KING
JAMES BIBLE 8d (KJB-8d)
“ARE
‘AGAPE’ AND ‘PHILEO’ DIFFERENT?”
We are
familiar with these two Greek words for
“love” as found in the New Testament (John 21:15-17).
At the outset, to be fair and honest, the sincere
pastor/teacher simply regurgitates what he has been taught
in Bible College. It’s sort of like the Doctor of
Medicine who simply puts into practice what he has been taught
at medical school – a product of his training.
The pastor presents the Greek word “agape” as
speaking of a deep, intimate and selfless love, that is
exemplified by the love that God has. “Phileo” on
the other hand, is more of the casual and friendly type of
love found between people.
The pastor is saddened by the shallowness and
constraints of the English language, that can only be rectified
by reference to the rich language and meaning to
be found in the Greek.
He relates the story as follows, with the Lord
saying to Peter “Peter … lovest (‘agape’) thou me (with the God
like, deep, intimate, selfless love) more than
these?”
Peter replies “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I
love (‘phileo’) thee (with a casual friendly type of human love)”
The pastor then tells his congregation, that the
Lord, in not getting the answer he wanted, asks again.
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (‘agape’) thou me?”
Peter, not willing, or unable to, produce the
deep love required, responds for the second time “Yea, Lord; thou
knowest that I love (‘phileo’) thee.” Whereupon, the pastor
points out that a
disappointed and saddened Jesus, meets Peter ‘in the middle’ by giving
in to Peter’s lack of committing himself, and
changes his choice of word from “agape” to “phileo”.
The Lord’s change of word seems to shock Peter
into seeing the poverty of his love for the Lord Peter bows his
head in shame, perhaps averting his eyes, sadly
says “…thou knowest that I love thee.” The pastor then shows
the congregation that there
is only one way to get this depth of meaning, and that is
with the Greek. The weak English language can
only go so far in getting the true meaning in this situation. The
Greek goes far deeper. Now look, the effect on the
congregation pays
dividends. They all shake their heads, are ashamed and vow to
love the Lord better and others. A prayer is
uttered and all go home suitably chastened and enlightened with
their lack of love exposed by the richness of
this Greek ‘nugget’.
As stated, this presentation by the pastor is
overwhelmingly effective, but it has only ONE
FLAW. The
definitions given for “agape” “and phileo” are TOTALLY
FALSE AND UNTRUE!
The
following statement about “agape” and
“phileo” is not based on prejudice or opinion. It is grounded solely
on the way these two words are used in the Bible
by Jesus Christ and New Testament writers.
“There is ABSOLUTELY
NO DIFFERENCE in the New
Testament between “agape” and
“phileo”, and both are used INTERCHANGEABLY
by Jesus
Christ himself and New Testament
writers. All this is REGARDLESS
of
what the Greek grammars, Greek teachers and Greek
preachers may say!”
Now, if you have been saturated in the false
teaching of “agape” and “phileo” by your Bible College professor,
you will immediately reject the above statement
with “How could such godly men be wrong?” Dear reader, these
good and godly men, and they
are, have
only passed onto you
what they themselves have been taught at Bible College as
undergraduates.
Now there are two
ways to
prove all this as right or wrong:
1. You
have already done the Test and come to the
knowledge of the truth. The proof has come from Jesus
Christ, Paul, Peter and John.
2. The final
decision
will be made by you before the Lord. Please earnestly pray
“Dear Lord, is this true? I want the truth, all of the
truth, nothing but the
truth, at any cost.”
Who will
you believe? The false teaching ‘Greek’
professor or Jesus Christ himself?
****
****
Harley
Hitchcock
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