1 of 40 Agapao vs. Phileo Dr. Thomas Holland and Richard Clark

2 of 40 Many Greek scholars and pastors Like to identify certain words in the Bible, and say these words would be better translated as something other than what it says. One of the main passages where they try to deceive us is John 21:15-17

3 of 40 John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

4 of 40  When Jesus confronted Peter and 3 times asked, “Do you love me? ” Jesus used two different Greek words. Why wasn't this captured in the English translation? Does the meaning change or do both words mean the same?

5 of 40 John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, agapao thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I phileo thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, agapao thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I phileo thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, phileo thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, phileo thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I phileo thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

6 of 40 Most scholars and pastors believe the two words that Jesus used have different meanings. They will state that the Greek word agapao means a deep, selfless type of love. The Greek word phileo means friendship or affection like philanthropy.  Philadelphia is the “city of brotherly love”.

7 of 40 The scholar will gleefully laments: The lack of fullness of the English language and points out: What Jesus actually says is, "Peter... agapao thou me. [With a deep, intimate, selfless love] more than these?" And Peter responds, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I phileo thee." [ With a casual, friendly, brotherly type of love.] The scholar will then then say Peter was unable to love the LORD with the same level Jesus Loved him. On the third time Jesus then changed the word to meet Peter at Peter's level.

8 of 40 The King James Bible is not alone in translating both words as love.

9 of 40 The standard Spanish translation is the Valera. What the KJV is to the English-speaking world, the Valera is to the Spanish speaking world. Each time the Lord asks, "me amas?" to which Peter replies, "Si, Senor; tu sabes que te amo." In every case, the Spanish word for love is used, not two different words.

10 of 40 The standard French Bible is the Louis Segond. All three times the Lord uses the word, "m'aimes- tu," and Peter replies with "t'aime." This is the same French word for love.

11 of 40 The Italian Bible is the Giovanni Diodati. The Italian word "amo" is used throughout the passage.

12 of 40 Luther's German Bible Uses the German word for love, which is, "lieber."

13 of 40 Modern English Translations Even the NIV, NASV, RSV, NRSV, TEV, and NEB translates both Greek words as love in this passage. So the KJV is not at all alone in its translation of rendering both Greek words into one word of the modern language.

14 of 40 How do other Bible verses compare? Most scholars teach the two different Greek words agapao and phileo, mean two different things, or at the very least, two different types of love such as, I love my spouse and I love food. However, this does not bear itself out in the Greek New Testament. The simple fact is that these two words are used interchangeably, both meaning love. If phileo means friendship and not godly love, then why does Christ use it in Revelation 3:19?  "As many as I love, I rebuke."

15 of 40 A look at other verses in Gospel of John

16 of 40 John 5:20 For the Father loveth (phileo) the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. Does the Father only love the Son with casual, frendly love?

17 of 40 John 5: And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love (agapao) of God in you.

18 of 40 Lazarus Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest (phileo) is sick. John 11:3 Now Jesus loved (agapao) Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. John 11:5 Jesus clearly had more than a casual, friendly love for this family.

19 of 40 Jesus arrives at Lazarus' grave. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved (phileo) him! John 11:35-36 Jesus had more than a casual love for Lazarus.

20 of 40 John 12:25 He that loveth (phileo) his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. Which one of us has a casual love for ourselves?

21 of 40 John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth (phileo) you, because ye have loved (phileo) me, and have believed that I came out from God. Does our Father in heaven love us casually?

22 of 40 At Jesus' grave Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved (agapao), and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. John 20:2 Jesus certainly Loved John like a close relative. Both words mean love and are used interchangeably in each of the above verses.

23 of 40 We do not know in what language this passage was originally spoken. It may have been spoken in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek. My guess would be Hebrew because they were all Jewish.

24 of 40 When Christ asks this last time: The texts states, "He saith unto him THE THIRD TIME" (vs.17). This is true only if these two words have the same meaning in this context! If they do not have the same meaning, the text is in error, for it was not the third time. The Bible is inerrant and can not be wrong! If the two words have the same meaning, the text would be correct as it is stated in the Bible.

25 of 40 How do other New Testament writers used AGAPAO and PHILEO?

26 of 40 Matt.10:37 He that loveth (phileo) father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth (phileo) son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Most of us love our parents and certainly our children with a deep, selfless love.

27 of 40 Matt.23:5-6 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love (phileo) the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, If phileo means casual, friendly love this word would be incorrectly used in this verse.

28 of But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love (agapao) of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love (agapao) the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. Luke 11:42, 43

29 of 40 Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love (phileo); in honour preferring one another; If phileo meant just brotherly love there would be no need to precede phileo with the “brotherly”.

30 of 40 1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love (agapao) one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: We should have brotherly love toward others.

31 of 40 Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love (phileo) their husbands, to love (phileo) their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Should a woman have a sisterly love for her husband and children? Obviously not.

32 of 40 Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love (agapao) their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth (agapao) his wife loveth (agapao) himself. Husbands and wives should have an intense, selfless love for each other.

33 of 40 1Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love (agapao) the brotherhood. Fear God, Honour the king. We are told to love our brothers and sisters, but not with the intense passionate love as we love our spouse.

34 of 40 Heb.13:1 Let brotherly love (phileo) continue.

35 of 40 Titus 3:3-4 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love (phileo) of God our Saviour toward man appeared, God has only the deep, selfless love toward man.

36 of 40 1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love (agapao) of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. We are to have an intense love for God We are to love God with all our heart mind and soul.

37 of 40 Rev.3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved (agapao) thee.

38 of 40 Rev.3:19 As many as I love (phileo), I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

39 of 40 In truth. Neither Jesus nor any of the New Testament writers acknowledged the false doctrine propagated by many Bible critics.

40 of 40 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8