Understanding Love So We Can Pursue It

    In order to “pursue love” (2 Timothy 2:22) we, first, need to understand what love it is that God wants us to pursue.

    You may think that an odd statement because, well, love is love. In English, yes, but in the original Greek there are two different words used in the New Testament, which both translate to our one, all-encompassing word ‘love; these words are ‘agape’ and ‘phileo.’

    Agape, simply stated is selfless love. This type of love is found 159 times in the New Testament. It is a choice, a preference. Preferring to serve God over self. It means to actively do what the Lord prefers. True agape love is always defined by God, because God is love (1 John 4:7). We love others just as God loves us - unconditionally, with mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and patience.

    Phileo is brotherly love. Found 21 times in the New Testament, it is affectionate love, sharing a strong bond with another person. An easy way to remember this is to think of the root word – Philadelphia – those living in the US may automatically think “the city of brotherly love” and that is what Philadelphia means ‘brotherly love’! It means to show warm affection in intimate friendship, tender compassion and kinship.

    Where phileo is of the heart (feelings), agape is mainly of the head (purposed, determined). Phileo love is easy, for some it comes naturally and without much effort, but agape love can be difficult because it means that we love (and are loving toward another) because it is the right thing to do (see Matthew 5:45-48).

    So, the love we are to pursue in 1 Timothy 2:22, which love is it?

    As you may have guessed, the love God wants us to pursue is AGAPE. I’ve said this many times before, and I’m saying it again, God’s commands are only ever for our good, and this is no different. He wants us to pursue the love that takes more effort and purpose, the love that puts our focus on others and off ourselves (Hebrews 10:24, Luke 9:23), the love that helps us to purify ourselves just as He is pure (1 John 3:1-3), makes us holy, just as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), and results in us loving just as He loves (1 John 4:7-19, John 13:34-35)!

Are you pursuing agape love? If you’re not actively pursuing it in your day to day walk, are you ready to begin? Let’s work together to learn more about how to pursue this selfless love and make it part of our daily actions!

From wherever you are right now – let’s BEGIN!