ἀγάπη

(ης, ἡ, a purely Biblical and ecclesiastical word (for Wyttenbach, following Reiske's conjecture, long ago restored ἀγαπήσων in place of ἀγάπης, ὧν in Plutarch, sympos. quaestt. 7, 6, 3 (vol. viii., p. 835, Reiske edition)). Secular authors from (Aristotle), Plutarch on used ἀγάπησις. "The Sept. use ἀγάπη for אַהֲבָה, Song of Solomon 2:4, 5, 7; Song of Solomon 3:5, 10; Song of Solomon 5:8; Song of Solomon 7:6; Song of Solomon 8:4, 6, 7; ("It is noticeable that the word first makes its appearance as a current term in the Song of Solomon; — certainly no undesigned evidence respecting the idea which the Alexandrian LXX translators had of the love in this Song" (Zezschwitz, Profangraec. u. Biblical Sprachgeist, p. 63)); Jer 2:2; Eccl 9:1, Eccl 9:6; (2 Sam 13:15). It occurs besides in Wis. 3:9 Wis. 6:19. In Philo and Josephus, I do not remember to have met with it. Nor is it found in the N. T. in Acts, Mark, or James; it occurs only once in Matthew and Luke, twice in Hebrews and Revelation, but frequently in the writings of Paul, John, Peter, Jude" (Bretschn. Lex. under the word); (Philo, deus immut. § 14). In signification it follows the verb ἀγαπάω; consequently it denotes
1. affection, good-will, love, benevolence: Jn 15:13; Rom 13:10; 1 Jn 4:18. Of the love of men to men; especially of that love of Christians toward Christians which is enjoined and prompted by their religion, whether the love be viewed as in the soul or as expressed: Mt 24:12; 1 Cor 13:1-4, 1 Cor 13:8; 1 Cor 14:1; 2 Cor 2:4; Gal 5:6; Phm 1:5, Phm 1:7; 1 Tim 1:5; Heb 6:10; Heb 10:24; Jn 13:35; 1 Jn 4:7; Rev 2:4, Rev 2:19, etc. Of the love of men toward God: ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ; (obj. genitive (Winer's Grammar, 185 (175))), Lk 11:42; Jn 5:42; 1 Jn 2:15 (τοῦ πατρός); 1 Jn 3:17; 1 Jn 4:12; . Of the love of God toward men: Rom 5:8; Rom 8:39; 2 Cor 13:13 (14). Of the love of God toward Christ: Jn 15:10; Jn 17:26. Of the love of Christ toward men: Jn 15:9; 2 Cor 5:14; Rom 8:35; Eph 3:19. In construction: ἀγάπην εἰς τινα, 2 Cor 2:8 (?); Eph 1:15 (L WH omit; Tr marginal reading brackets τήν ἀγάπην); τῇ ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν i. e. love going forth from your soul and taking up its abode as it were in ours, equivalent to your love to us, 2 Cor 8:7 (Winers Grammar, 193 (181f); B. 329 (283)); μεθ' ὑμῶν i. e. is present with (embraces) you, 1 Cor 16:24; μεθ' ἡμῶν i. e. seen among us, 1 Jn 4:17. Phrases: ἔχειν ἀγάπην εἰς τινα, 2 Cor 2:4; Col 1:4 (L T Tr, but WH brackets); 1 Pet 4:8; ἀγάπην διδόναι to give a proof of love, 1 Jn 3:1; ἀγαπᾶν ἀγάπην τινα, Jn 17:26; Eph 2:4 (see in ἀγαπάω, under the end); ἀγάπης τοῦ πνεύματος, i. e. enkindled by the Holy Spirit, Rom 15:30; ὁ υἱός τῆς ἀγάπης the Son who is the object of love, equivalent to ἀγαπητός, Col 1:13 (Winers Grammar, 237 (222); (Buttmann, 162 (141))); ὁ Θεός τῆς ἀγάπης the author of love, 2 Cor 13:11; κόπος τῆς ἀγάπης troublesome service, toil, undertaken from love, 1 Thess 1:3; ἀγάπην τῆς ἀληθείας love which embraces the truth, 2 Thess 2:10; ὁ Θεός ἀγάπη ἐστιν God is wholly love, his nature is summed up in love, 1 Jn 4:8, 1 Jn 4:16; φίλημα ἀγάπης a kiss as a sign among Christians of mutual affection, 1 Pet 5:14; διά τήν ἀγάπην that love may have opportunity of influencing thee ('in order to give scope to the power of love,' DeWette, Wies.), Phm 1:9, cf. Phm 1:14; ἐν ἀγάπη lovingly, in an affectionate spirit, 1 Cor 4:21; on love as a basis (others, in love as the sphere or element), Eph 4:15 (where ἐν ἀγάπη is to be connected not with ἀληθεύοντες but with αὐξήσωμεν), Eph 4:16; ἐξ ἀγάπης influenced by love, Phm 1:17 (16); κατά ἀγάπην in a manner befitting love, Rom 14:15. Love is mentioned together with faith and hope in 1 Cor 13:13; 1 Thess 1:3; Col 1:4; Heb 10:22-24. On the words ἀγάπη, ἀγαπᾶν, cf. Gelpke in the Studien und Kritiken for 1849, p. 646f; on the idea and nature of Christian love see Köstlin, Lehrbgr. des Ev. Joh. etc., p. 248ff, 332ff; Rückert, Theologie, ii. 452ff; Lipsius, Paulin. Reehtfertigungsl., p. 188ff; (Reuss, Theol. Chret. livr. vii. chap. 13).
2. plural, ἀγαπαι,, agapae, love-feasts, feasts expressing and fostering mutual love which used to be held by Christians before the celebration of the Lord's supper, and at which the poorer Christians mingled with the wealthier and partook in common with the rest of food provided at the expense of the wealthy: Jude 1:12 (and in 2 Pet 2:13 L Tr text WH marginal reading), cf. 1 Cor 11:17ff; Acts 2:42, Acts 2:46; Acts 20:7; Tertullian, Apology c. 39, and ad Martyr. c, 3; Cypr. ad Quirin. 3, 3; Drescher, De vet. christ. Agapis. Giess. 1824; Mangold in Schenkel 1:53f; (B. D. under the word ; Dict. of Christ. Antiq. under the word Agapae; more fully in McClintock and Strong, under the word ).