When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
(rf. Jn. 21:15-17 NKJV)
February is known as “the month of love”. Especially on St. Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the idea of love. However, “love” has many facets as we will see, depending on the language we are using to convey it.
For example, we will take the interchange between Jesus and Peter above. Both men are using the word, “love”, in their questions and responses. However, what is not apparent in the English translation is readily disclosed in the Koine Greek in which the passage was initially written. Jesus is asking Peter if he, Peter, agapeo Jesus. That is, Jesus is wanting to see if Peter loves him, Jesus, unconditionally. Peter answers Jesus’ question that he, Peter, loves Jesus philo, with a brotherly love. Twice, Jesus uses the term, agapeo, while Peter continues to respond, philo. It is not until the third time does Jesus switch his term to accommodate Peter by asking if Peter phileis him to which Peter says “Yes, Lord, you know I love/(philo) you.” With each response by Peter, Jesus charges Peter to “feed or shepherd/tend my lambs/sheep”. We know that Jesus was actually recalling Peter to the Gospel ministry after Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times before His crucifixion (rf. Matt. 26:69-75). Jesus questions Peter here once for every time of Peter’s previous denial to show that Peter was forgiven completely.
I share all of this detail with you because it is imperative that we understand the differences in the uses and meanings of these words. In the English, we can say, “I love my spouse”’, “I love my children”, “I love chocolate” and “I love my pet”, using the very same word, yet meaning four different actions. On the contrary, the Koine Greek in which the New Testament was written is very specific in words and meaning. The English word, “love” has four different Greek counterparts, each depending on context for meaning. Agapeo from which we get “agape or agape love” means unconditional love, the same love that God has for us. This is the kind of love that leads to and is expressed by saving faith. Phileo is brotherly love, love between siblings, characterized by intense loyalty and devotion. This is the reason Peter responded to Jesus’ questions by using this word. This is the word that is at the root of the name, Philadelphia, “city of brotherly love”. Two other Greek words for “love” are eros and stergo. Eros is the love shared between a man and a woman in marriage that binds them together in physical union. It is sexual in nature. Stergo is the love shared between parents and children typically but can also be used to speak of the devotion of a people to their ruler or the love of persons and their pet.
Though the different meanings and uses in Greek can be quite a leap from our English translation, the distinctness of the original language should be a catalyst for us to enhance our own study of the Scriptures. As well, especially in this case, it should awaken us to the need to pursue love and apply it accordingly. We should explore the love of our spouse (eros) and our children (stergo) more diligently and make sure that we are without question sharing God’s love (agapeo) to everyone even as we have experienced it ourselves. We should also provide an example of true “brotherly love” (phileo) with our fellow believers in Christ, specifically, since we are all members of His family.
Remember that it would be by His love that the world would know that we are His disciples (rf. Jn. 13:35). Therefore, we should be known by His love and express it freely and appropriately so that others might come to know Him as well.
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