What is a word you feel that too many people use?
LOVE? Just what is it?
What is love? We all talk about love a lot, but what actually is the definition of love? What does love really feel like? And how is love different from lust? Here are all the different ways that love can be defined, plus an expert explains exactly what love is.
More than anything, the Bible makes it clear that “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). He isn’t just Loving, but He is the very definition of Love. He Loves us because He Created us. His affection is unconditional. He both generates and demonstrates Love — and that Love endures forever (Psalm 100:5).
What are the different types of love?
Love is an incredibly subjective thing, and within love itself there are a whole bunch of different kinds of love. There’s non-romantic platonic love between friends, love between family members, plus intense unconditional love.
1 Corinthians 13:4–8a (ESV) Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
But the word Love describes an emotion with vastly differing degrees of intensity. Four unique forms of Love are found in Scripture. They are communicated through four Greek words (Eros, Storge, Philia, and Agape) and are characterized by romantic love, family love, brotherly love, and God’s divine Love.
Mind you:
- Storge – empathy bond.
- Philia – friend bond.
- Eros – romantic love.
- Agape – unconditional “God” Love.
And we pray:
Heavenly Father, You are Love. Yes! Counterfeit Images of You exist and have since the beginning of Time. In Love, You Created all things – seen and unseen, Hallelujah. Your Essence was questioned, and Man fell in the garden of Eden. Through Time, You are unchanging – Hallelujah!!! You sent Jesus once and for all, that we would see, know and understand Love. There is no falsifying the actuality of Your Word. Jesus came and died for me to pay the price for sin. I accept that I was born into a world that is lorded over by the same spirit that took Your gift from Mankind. Father, I approach You today to be my whole, create a heart to seek Your will always and live for You as I was Created to do. Father LORD, life is so very short, eternity is endless. I wish and desire to exist my eternity in Your Presence. Wash me clean with the blood of Jesus, Amen.