Jac3510 wrote:I'm not too sure what you mean by "spellings." Do you mean, for example, the difference in agapo and agapsei?...
What, then, does the stem agap- mean? I argue that it just means "love" in its various connotations, very much like the English word does...
What I meant by 'spellings' would be how the word was used and how its etymology came about. I agree "love" in its various connotations is very much like the English uses the word. No argument here you made valid and good points.
Let's look at this 'philology' of how we use the English word for love in the below examples:
I love chocolate chip cookies!
I loved how the Rockies beat the Marlins the other day.
That was such a loving remark he made snidely.
They made love last night.
She loved her daughter ever so dearly.
The axe murderer was beloved by his brother.
I love my wife and family.
Curt was a Marine who sacrificed himself for his buddies he loved by throwing himself upon that grenade. If the grenade fell near one of us, we to loved each other closer than brothers so much so that whoever was closest too that grenade would have done the same.
Now apply agape to each of the sentences. What defines the meaning? It is the context.
Yes, agape was used in the LXX form a Hebrew word with a wide array of uses. No doubt about that but it is the context that is important to note.
In the Old Testament, God loved the children of Israel. Does this mean a sexual thing because agape was used to describe a sexual act elsewhere? Should we limit agape to a strict definition and ignore context and how it was used and what word it was translated from according to context?
In the examples cited, and there could be more, we know what is being said and how to interpret the meaning of the type of love being described by the context. Yet, can we not also do so through etymology and context of the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin words used to describe an aspect of love (in context) pertaining to God and humanity?
Questions:
God so loved the world that he gave…
What does that mean?
You shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart…
What does that mean?
God loves you…
What does that mean?
We are to love one another…
What does that mean?
If we love God then we should love our brothers and sisters in Christ…
What does that mean?
Context is very important. Caritas has something to add as does Ahab (Aheb) to understanding agape used in context of loving God and God loving us and we to each other.
Is there a pattern or something the context is revealing is what I am exploring here. Obsolete brought out several good points to add here:
obsolte wrote:Agape-brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence, love feasts ...
This is the kind of love Jesus showed His disciples and even commanded them to continue in this type of love. It goes for us as well.
Benevolence- the expression of kindness and altruism. The selfless concern for the welfare of others...
Jesus expects this from all of us. So, God has this type of concern for us, this love for us.
How does this kind of love come about - how does it work and develop? What is missing?
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