Filia, Storge and Agape
God is Love – 2/3
..how the three connect
The shapes of the love — A study on divine love and the intertwined Christian character
This article is part of the "Vitalize" pack
“His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness..”
2Pt 1:3..
2Pt 1:3..
Pre
The love of Gd, and its shapes.
In this very beginning I must say that there are a lot of ideas floating around about what the apostles teach about love. On the one hand, this is quite scary (knowing that there are theories about love) but it also gives us a great opportunity to investigate the original viewpoint. From the New Covenant perspective, it is important to note that God's love is much brighter for us than it was in the time of the Old Testament.
if we see the 3 kinds of love
in a common context,
this is the basis of our faith,
not the modern theology
Sharing joy
Let we see what the Westernal culture says about agape:The Brittanica says:
“agapē, in the New Testament, {refers to the} fatherly love of God for humans, as well as independently of the human reciprocal love for God. In Scripture, the agape... is contrasted with eros, or erotic love, and philia, or brotherly love. In John 3:16, a verse that is often described as a summary of the Gospel message, agape is the word used for the love that moved God to send his only son for the world’s redemption. The term necessarily extends to the love of one’s fellow humans,..
...”
...”
Character - not moral base
The Christian character, (the restored personality) is built up layer by layer to form a very strong supporting structure. The elements of this character are the fruit of the Spirit. We can read in Gal.5:22-23 that these are:It means that mainly north America, and north EU has significantly less knowledge of Gd's love than latino or Mediterranean, African believers have...
these moral qualities are the fruit
of a relationship with the Holy Spirit,
not religious acts or doings
The native says
One day I asked my Greek boss, "why agape and not filia or else were used in the New Testament".First he started the Official Religious Greek Orthodoxy terminus technicus – but I stopped him:
Okay Spiros, nice.. but.. when do you say agape? How do you use it?
Ahha! - was the surprised answer, because he understood, this is not a religious talk between us -
What I understood, that agape is not the common word for "love" in the Greek. {At least not in the 'Anglo-Saxon' sense.}
And here I must mention:
The apostles have a message about His desireLove was not a problem in the early apostolic church. Selfish and ego-centric life was the problem, old self was the issue, many times, which hinders the selfless Agape love. Society at that time was an organic, relationship-based culture. The members of the early church walked in the midst of the Roman Empire's pagan spirit. But they were walking in the Holy Spirit: the Agape love was not "heard through preaching" but went hand in hand with their faith. The apostles merely strengthened and encouraged them in how to build up their character in the Holy Spirit, abounding in all forms of love. Let's Repeat!
to share the experience of Him
(Moreover we have a third, not well explained "love" word in the ancient NT language: Storge.
You can read the detailed notice about the "various" love here, an article by David Guzik.)
The developing relationship with the Lord determines our path toward the Spiritual and relational maturity.
..a Love driven, Spirit led,
strong Christian character
not only brings blessings to us
but also benefits the whole community
The narrow path by the agape
It seems that whenever the enemy wants to turn us away from the straight and narrow path of walking with Christ, the influence of our traditions and environment, our relationships (filia and storge) become dominant - hindering the divine agape. Agape is only possible in Christ. Christ's words and teaching must be preserved in our hearts: this is the key to our authority on the Earth.
the unbeliever {"psychicos" = Soul-driven} does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.
1Cor 2:14-15
what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.
Heb 11:3
The above mentioned "soul-driven" person is often described as "materialistic, worldly, down-to-earth." Personally, I think that common sense is a necessity, it is very much needed. But those who build their existence on this (tangible/visible) social stratum do not have the Heavenly anchor, the beacon which conflicts with the world, sometimes through suffering, that Christ had. 1Cor 2:14-15
Heb 11:3
The same is expressed by Paul who, as a servant and follower of Christ, says:
As a believer, you have become a new man and your
Let's read on:
..that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV
Here is the word Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV
In the book of Revelation, he speaks specifically to the church at Ephesus:
I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.
Rev 2:4-5
These people also needed love and their love was still expressed in deeds. It seemed to be great and faithful! But they abandoned the first love and began to practice something else, something similar in deeds. They experienced something else, they acted according to something else. So the Lord warned them very strongly: Rev 2:4-5
Where is no lampstand - no correct place for the light.
Even though you walk in tradition, you and your community need to be aware of this temptation and tendency. You have to be very firm against imitation: for yourself, for the community and for the next generation, for your children. They, however they seek Jesus Christ, are already growing up in a tradition which, if it is based on human love and family unity, will bring out religious pride.
Just as the Lord walked in humility.
Peter's view on merits
Peter, who has gone from being a simple fisherman to one of the leaders of the apostolic group, sums up the Heaven-driven, interlocking characters in this way:
“His divine power has given us1 everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by2 his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.
For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith
withgoodness3 merit,
and merit with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control,
and self-control with endurance,
and endurance with godliness,
and godliness withmutual4 affection,
andmutual affection with love.5
For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge6 of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2Pt 1:3-8 {NRSV}
For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith
with
and merit with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control,
and self-control with endurance,
and endurance with godliness,
and godliness with
and
For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge6 of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2Pt 1:3-8 {NRSV}
NRSV translation mirrors a couple of modern view about Christian relationships meanwhile other editions try to give back a more complex and accurate perspective.
1 or: granted us
2 Other ancient authorities read: "through his own glory and goodness"
3 it's not simply goodness: the Greek text refers to the merit or the character's excellencies
4 not mutual, but brotherly affection: philadelphia {philia (love) + adelphos (sibling or brother)}
Although it is often reciprocal but fundamentally not entirely selfless, the main key is the brotherhood sometimes depending on feedback, but its core: acting according to the alliance identity, per se, and by the family cohesion.
It is sad to see {and important to understand} thata mere religious spirit tends to detune people. It does this by confusing brotherly love with divine, agape love for all people.
It is naive to think that the message of the "loving family" is a Christian message. It's just a community message, every club and movement have it. It calls those who are like-minded and seeking similar human 'solutions' or activities.
This is not how the Christian church works: Her head, Jesus Christ calls Her, the believers, inviting them into the Agape love, following Him and His agape, paying the price. And He is not calling Her for a passive, inert life. (Mt 11:29) His love is a burden-bearing love. Sharing love. Agape love. Andthe church's relationship is an aid through filia, and agape so that the believer can become a partaker of the divine nature, nurtured by all these loves.
6 "knowing" in this context has little to do with intellectualism. It means intimate mutual co-existence in the biblical terminology {eg. Adam knew Eve & she gave birth..(Gen 4:1) or Joseph didn't know Mary until she gave birth to Jesus (Mt 1:25}
In this way knowledge of Gd means intimate community via Holy Spirit. (see: John 14:15-18)
1 or: granted us
2 Other ancient authorities read: "through his own glory and goodness"
3 it's not simply goodness: the Greek text refers to the merit or the character's excellencies
4 not mutual, but brotherly affection: philadelphia {philia (love) + adelphos (sibling or brother)}
Although it is often reciprocal but fundamentally not entirely selfless, the main key is the brotherhood sometimes depending on feedback, but its core: acting according to the alliance identity, per se, and by the family cohesion.
It is sad to see {and important to understand} that
It is naive to think that the message of the "loving family" is a Christian message. It's just a community message, every club and movement have it. It calls those who are like-minded and seeking similar human 'solutions' or activities.
This is not how the Christian church works: Her head, Jesus Christ calls Her, the believers, inviting them into the Agape love, following Him and His agape, paying the price. And He is not calling Her for a passive, inert life. (Mt 11:29) His love is a burden-bearing love. Sharing love. Agape love. And
*or: "share" the divine nature
5 agape love, which word represents a special attraction a giving, absorbing love or even an invitation in Greek culture.. (See the next chapter and the detailed notice here) 6 "knowing" in this context has little to do with intellectualism. It means intimate mutual co-existence in the biblical terminology {eg. Adam knew Eve & she gave birth..(Gen 4:1) or Joseph didn't know Mary until she gave birth to Jesus (Mt 1:25}
In this way knowledge of Gd means intimate community via Holy Spirit. (see: John 14:15-18)
We are Image bearer.
It's not adding something to our lives.
It is our life.
Simon Elliott - Everyday Church Wimbledon
It's not adding something to our lives.
It is our life.
Simon Elliott - Everyday Church Wimbledon
Briefing
2 Peter 1:3-9 provides a progress, a way for developing a great & rock solid Christian character. The passage talks about faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection,In the apostolic context, we have learned that these above mentioned
This progress goes hand in hand with the knowledge of Gd. (again: a non intellectual phrase in Hebrew) These qualities work together to shape believers into individuals who represent the teachings & character of Christ, so that the man and woman could navigate through life's challenges and grow in the relationship with God and other humans as well.
..in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith made effective through agape love.
Gal 5:6
the fruit of the Spirit is agape love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:22
..if you areled by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Gal 5:18
Gal 5:6
against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:22
..if you are
Gal 5:18
Questions:
· Could you find the connection between Exodus 20:2 and Gal 5:22?
· We have everything for life and godliness: How the core-list starts and ends? {What is the base of the Christian character and the final fruit?} in 2Pt 1:3-8
· What is the main cultural difference between the two main characters in the movie "Big fat greek wedding"?
· What is the difference between product and fruit?
- Chpt. 1. Is Hesed the same as Agape?
- Chpt. 3. The breastpiece
- "Love" in the Scriptures (recommended)
- Fear VS Acceptance
- Working with God
- Teaching and learning
☆
