 “I love chocolate ice cream”  “I’m totally in love with her.”  “I love you, Grandma.”  “All you need is love.”  “Does Bella love Edward or Jacob?”  “Seniors who go on Kairos always seem to come back loving each other.”  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  “My dog shows me love when I come home from school.”  “If you loved me you would tell me the truth”  “There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.”

 “Love” in English is inadequate for explaining the different kinds of love  People often say “love” when they mean something else › “love connection”=sexual encounter › “loving” a sport=really interested in it › “in love”=intense feeling, passion › “loving” Fridays=happiness, gratitude › God “loves” me=?

 The Four Loves  C.S. Lewis (who also wrote The Chronicles of Narnia ) distinguished four meanings in Greek for the word “love  storgê  philia  eros  agapê

 Storgê is the Greek word for “affection.”  It refers to natural affection, such as the love one feels for a family member  “I love my mother”

 Philia is the Greek word for friendship  Refers to love or loyalty between friends (non-sexual in nature)  However, one can have philia for family members…  “My sister is my best friend”  …lovers and spouses can have philia for each other  …and one can have philia for one’s team, school, community, or a favorite activity.  Unfortunately, philia has also taken on a negative psychological connotation  Bibliophilia: the love of books, but also…  Pedophile, the“love” of children

 Eros usually refers to passionate love, with sensual desire and longing.  The Greek god of love was Eros.  The English word “erotic” comes from eros  Eros involves feeling something for someone that is more than philia.  Eros can also mean an appreciation of beauty

 Agapê means “love” in modern Greek  S’agapo= “I love you”  Agapê is used in the New Testament to refer to God’s love for the world, or Christ’s love  John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world…”  Matthew 5 “Love your enemies…”  Agapê is unconditional, self-sacrificing, volitional, active, thoughtful love

 In Christian morality, the kind of love we are called to have for each other is agapê love  Agapê is perfect love, the way God loves.  However, this does not mean that the other types of love are “less than” or “wrong.” They are human and therefore good.  But to be fully human, made in the image and likeness of God, we must strive for agapê in our relationships with ourselves, God, and others.

 “I love chocolate ice cream” › philia  “I’m totally in love with her.” › eros  “I love you, Grandma.” › storge  “All you need is love.” › agape  “Does Bella love Edward or Jacob?” › philia &eros  “Seniors who go on Kairos always seem to come back loving each other.” › agape

 “My dog shows me love when I come home from school.” › storge  “Love your neighbor as yourself.” › agape  “If you loved me you would tell me the truth” › philia  “There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.” › agape