Agape
Definition:
Agape is the highest form of love—a self-giving, volitional commitment to seek the good of another, regardless of cost. Unlike romantic or emotional love, agape is not based on feeling but on choice. It is the kind of love God shows to us, and the kind of love He forms in us through discipleship.
Biblical Basis:
- John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world…” (agapē)
- 1 John 4:10–11 — “In this is love… that he loved us… Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
- Romans 5:8 — “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Theological Significance:
Agape is not merely an attribute of God—it is His very nature (1 John 4:8). It defines what it means to be truly human. We were created to become agape beings: capable of loving like God loves. This kind of love requires free will, sacrifice, and spiritual transformation. It is the foundation of Christian ethics, relationships, and discipleship.
How We Use It in DiscipleLife:
This is the defining term of the entire journey. Our goal is not just to know doctrine or behave morally—but to become beings who love like Christ. Agape is what we were created for, and what the Spirit is forming in us. Every trail marker points toward this end.
Related Terms:
[Free Will], [Sanctification], [Image of God], [Love], [God’s Plan]
