The Unfathomable Love: How We “Will the Good” of God Through Agape - Its All About Love: Growing Intimacy with Jesus

Introduction

For many, the concept of “Agape love”—that selfless, unconditional desire for the well-being of another—can feel straightforward when directed towards fellow humans. But how do we “will the good” of an all-powerful, all-knowing God who lacks nothing? It’s a profound question that touches upon the very nature of our relationship with the Divine.This document explores how the rich spectrum of Greek words for love, particularly “Agape,” illuminates the multifaceted ways we can indeed love God the Father. While God’s nature transcends human relationships, these ancient concepts, supported by Scripture and foundational Christian theology, provide a powerful lens through which to understand our connection with Him. We’ll delve into how our love for God can encompass the complete surrender of agape, the intimate connection of philia and storge, the passionate yearning of a spiritual eros, and the steadfast commitment of pragma. This holistic understanding reveals that loving God with agape isn’t about adding to His perfection, but about aligning our will with His, offering Him our complete devotion, and reflecting His own perfect love back to Him through our obedience, worship, and surrendered lives.

To begin with, the English language uses one word to express Love. The richness of the Greek language words for love provides a powerful lens through which to understand the multifaceted nature of our relationship with God, as illuminated by Scripture and Christian theology.

The Spectrum of Greek Love

Here are the key Greek words for love and their meanings:

Eros (ἔρως): This is passionate, romantic, and often sexual love.¹ Think of intense desire, longing, and attraction—a fiery, sometimes overwhelming, force.²
Philia (φιλία): This describes affectionate love, deep friendship, and camaraderie. It’s a love between equals, built on mutual respect, shared interests, and loyalty, like the bond between close friends.³
Agape (ἀγάπη): This is selfless, unconditional, and universal love.⁴ Often considered the highest form, it’s characterized by empathy, compassion, and a desire for the well-being of others, even those we don’t know personally.⁵ In Christian contexts, it’s often used to describe God’s love for humanity.⁶
Storge (στοργή): This refers to familial love or natural affection. It’s the inherent fondness and comfort found in family bonds, like the love between parents and children, or the easy affection among long-time friends who feel like family.⁷
Pragma (πράγμα): This signifies committed, practical, and enduring love.⁸ It’s a mature love that develops over time through mutual effort, understanding, and commitment, often seen in successful long-term relationships.⁹
Philautia (φιλαυτία): This is self-love.¹⁰ It can be healthy self-esteem—a necessary foundation for loving others—or, negatively, narcissistic self-obsession.
Ludus (ludus): While Latin, not Greek, this term is often included in discussions of love types and means playful or flirtatious love.¹¹ It’s about lightheartedness, teasing, and fun in the early stages of a relationship.¹²
Mania (μανία): This describes obsessive, possessive, or jealous love.¹³ It’s an unhealthy, unbalanced form of love, often driven by insecurity.

How Humans Can Love God Our Father: Biblical Illustrations and Theological Connections

Applying these ancient Greek concepts to our love for God requires a spiritual lens, as God’s nature transcends human relationships. However, these terms can illuminate the multifaceted ways we connect with our Heavenly Father, supported by Scripture and foundational Christian theological concepts.

1. Agape (Unconditional and Sacrificial Love for God)¹⁴

Definition Applied: This is the primary and most significant way we are called to love God. It’s a deliberate choice of the will to prioritize God and His will above our own, a complete dedication that forms the cornerstone of our worship and obedience. It mirrors God’s own agape love for humanity.
Biblical Verse: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”¹⁵ (Mark 12:30). This comprehensive command calls for total devotion.
Broader Biblical Narratives/Themes:

The Israelites’ Covenant with God: Their covenant with Yahweh was a call to an exclusive, all-encompassing love, a commitment to Him above all other gods and desires.¹⁶ When they broke the covenant, it was often framed as spiritual adultery, a rejection of this primary love.
The Life of Jesus: Jesus perfectly exemplified agape love for the Father through His perfect obedience, even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). His prayer in Gethsemane, “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42), is the ultimate expression of agape for the Father’s will.¹⁷
Christian Theological Concepts:

Sovereignty of God: Our agape for God acknowledges His ultimate authority and goodness, surrendering our will to His perfect plan.
Obedience and Holiness: Loving God with agape is inextricably linked to obedience to His commands, leading to a life of holiness that reflects His character.¹⁸
Worship: True worship is an expression of agape for God, valuing Him above all else and offering Him our lives in devotion.

2. Philia (Affectionate Love and Friendship with God)

Definition Applied: While God is our sovereign Creator, Scripture portrays Him as desiring a personal relationship, a profound friendship, with humanity.¹⁹ We can experience a deep affection for God, a sense of closeness and companionship.
Biblical Verse: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”²⁰ (John 15:15). Jesus extends this invitation to intimacy.
Broader Biblical Narratives/Themes:

Abraham as “Friend of God”: The narrative of Abraham (Genesis 12-22) showcases a deep, reciprocal relationship built on trust, communication, and shared purpose (James 2:23).²¹ God confides in Abraham, and Abraham responds with faith and obedience.
Moses’ Intimacy with God: Moses spoke with God “face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Exodus 33:11).²² This depicts a level of familiarity, direct communication, and shared mission unique in the Old Testament.
Christian Theological Concepts:

Personal God: Christianity emphasizes a God who is not just a distant force but a personal being who desires relationship and knows us intimately.²³
Communion with God: Prayer, meditation on Scripture, and worship are means by which we cultivate this philia with God, engaging in two-way communication and fellowship.
Divine Revelation: God reveals Himself to us, inviting us into deeper knowledge and understanding, fostering the mutual respect and sharing characteristic of friendship.

3. Storge (Familial Love for God)

Definition Applied: When we become believers, we are adopted into God’s family.²⁴ We can experience a natural, comforting affection for God as our Heavenly Father. It’s the inherent fondness, security, and warmth that comes from being His child.
Biblical Verse: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”²⁵ (1 John 3:1).²⁶ This verse highlights the astonishing privilege of being part of His family.
Broader Biblical Narratives/Themes:

The Prodigal Son: This parable (Luke 15:11-32) vividly illustrates the Father’s storge love for His children, characterized by unconditional acceptance, longing for reunion, and celebratory joy upon their return.²⁷ It also encourages the son’s responsive affection and return to the family.
Jesus’ Consistent Reference to God as “Father” (Abba):²⁸ Jesus’ intimate way of addressing God (Mark 14:36) emphasizes this familial bond, teaching His disciples to do the same (Matthew 6:9).²⁹
Christian Theological Concepts:

Adoption: A core doctrine where God, through Christ, adopts believers into His family, granting them the full rights and privileges of children.³⁰
Paternity of God: God is not just creator but also a loving Father who cares for, provides for, and disciplines His children.³¹
Divine Providence: This fatherly care gives us a sense of security and trust, knowing that our Heavenly Father watches over us.

4. Eros (Spiritual Passion and Longing for God)

Definition Applied: While eros in its carnal sense is inappropriate for loving God, in a purified, spiritual sense, it can describe a fervent longing and passionate desire for God.³² This is the soul’s intense yearning for communion with Him, for His presence, and for knowing Him more deeply.
Biblical Verse: “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.³³ My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2). This³⁴ expresses an intense, almost desperate, yearning.
Broader Biblical Narratives/Themes:

The Song of Solomon: Though primarily a depiction of human marital love, it has been widely interpreted in Christian tradition as an allegory for the passionate love between Christ (the Bridegroom) and His Church (the Bride), or the individual soul’s longing for God.³⁵ Its vivid imagery speaks to profound desire and union.
The Prophets’ Pursuit of God: Prophets like Jeremiah expressed an intense, often painful, longing for God’s word and presence (Jeremiah 20:9), driven by a deep spiritual hunger.
Christian Theological Concepts:

Mysticism/Contemplation: Spiritual disciplines aimed at deeper intimacy with God, often described in language of profound longing and union.³⁶
Union with Christ: The theological concept of believers being “in Christ” suggests an intimate, spiritual union that can be experienced as a passionate desire for His presence and likeness.
Beatific Vision: The ultimate hope of seeing God face-to-face in eternity, which fuels a deep, spiritual eros in this life.

5. Pragma (Committed and Enduring Love for God)

Definition Applied: Our love for God is not meant to be fleeting; it requires perseverance, dedication, and a conscious effort to maintain the relationship through all seasons. This is a practical, disciplined love that stands the test of time and trials.
Biblical Verse: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”³⁷ (Matthew 24:13). While referring to salvation, this implies a steadfast commitment to God through perseverance in faith and love.
Broader Biblical Narratives/Themes:

Job’s Endurance: Job’s unwavering faithfulness and love for God, despite immense suffering and loss, perfectly exemplify pragma (Job 1:21-22, 2:10). His love was not based on immediate blessings but on deep-seated commitment.
Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry: The Apostle Paul’s life is a testament to enduring love for Christ, facing countless hardships yet remaining steadfast in his mission (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).³⁸
The Church’s Journey Through History: The ongoing existence and mission of the Church, despite persecution and challenges, reflects the enduring love of believers for God across generations.³⁹
Christian Theological Concepts:

Sanctification: The lifelong process of growing in holiness and conformity to Christ, which requires sustained effort and commitment, reflecting pragma in our love for God.⁴⁰
Faithfulness: A key attribute expected of believers, demonstrating consistent loyalty and devotion to God regardless of circumstances.⁴¹
Discipleship: The journey of following Christ, which is not a momentary decision but a sustained commitment that requires resilience and perseverance.⁴²

Conclusion

In summary, the diverse vocabulary of Greek love, when integrated with biblical narratives and theological concepts, offers a profound framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of our love for God. It encompasses the complete surrender of agape, the intimate connection of philia and storge, the passionate yearning of a spiritual eros, and the steadfast commitment of pragma. This holistic love is what God desires from us, reflecting His own rich and complex love for humanity.

Sharing

Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age

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Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post