1 Jn 4:8 He that loveth (agapao) not knoweth not God; for God is love (agape).

Beginning with the word “agapao” we see its meaning is “the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety… being chiefly a matter of the heart.”

G25. agapao, ag-ap-ah’-o; perhaps from agan (much); to love (in a social or moral sense):–(be-) love (-ed). Compare G5368. (“…the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety… being chiefly of the heart” – From G5368’s note on G25.)

To put it another way, agapao is a decision one makes of their own free will to have an immovable love in their heart towards others. One might call this a regard, of sorts. One also might call it a “place” one sets aside. This is agapao love.

 Agapao love is a deliberate decision to regard continuously in love. It is a love that remains.

• It is like the love a very good mother always holds for her child, no matter what happens throughout their lives.
• It is like loving autistic children even though there’s none around you.
• It is like loving a neighbor you grew up with but, haven’t had contact with in years.

Agapao love is like that: a special regard. A “place” held in your heart with love.

G26. agape, ag-ah’-pay; from G25 (agapao); love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast:– (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.

When that love begins to move about, to or fro, from being more than simply a place or regard in one’s heart into becoming an “expression” of that love, then it becomes “agape.” The expression of love (agape) could be anything from:

• simply changing your expression on your face,
• offering your coat to one who is cold and in need,
• withholding alcohol from an alcoholic, or
• laying down your life for your friend.

Agape is the second word for love used in 1 Jn 4:8.

1 Jn 4:8 He that loveth (agapao) not knoweth not God; for God is love (agape).

Look closely at the definition of G26 agape above. Notice how it says agape comes from G25 agapao. What this means is agapao forms the foundation that agape works off of. Because of this, the statement “God is Love” actually means that God is both agape AND agapao. They are forever intertwined around each other. One is a decision to regard one in love and the other expressions of that love.

Likewise, one CAN have agapao where agape has not yet moved to express itself, yet one can NEVER have agape without agapao “present.” Again, this is because agape comes “from” agapao. It does not exist without it.

When we apply this to God’s Word, we then have the tools to more accurately grasp His Word and understand what is being said about love.

Peace out!

Loris Anne James