“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16)
Love – agape.
When it comes to speaking about the love of God, you have to start with John 3:16. This is the ultimate verse that describes how God loves you and me.
The Greeks had four words that are translated as love in the English:
- agape – God’s unconditional love
- storge – Familial love
- phileo – Friendship, love shared among friends
- eros – Romantic love shared by a couple
The word for love that is used in John 3:16 is agapao – the verb form of agape, God’s unconditional love.
Love can be both a verb and a noun. Whenever we use the word love as a verb, it does not exist on its own without having an object which one loves. You can’t just love. You always love someone or something.
The reason why John 3:16 is the ultimate verse that describes God’s love for you and me is because John 3:16 tells us that the world – you and me – is the object of God’s love.
Long before we even knew about God’s love, God already loved us. Long before a child can even know that he or she is loved, the parents already love that child. In fact, the parents loved the child even before the child was ever conceived. They dreamt of the time when the child would enter their lives. Even before they knew whether the child was a boy or a girl, they already loved the child.
God loved you and loves you long before you ever became aware of God’s love for you.
Love – agape.
God so loved the world – that’s you and me! Long before we even knew who God was, God loved us.
That’s why the scriptures testify, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
You and I have always been, you and I are, you and I will always be the object of God’s love.
God loves you!!!
Praxis: Faith in Action 