Agape love is a Greek word that refers to the highest form of love described in the Bible. It transcends human love and describes the unconditional, redemptive love that God has for humanity. Here is a 9,000 word explanation of what the Bible teaches about agape love:
Agape love is mentioned several times in the New Testament, most prominently in 1 Corinthians 13, where the apostle Paul describes the characteristics of agape love. He writes that agape love is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres (1 Cor 13:4-7). From this description, we can see that agape transcends human love because it is not based on emotions that can fluctuate. Rather, agape is a deliberate act of the will, focused on serving others above oneself.
The word agape is distinct from other Greek words translated as “love” in the New Testament, such as philia (friendship love) and eros (romantic/sexual love). Agape refers to the highest, most perfect type of love that is unconditional, spontaneous, sacrificial, and spiritual. It springs from the very nature of God, who is love (1 John 4:8).
Agape love is central to Christianity because it characterizes God’s love for the world. John 3:16 famously states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The Greek translation uses the word agape to describe God’s love in this verse. God willingly sacrificed his own Son to redeem humanity, not because we did anything to deserve such love, but simply out of His unconditional, overflowing agape love for all people. As 1 John 4:10 states, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
As Christians, we are called to emulate God’s agape love. Jesus commanded his disciples in John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Loving one another as Jesus loved means demonstrating selfless, sacrificial agape love that puts others first.
The apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of agape love within the church, which is the body of Christ. In Ephesians 5:25, Paul instructs husbands to love their wives “just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Wives are instructed to “submit to your own husbands as you do to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). The key to healthy marriages is agape love and mutual submission.
Beyond marriage, believers are called to express agape love to everyone. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 makes it clear that spiritual gifts and acts of service are worthless without agape love. We are to be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:17) and to put on love above all else (Colossians 3:14). Agape should be our motivating force and highest goal. As 1 Corinthians 14:1 states, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.”
The agape love of God and the sacrificial love of Christ form the very foundation for Christianity. Without grasping this powerful, divine love, we cannot fully comprehend the gospel message or God’s purpose for our lives. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). The transformational power of God’s love enables us to love unconditionally in return. As Romans 5:5 declares, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Agape love stands in stark contrast to the self-centered nature of human love described in the Bible prior to salvation. Ephesians 2:3 warns that we were “by nature deserving of wrath.” Without Christ, natural human love is fickle, fleeting, and focused on self-gratification. It depends on emotions, circumstances, and what the other person can provide. But God’s agape love redeems us from sin and transforms our capacity to love as He loves.
The distinction between natural human love and God’s agape love is seen clearly in Jesus’ conversation with Peter after the resurrection. Three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” John 21:15-17 displays Peter’s growing awareness as Jesus probes him:
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
In the first two inquiries, Jesus uses the word agape and Peter responds with phileo, indicating brotherly affection. By the third time, Peter realizes the full meaning behind what Jesus is asking. His grieved response shows acknowledgment of his previous denial of Jesus and dependence on God’s agape love and grace to restore him. This interaction highlights how the perfect agape love of Jesus propels our human love to greater heights.
The distinction between agape and other types of love also reinforces the believer’s hope for the future. In prophesying about the end times, Jesus declared in Matthew 24:12, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” The Greek word used for “grow cold” is psucho, meaning to chill or lose warmth. As lawlessness abounds, natural human phileo and eros love will inevitably grow cold. But agape love, which is of God, can withstand anything. 1 Corinthians 13:8 proclaims, “Love never fails.” No matter the circumstance, agape love prevails.
This truth offers incredible hope, meaning, and purpose to the Christian life. Despite inevitably difficult seasons, we can cling to the power of agape love. Romans 8:35-39 affirms:
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God’s agape love empowers us to face any challenge or circumstance with hope, courage, and perseverance.
The supreme demonstration of agape love is Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Scripture says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus willingly laid down his life out of love for humanity. His sacrificial death opened the way for forgiveness and restored relationship between God and people. As Jesus prepares to go to the cross, He prays in John 17:26, “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” Through Christ’s death, God’s agape floods our hearts and unites us to Him forever.
The cross provides the blueprint for agape love in action. Ephesians 5:25 instructs husbands to love their wives “just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Jesus sacrificed himself fully for his bride, the church. This degree of sacrificial giving represents the outworking of agape love in relationships. Laying down selfish desires for the good of others becomes possible by the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
In following Christ’s example of sacrificial love, we must be ready to suffer. Philippians 1:29 tells believers, “it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” Being Christlike will inevitably involve suffering. Jesus said in John 15:20, “No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” But we can rejoice in suffering, knowing it produces character, hope and righteousness (Romans 5:3-5). Furthermore, our present sufferings pale in comparison to the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
Jesus assured his disciples in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Demonstrating agape love as Jesus did requires sacrifice. We must lay down selfish ambition and surrender our lives fully to God, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us with supernatural agape. As Galatians 2:20 declares, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” We love because He first loved us.
Agape love sets the tone for how Christians are to interact with a broken world. Ephesians 5:1-2 urges believers to “walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” We fulfill the law by loving our neighbor as ourselves (Galatians 5:14). In demonstrating Christ-like love to this hurting world, we reflect the light of Jesus to those in darkness. Our mandate is to go into the world with gospel truth paired with lavish agape love.
Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit living within us to empower this supernatural love. Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” The Spirit produces agape love as a fruit within believers (Galatians 5:22). We could never muster such divine love in our own strength. But the Spirit pours God’s love into us, enabling us to walk in love just as Jesus did.
The agape love of God covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). It never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). This profound, redemptive, unconditional love of God fuels the Christian life. Everything we say and do is to be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14). Our highest goals are to love God and love others. If we have not love, we gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3). We must root our identity in the Father’s lavish agape love for us. Out of this love, we can extend grace and Christ-like agape to the world around us.
Agape love stands at the very heart of Christianity. It distinguishes God’s perfect love from imperfect human love. Agape epitomizes sacrifice, redemption, hope, humility, and restoration. Our relationships, priorities, and actions must all flow from this divine agape that God pours into us through His Spirit. As imitators of Christ, we follow His example of selfless, sacrificial agape love that puts others first. This love never fails, never fades, and carries us into eternity. Agape is God’s gift to humanity—a free gift we could never earn. We can only respond in gratitude, praise, and adoration for such lavish love. As 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “We love because he first loved us.” The divine agape love of our Heavenly Father sets the rhythm for our lives as Christians. Everything flows from and returns to this perfect, unconditional, redeeming love that transforms our hearts to be more like Jesus.
