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Mark 12:30-31 - Agapae, Philos and Our
Neighbour
The Greek word agapae is commonly understood
as the love which God has for us or the kind of love which characterises
God. But this is incorrect, because the Septuagint (the Greek version of
the Old Testament), uses the word agapae to describe the love which
Amnon had for Tamar (2 Sam. 13:4). However, Amnon later raped Tamar (2
Sam. 13:14), which is hardly a demonstration of "God's love"!
In fact, the Bible uses the word agapae interchangeably with philos,
another Greek word for love, indicating that the two words basically mean
the same thing. The only possible distinction is that agapae is
often used to indicate love which is based on deep appreciation and high
regard for its object, rather than on interpersonal association. It is
significant that whenever the Bible commands us to love one another (eg.
Matt. 5:44, 19:19, 22:37-39, Rom. 13:8, Eph. 4:2), it is always with agapae
love rather than philos love. Therefore, our motivation and
basis for loving should be our deep appreciation and high regard for our
fellow man who is made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). "Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind and with all your strength". The second is this: "Love your
neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
(Mark 12:30-31).
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