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Four Words For LOVE

Four Words For LOVE:
In the New Testament 4 Greek terms are used.
(There may be other Greek words for love.
But they don't show up in the New Testament.)
 I will try to arrange these 4 kinds of love as if they make up a spectrum.
A is followed by B, then C.Finally D.
(Like the light spectrum starts with radio waves, then micro waves, infra-red, visible, etc.)
The idea I am working with is LOGICAL PROGRESSION.
Ok, the four terms are eros, agape, storge, and philios.
 As most people know, EROS refers to sexual love.
Let's call that love #1.
 For that sets up love #2, which is AGAPE - unconditional love.
Why place unconditional love right after sexual love??
Well, sexual intercourse leads to pregnancy and babies being born.
 Mother can't put ANY conditions on the baby.
For it is helpless, of course.
Since a mother's care for her newborn obviously has to be
 unconditional, it seemed to me logical/natural to put agape right after eros.
 
Now for Greek term #3: STORGE.
As the baby grows up the parents can demand cooperation.

They can begin to set conditions.
For Junior can accomplish things like saying "please" and "thank you."
He or she can dress themselves and clean up their room.
These are the kinds of conditions suited for little children, lets say.
So STORGE or familial(parent-child) love fits here(??)

 OK, now for the Greek word for love #4: philios.
 This = brotherly love.
 In other words, peer to peer.
This would, surprisingly, emerge as the highest type of love.
(Instead of agape, which is usually thought of as the highest).
For Christ Himself seems to endorse philios as the highest.
For doesn't He say, "greater love has no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends"(John 15.13).
 For his peers.
Gone is the parent-children relationship.
Ascendant is the equality-centered relationship.
Or at least something approaching equality.
PS: even though Christ speaks of love for "friends" in John 15.13, the love word used here is agape, rather than philio.
Written by joegracegrace (Joe Grace)
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