) is a Greek word meaning "love". ἀγάπη, -ης, ἡ [in LXX for אַהֲבָה, which is also rendered by ἀγάπησις and φιλία ;] love, goodwill, esteem. Paul defines the goal of command as love, showing that doctrine serves relational holiness and Christlike character, not mere intellectual mastery. This term runs through the canonical themes of Holiness, Messiah, Redemption.

Full entry for ἀγάπη (G26) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

love

Extended definition

Love that chooses its object; the spiritual bond characteristic of Christianity between God and humanity.

love, goodwill, esteem. Outside of bibl. and eccl. books, there is no clear instance (with Deiss., LAE, 18:4, 70:2, cf. the same writer in Constr. Quar., ii, 4; and with MM, VGT, see word, cf. Dr. Moulton in Exp. Times, xxvi, 3, 139). In NT, like ἀγαπάω, -ῶ,

1Of men's love:

ato one another, Jhn.13:35;

bto God, 1Jn.2:5.

2Of divine love;

aGod's love: to men, Rom.5:8; to Christ, Jhn.17:26;

bChrist's love to men: Rom.8:35.

3In pl., love feasts: Ju 12 (DB, iii, 157).

Synonymsφιλία. ἀ., signifying properly (see: ἀγαπάω) love which chooses its object, is taken over from LXX, where its connotation is more general, into NT, and there used exclusively to express that spiritual bond of love between God and man and between man and man, in Christ, which is characteristic of Christianity. It is thusdistinct from φιλία, friendship (Jas.4:4 only), στοργή, natural affection (in NT only in compounds, see: ἄστοργος) and ἔρως, sexual love, which is not used in NT, its place being taken by ἐπιθυμία. (Cf. ἀγαπάω; and see Abbott, Essays, 70f.; DB, vol. i., 555; Cremer, 13, 593; MM, VGT, see word).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Paul defines the goal of command as love, showing that doctrine serves relational holiness and Christlike character, not mere intellectual mastery. 1 John 2:3-6

Obedience is not mechanical compliance but the expression of a heart shaped by divine love. 1 John 3:1-3

The believer’s identity as God’s child originates entirely in the Father’s gracious love. 1 John 4:13-16

God’s nature as love frames the believer’s entire experience of salvation and fellowship. 1 John 4:7-12

John anchors Christian ethics in God’s self-revealing, sacrificial love. 1 Timothy 1:3-7

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Matt 24:12 · John 17:26 · Rom 5:5 · Rom 12:9 · Rom 13:10 · 1 Cor 8:1 · 1 Cor 13:4 · 1 Cor 13:8 · 1 Cor 13:13 · 1 Cor 16:24 · 2 Cor 5:14 · 2 Cor 13:13 · Gal 5:22 · Eph 6:23 · Phil 1:9 · 2 Thess 1:3 36×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Rom 8:35 · Rom 8:39 · Rom 15:30 · 2 Cor 8:8 · 2 Cor 8:24 · 2 Cor 13:11 · Gal 5:6 · Gal 5:13 · Phil 1:16 · Phil 2:1 · Col 1:13 · 1 Thess 1:3 · 1 Thess 5:8 · 1 Tim 1:14 · 2 Tim 1:7 · Heb 6:10 18×

Dative · Singular · Feminine John 15:9 · John 15:10 · 1 Cor 4:21 · 1 Cor 16:14 · 2 Cor 6:6 · 2 Cor 8:7 · Eph 1:4 · Eph 3:17 · Eph 4:2 · Eph 4:15 · Eph 4:16 · Eph 5:2 · Col 2:2 · 1 Thess 3:12 · 1 Thess 5:13 · 1 Tim 2:15 28×

Dative · Plural · Feminine Jude 1:12 1×

Accusative · Singular · Feminine Luke 11:42 · John 5:42 · John 13:35 · John 15:13 · Rom 5:8 · Rom 14:15 · 1 Cor 13:1 · 1 Cor 13:2 · 1 Cor 13:3 · 1 Cor 14:1 · 2 Cor 2:4 · 2 Cor 2:8 · Eph 1:15 · Eph 2:4 · Eph 3:19 · Phil 2:2 33×

Canonical Themes

Holiness Messiah Redemption

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

1 John 2:3-6 love of God agápē

Either love for God or God’s love operative within the believer, here emphasizing love that has reached maturity through obedience.

1 John 3:1-3 love agápē

Self-giving, covenantal love initiated by God.

1 John 4:13-16 love agápē

Self-giving covenantal affection rooted in God’s character.

1 John 4:7-12 love agápē

Self-giving, covenantal affection and commitment.

1 Timothy 1:3-7 love agápē

Self-giving, covenantal love shaped by God’s character and revealed in Christ.

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 13 — The More Excellent Way of Love 1 Corinthians 16 — Ordered Giving, Open Doors, Faithful Labor, and Final Exhortations in the Lord Colossians 1 — The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel of Reconciliation Colossians 3 — Raised with Christ: Putting Off the Old Life and Putting On the New Ephesians 5 — Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Spirit-Filled Order Galatians 5 — Stand Firm in Freedom: Faith Working Through Love and Life by the Spirit John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Philippians 1 — Gospel Partnership and Joyful Witness in Christ Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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