What Love Is

“I want to know what love is; I want you to show me!” was the plea in a song sung by the 1980’s band Foreigner. I have no idea if this was a seductive manipulation of a woman or an earnest appeal for understanding an individuals’ capacity for something more emotionally complex and fulfilling. At any rate, it was a search for the true meaning of love.

Then, there is of course Elvis’ “Love me tender. Love me true. Never let me go.” This familiar love ballad speaks to emotional love, too, but also of commitment. It’s old but it is relevant and like the first song, asks the perennial question, “What is love?” Tina Turner also explores that question from perhaps a more painful place in “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” If yoU haven’t already realized it, let me assure you that love is not just a “second hand emotion.”

Like the Inuit dozens of words for describing “snow,” the Greeks had multiple words for describing “love” (7)

The Bible, some say, only makes use of three of them. I say at least four. One example, at least, when I read “Song of Solomon” It sounds like it is skating pretty close to the Greek “eros” which is my number four in Bible usage. Unlike the early 17th Century English of the King James Bible, various modern translations and paraphrases convey the Solomon love story that could easily be woven into a Hallmark movie.

In my searches today, it seems I did not have the whole Greek lexicon for exploring “love” (sometimes a phrase or even more is needed to complete one’s understanding of just one word.) Now, I have contended that the Bible is a down to earth history for real people, about real people, and from real people living real lives… So, then…

Here is a resource with the narrow definition of three of those Greek words:

3 Kinds of Love (Session 8–1 Corinthians 13:1–13)

https://goexplorethebible.com › blog › adults › 3-kinds

• Eros refers to physical or sexual love. The word eros was commonly used in the Greek-speaking world of New Testament times. …
• Philos means warm affection or friendship. …
• Agapē is the sacrificial, unconditional love of God.

Here are broader essays of the Greek words used in the Bible from the author C.S. Lewis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Loves is my choice for a deeper and wider consideration for understanding the Greek words.

Here is another definition’s resource and the very important concept of the interaction of the dynamics of love: https://www.learnreligions.com/types-of-love-in-the-bible-700177

Read the Bible in a modern, understandable, relatable translation which can not only change your understanding of God, but can change your life.