(Jon-Marc;22134)
I certainly hope so.
The English language has only one word for "love." But in Greek, the Bible makes a distinction between God's love and human love by using different words. Agape refers to God's unfailing love. Notice Peter's response in the following passage. Peter's response was unreliable, which led him to deny Christ three times:"So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love (agapao) Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) you.' He said to him, 'Tend My lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of John, do you (agapao) Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You.' He said to him, 'Shepherd My sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you (phileo) Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love (phileo) Me?' And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (phileo) You.' Jesus said to him, 'Tend My sheep.'" John 21:15-17. God is love (agape), the ultimate, Peter could only love with (phileo), a humanistic affectionate love. May we be humbled. When singing "I love you Lord" in the congregation do we really "know" or "know not" what we are singing? Agape or Phileo? It may help us to understand our utter wretchedness. We may be more like Peter than ever imagined. Jake