📖 Biblical Definition
Agapē is the New Testament’s great word for love — the willed, self-giving, covenant-keeping love that originates in God Himself and is poured out in the saint by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). It is distinct from the other Greek loves: erōs (desire, particularly sexual), philia (friendly affection), and storgē (familial bond). Agapē is the love commanded toward enemies (Matthew 5:44), neighbors (Mark 12:31), God Himself (Mark 12:30), and the brethren (John 13:34-35). "God so loved [ēgapēsen] the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Agapē is not primarily feeling but commitment — chosen, willed, and acted upon regardless of the worthiness of its object. "For greater love hath no man than this" (John 15:13).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Greek loanword.) Self-giving covenant love; the New Testament's primary word for the love of God toward man and the love commanded among believers.
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Webster 1828 does not enter agape; the term entered popular English usage in the 20th century with the recovery of Greek-distinction theology.
Greek had four primary love-words: eros (passionate / desiring), philia (friendship / affection), storgē (familial), and agapē (willed, self-giving). The New Testament authors elected agapē as their primary love-word almost entirely — raising the bar for what Christian love means.
📖 Key Scripture
John 3:16 — "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son."
Romans 5:5 — "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
1 John 4:8 — "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
Matthew 5:44 — "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
‘Love’ in modern English collapses all four Greek words into one; the New Testament's sharpness disappears.
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When John writes God is love, he uses agapē. When Christ commands love your enemies, He uses agapē. When Paul says love is the greatest (1 Cor 13:13), he uses agapē. The New Testament is making a specific claim: a particular kind of love — willed, self-giving, covenantal — is the heart of God and the standard for the saint.
Modern English ‘love’ covers Bible love, romantic love, family love, and casual liking, all with one word. The result is that biblical love-commands feel impossible (because we read them through erotic or affectionate lenses) when in fact they are willed — we can decide to act in agape even when we do not feel philia.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
One Greek word, distinct from three others, carries the New Testament's primary love-meaning.
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Greek agapē — willed, covenant, self-giving love.
Note: eros does not appear in the New Testament; philia appears occasionally; storgē appears only in the negative compound astorgos (without natural affection).
Usage
"Agape is willed; you do not have to feel it to do it."
"God is love — agape, specifically."
"Love your enemies is a command; therefore the love is choosable."