What is love?
The whole world seeks it, but few seem to find it. We have a day in our calendar that symbolizes young love, or perhaps we should say “fascination,” with someone. It’s called Valentine’s Day.
There are many degrees found in this word “love.” There is what we call “puppy love,” short-lived and often irrational passion for someone. It usually happens in the teenage years but rarely matures.
The Greeks had at least two kinds of love described in the Bible. One is “agapao/agape,” a pure love that expresses itself in a self-sacrificing way. It is used often in the Bible to show God’s love through Jesus Christ. It is totally given for the benefit of the object of love and is best expressed in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Greeks also described “phileo,” more of a deep friendship love, a reciprocal love in which you are kind to me and I reciprocate.