agapas) on the lips of the Lord seems to Peter at this moment too cold a word, as though his Lord were keeping him at a distance, or at least not inviting him to draw near, as in the passionate yearning of his heart he desired now to do. The distinction between these two Greek words is thus fitly described by Trench:, 'Agapan has more of judgment and deliberate choice philein has more of attachment and peculiar personal affection. When our Lord says, 'Lovest thou me?' he uses the Greek word agapas and when Simon answers, he uses the Greek word philo, i.e., 'I love.' This is the usage in the first and second questions put by our Lord but in the third our Lord uses Simon's word. Without it, none can enter heaven and as the affections of every unrenewed heart are all mixed with sin, being given to forbidden objects, or selfishly and unduly given to objects not forbidden, we must be 'born again' in order to see God, John 3:3 1 John 4:7,19 5:4.Įaston's Bible DictionaryThis word seems to require explanation only in the case of its use by our Lord in his interview with 'Simon, the son of Jonas,' after his resurrection ( John 21:16, 17). Such a love would meet and fulfil all the ends of the law, Matthew 22:37-40 Romans 13:8-10. Holy love in man would make the whole heart and soul supremely delight in and obey God, and cordially and practically love all beings according to their character-the good with fellowship of soul, and the evil with a Christ-like benevolence.

It is shown in all his works and ways, and dictated his holy law, but is most signally displayed in the gospel, John 3:16. Between the three Persons of the Godhead, love is unutterable full, perfect, and blissful towards holy angels and Christians, God's love is an infinite fatherly complacency and affection towards sinners, it is immeasurable compassion. Love is a chief attribute of Jehovah, the length and breadth and height and depth of which are beyond comprehension, for they are infinite, Ephesians 3:18,19. GOD IS LOVE AND HE THAT DWELLETH IN LOVE DWELLETH IN GOD, AND GOD IN HIM, 1 John 4:16.

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