1 of 40 Agapao vs. Phileo Dr. Thomas Holland and Richard
Clark
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2 of 40 Many Greek scholars and pastors Like to identify
certain words in the Bible, and say these words would be better
translated as something other than what it says. One of the main
passages where they try to deceive us is John 21:15-17
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3 of 40 John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to
Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He
saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second
time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea,
Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my
sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the
third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou
knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto
him, Feed my sheep.
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4 of 40 When Jesus confronted Peter and 3 times asked, Do you
love me? Jesus used two different Greek words. Why wasn't this
captured in the English translation? Does the meaning change or do
both words mean the same?
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5 of 40 John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to
Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, agapao thou me more than these?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I phileo thee. He
saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second
time, Simon, son of Jonas, agapao thou me? He saith unto him, Yea,
Lord; thou knowest that I phileo thee. He saith unto him, Feed my
sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas,
phileo thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the
third time, phileo thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou
knowest all things; thou knowest that I phileo thee. Jesus saith
unto him, Feed my sheep.
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6 of 40 Most scholars and pastors believe the two words that
Jesus used have different meanings. They will state that the Greek
word agapao means a deep, selfless type of love. The Greek word
phileo means friendship or affection like philanthropy.
Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love.
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7 of 40 The scholar will gleefully laments: The lack of
fullness of the English language and points out: What Jesus
actually says is, "Peter... agapao thou me. [With a deep, intimate,
selfless love] more than these?" And Peter responds, "Yea, Lord;
thou knowest that I phileo thee." [ With a casual, friendly,
brotherly type of love.] The scholar will then then say Peter was
unable to love the LORD with the same level Jesus Loved him. On the
third time Jesus then changed the word to meet Peter at Peter's
level.
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8 of 40 The King James Bible is not alone in translating both
words as love.
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9 of 40 The standard Spanish translation is the Valera. What
the KJV is to the English-speaking world, the Valera is to the
Spanish speaking world. Each time the Lord asks, "me amas?" to
which Peter replies, "Si, Senor; tu sabes que te amo." In every
case, the Spanish word for love is used, not two different
words.
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10 of 40 The standard French Bible is the Louis Segond. All
three times the Lord uses the word, "m'aimes- tu," and Peter
replies with "t'aime." This is the same French word for love.
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11 of 40 The Italian Bible is the Giovanni Diodati. The Italian
word "amo" is used throughout the passage.
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12 of 40 Luther's German Bible Uses the German word for love,
which is, "lieber."
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13 of 40 Modern English Translations Even the NIV, NASV, RSV,
NRSV, TEV, and NEB translates both Greek words as love in this
passage. So the KJV is not at all alone in its translation of
rendering both Greek words into one word of the modern
language.
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14 of 40 How do other Bible verses compare? Most scholars teach
the two different Greek words agapao and phileo, mean two different
things, or at the very least, two different types of love such as,
I love my spouse and I love food. However, this does not bear
itself out in the Greek New Testament. The simple fact is that
these two words are used interchangeably, both meaning love. If
phileo means friendship and not godly love, then why does Christ
use it in Revelation 3:19? "As many as I love, I rebuke."
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15 of 40 A look at other verses in Gospel of John
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16 of 40 John 5:20 For the Father loveth (phileo) the Son, and
sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him
greater works than these, that ye may marvel. Does the Father only
love the Son with casual, frendly love?
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17 of 40 John 5: 38-42 And ye have not his word abiding in you:
for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures;
for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the
love (agapao) of God in you.
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18 of 40 Lazarus Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying,
Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest (phileo) is sick. John 11:3 Now
Jesus loved (agapao) Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. John 11:5
Jesus clearly had more than a casual, friendly love for this
family.
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19 of 40 Jesus arrives at Lazarus' grave. Jesus wept. Then said
the Jews, Behold how he loved (phileo) him! John 11:35-36 Jesus had
more than a casual love for Lazarus.
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20 of 40 John 12:25 He that loveth (phileo) his life shall lose
it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto
life eternal. Which one of us has a casual love for ourselves?
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21 of 40 John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth (phileo) you,
because ye have loved (phileo) me, and have believed that I came
out from God. Does our Father in heaven love us casually?
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22 of 40 At Jesus' grave Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon
Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved (agapao), and
saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the
sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. John 20:2
Jesus certainly Loved John like a close relative. Both words mean
love and are used interchangeably in each of the above verses.
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23 of 40 We do not know in what language this passage was
originally spoken. It may have been spoken in Hebrew, Aramaic or
Greek. My guess would be Hebrew because they were all Jewish.
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24 of 40 When Christ asks this last time: The texts states, "He
saith unto him THE THIRD TIME" (vs.17). This is true only if these
two words have the same meaning in this context! If they do not
have the same meaning, the text is in error, for it was not the
third time. The Bible is inerrant and can not be wrong! If the two
words have the same meaning, the text would be correct as it is
stated in the Bible.
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25 of 40 How do other New Testament writers used AGAPAO and
PHILEO?
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26 of 40 Matt.10:37 He that loveth (phileo) father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth (phileo) son
or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Most of us love our
parents and certainly our children with a deep, selfless love.
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27 of 40 Matt.23:5-6 But all their works they do for to be seen
of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders
of their garments, and love (phileo) the uppermost rooms at feasts,
and the chief seats in the synagogues, If phileo means casual,
friendly love this word would be incorrectly used in this
verse.
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28 of 40 42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and
rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love
(agapao) of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the
other undone. 43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love (agapao) the
uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
Luke 11:42, 43
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29 of 40 Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with
brotherly love (phileo); in honour preferring one another; If
phileo meant just brotherly love there would be no need to precede
phileo with the brotherly.
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30 of 40 1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase
and abound in love (agapao) one toward another, and toward all men,
even as we do toward you: We should have brotherly love toward
others.
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31 of 40 Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in
behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to
much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young
women to be sober, to love (phileo) their husbands, to love
(phileo) their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home,
good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not
blasphemed. Should a woman have a sisterly love for her husband and
children? Obviously not.
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32 of 40 Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love (agapao) their
wives as their own bodies. He that loveth (agapao) his wife loveth
(agapao) himself. Husbands and wives should have an intense,
selfless love for each other.
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33 of 40 1Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love (agapao) the
brotherhood. Fear God, Honour the king. We are told to love our
brothers and sisters, but not with the intense passionate love as
we love our spouse.
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34 of 40 Heb.13:1 Let brotherly love (phileo) continue.
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35 of 40 Titus 3:3-4 For we ourselves also were sometimes
foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But
after that the kindness and love (phileo) of God our Saviour toward
man appeared, God has only the deep, selfless love toward man.
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36 of 40 1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily
is the love (agapao) of God perfected: hereby know we that we are
in Him. We are to have an intense love for God We are to love God
with all our heart mind and soul.
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37 of 40 Rev.3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of
Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I
will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know
that I have loved (agapao) thee.
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38 of 40 Rev.3:19 As many as I love (phileo), I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
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39 of 40 In truth. Neither Jesus nor any of the New Testament
writers acknowledged the false doctrine propagated by many Bible
critics.
Slide 40
40 of 40 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put
confidence in man. Psalm 118:8