WG: Love¶
Overview¶
The love concept in the NT centers on the ἀγαπ- word family (agapē noun, agapaō verb, agapētos adjective), which dominates with 276 combined verses. The φιλ- family (phileō verb, philadelphia noun) provides a complementary range emphasizing personal affection and brotherly kindness. These two families overlap in the LXX rendering of Hebrew אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157), where both agapaō and phileō translate the same Hebrew root.
Word Group Members¶
| Strong's | Word | Transliteration | POS | Occurrences | Role in Concept | Library Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G26 | ἀγάπη | agapē | fem. noun | 106 | The quality/state of love | G26-agape |
| G25 | ἀγαπάω | agapaō | verb | 109 | The action of loving | G25-agapao |
| G27 | ἀγαπητός | agapētos | adj. | 61 | The object: beloved | TODO(need G27 study) |
| G5368 | φιλέω | phileō | verb | 21 | Personal affection, fondness | TODO(need G5368 study) |
| G5360 | φιλαδελφία | philadelphia | fem. noun | 5 | Brotherly love among believers | TODO(need G5360 study) |
Relationships¶
Shared Roots¶
- ἀγαπ- family: agapē (G26), agapaō (G25), agapētos (G27) — all from root ἀγαπάω
- φιλ- family: phileō (G5368), philadelphia (G5360) — from root φίλος (friend)
Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)¶
| Word A | Word B | Shared Verses | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| G26 agapē | G25 agapaō | 9 | Noun + verb: "continue in my love" (John 15:9) |
| G25 agapaō | G27 agapētos | 4 | "beloved" addresses + love commands (Jas 2:5) |
| G25 agapaō | G5368 phileō | 2 | The famous Peter dialogue (John 21:15–17) |
| G25 agapaō | G5360 philadelphia | 2 | "brotherly love... love one another" (1 Thess 4:9) |
| G26 agapē | G5360 philadelphia | 1 | Virtue ladder: "brotherly kindness; charity" (2 Pet 1:7) |
| G26 agapē | G27 agapētos | 1 | "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God" (1 John 4:7) |
LXX Bridge: Hebrew אָהַב → Greek¶
| Hebrew | Greek Equivalent | Co-occurrences | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| אָהַב (ʼâhab) H157 | G25 agapaō | 144 | Primary LXX rendering of Hebrew "love" |
| אָהַב (ʼâhab) H157 | G5368 phileō | 12 | Secondary LXX rendering — both translate the same Hebrew verb |
This LXX overlap means the NT distinction between agapaō and phileō does not map neatly onto a Hebrew distinction; both render the same word.
Roles in the Concept¶
- Quality/State: agapē (G26) — love as a characteristic, virtue, or divine attribute ("God is love")
- Action: agapaō (G25) — the act of loving, the verb form ("love one another")
- Object/Recipient: agapētos (G27) — the beloved one, the one loved ("dearly beloved")
- Personal Affection: phileō (G5368) — fondness, friendship love ("Jesus loved [phileō] Lazarus")
- Community Bond: philadelphia (G5360) — specifically brotherly love within the faith community
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together¶
- 1 John 4:7 — [G26 + G25 + G27]: "Beloved (agapētos), let us love (agapaō) one another: for love (agapē) is of God"
- John 21:15–17 — [G25 + G5368]: Jesus alternates agapaō and phileō in questioning Peter
- John 15:9–10 — [G26 + G25]: "As the Father hath loved (agapaō) me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love (agapē)"
- 1 Thess 4:9 — [G25 + G5360]: "as touching brotherly love (philadelphia)... for ye yourselves are taught of God to love (agapaō) one another"
- 2 Pet 1:7 — [G26 + G5360]: "to brotherly kindness (philadelphia)... charity (agapē)" — agapē crowns the virtue ladder
Generated from: gather_word_group_data.py, search_strongs.py Last updated: 2026-04-13