The Bible speaks of different types of love, each with their own importance and significance. Here are some of the major kinds of love found in Scripture:
1. Eros – Romantic/Sexual Love
The Greek word “eros” refers to passionate, intimate, romantic love between husband and wife. Song of Solomon beautifully portrays the physical and emotional intimacy in marriage. Verses like “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine” (Song 1:2) demonstrate eros. While society often twists eros into lust, God designed it as a sacred expression of love between spouses.
2. Phileo – Brotherly Love
Phileo signifies affectionate, friendship love. It involves warm feelings of appreciation, care, and affinity towards someone. For instance, Jesus had phileo for Lazarus (John 11:3). The ideal Christian community displays phileo as devoted brothers and sisters in Christ (Romans 12:10). This establishes the familial bond amongst believers.
3. Storge – Family Love
Storge epitomizes the natural love and affection of family relationships. It’s the innate devotion that flows between parents and children, siblings, relatives. Passages mentioning parental love like “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13) capture storge. This love creates a nurturing home environment.
4. Philia – Love of Friendship
Philia denotes virtuous, loyal friendship love. It’s exhibited through care, camaraderie, and commitment between true friends. David and Jonathan exemplified philia as covenant friends who supported each other deeply (1 Samuel 18:1). Jesus calls us friends rather than servants, inviting us into philia relationship with Him (John 15:15). This elevates friendship into sacred kinship.
5. Agape – God’s Perfect Love
Agape epitomizes God’s perfect, unconditional, selfless love for humanity. It’s not based on feelings but an act of the will to serve the highest good of others without expecting anything in return. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” (John 3:16) summarizes agape beautifully. As image-bearers of Love Himself (1 John 4:8), we’re called to walk in agape (Ephesians 5:2). Agape fulfills the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40).
While every form of love is crucial, agape is the pinnacle because it reflects God’s heart. The different types of love work synergistically to foster whole and holy relationships. Eros and storge breed affection. Philia and phileo create community. And agape infuses it all with Christlike love. Each expression of love reveals God’s nature. Collectively they form the tapestry of love flowing from the Lover of our souls.
6. Chesed – Covenant Love
Chesed is steadfast covenant love and gracious mercy. It describes God’s faithful love and compassion on His people despite their flaws and failures. “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.'” (Exodus 34:6) Chesed endures as an everlasting bond, never giving up on us. It’s manifested through grace, patience, protection and redemption from sin.
7. Ahava – Love of God
Ahava conveys a devoted, reverential love directed towards God. The Hebrew Shema prayer captures this well: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Wholehearted ahava for God involves loving, worshipping and obeying Him with everything we’ve got. It’s the Greatest Commandment upon which all others depend (Matthew 22:38).
8. Hesed – Steadfast Loyalty
Closely related to chesed, hesed expresses steadfast loyalty and loving faithfulness. Whereas chesed focuses on God’s covenant love for us, hesed spotlights our unwavering devotion to God. “For great is your steadfast love (hesed) toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” (Psalm 86:13) Hesed nurtures an intimate, enduring bond with the Lord. It inspires obedient service to Him.
9. Racham – Merciful Compassion
Racham centers on God’s deep mercy, grace and compassion. “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.” (Psalm 103:13) It conveys tenderhearted concern to uplift those who are hurting and broken. Jesus embodied racham in how He extended mercy to outcasts. As God comforts us in hardship, we’re to show racham towards others (Colossians 3:12).
10. Chen – Unmerited Favor
Chen from the Hebrew denotes unearned, unmerited favor. It captures God’s abundant grace and blessings that we could never deserve on our own. “The LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:25-26) Chen is God’s loving kindness showered on the undeserving simply because He delights in us. We can graciously extend chen towards others too.
In summary, the breadth of love expressed in the Bible highlights God’s beautiful nature as perfect Love along with how we are to walk in love. Our relationships thrive when rooted in godly love. As we open our hearts to receive and reflect God’s love, we experience the fullness of love in community with Him and others.
