Sacrificial Love

The Greek language has various terms for different types of love. For instance, “eros” is the romantic love we celebrate on Valentine’s Day. But, that’s not the only kind of love we experience. The term used for brotherly love is “phileo.”  You may recognize that the American city Philadelphia, incorporates the Greek word phileo and is literally translated as “city of brotherly love.”  As great as phileo love is, it cannot compare to the agape love of God. The Greeks referred to agape love as sacrificial love.

Phileo love is demonstrated for people with whom we feel friendship and brotherly and sisterly affection. For this reason, we do not demonstrate to our perceived enemies or oppressors, phileo love because we do not feel warmth and affectionate toward them. Because God knew we would NOT naturally show phileo love towards our enemies, He commands us to show agape love. Agape love is the most godly and powerful type of love because it is a supernatural act. Jesus Christ demonstrated agape love when He died on the cross. He sacrificed Himself so that we could be reconciled and have fellowship with God. The only way to have the agape love of God is to have a relationship with Jesus.