Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic

Love Keeps Men from Being Totally Depraved.

About the title: What is Love (Greek: Agapē)?

According to Paul, Love is “the main thing”. The Greek Meaning of Love in this chapter is: agapē g26
affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love, love feasts.

Eros would be the Greek word for sexual love, but it does not appear in the New Testament except in concept.

I Corinthians 13

The Greatest Gift

I Corinthians 13:¹ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love (charity) (agapē), I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

I Corinthians 13:² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love (agapē), I am nothing.

I Corinthians 13:³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [so I may boast] to be burned, but have not love (agapē), it profits me nothing.

I Corinthians 13:⁴ Love (agapē) suffers long and is kind; love (agapē) does not envy; love (agapē) does not parade itself, is not [arrogant] puffed up;

I Corinthians 13:⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [keeps no accounts of evil] thinks no evil;

I Corinthians 13:⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

I Corinthians 13:⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I Corinthians 13:⁸ Love (agapē) never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

I Corinthians 13:⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

I Corinthians 13:¹⁰ But when that which is [complete] perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

I Corinthians 13:¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

I Corinthians 13:¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

I Corinthians 13:¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love (agapē), these three; but the greatest of these is love (agapē).

• What is the meaning of love?
  • I’ve asked several people what their definition of “love” is. These are some of the answers-
    • Honesty. Pure and simple. It all boils down to honesty.
    • Putting the interests of other people ahead of mine.
    • Serving others.
  • The Greek word agapē is translated as “love”, but what does agapē mean?
    • G26 – agapē Affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love
  • Jesus’ definition:
    • John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

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