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Many Christians have been
taught the STANDARD LIE about the two Greek words Agape and Phileo for the
English word ‘Love’
According to these Greek scholars Agape means a {deep intimate selfless
love} and Phileo is a{ casual friendly kind of love}.
For example, I have friends I really love and know them well, and there’s
lots of things I would do for them.
Then there are others I don’t know them too well, but I would shake their
hand;
but it’s not that {deep selfless love} though.
With that in mind what the Greek scholars teach, here in John 21 are three
passages where they teach one kind of love from another.
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.
The Greek scholarly teaching suggests that we are handicapped in
understanding our King James Bible as we are stuck with a mere English
translation. The reason being that we have only one word for ‘love’ but
the Greek had two ‘agape’ { deep intimate selfless love} and ‘phileo’ { a
friendly casual love}.
The Lord Jesus actually says to Simon Peter "
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? What the
Lord asks Simon – do you love me or do you agape me [With a deep,
intimate, selfless love] He saith unto "Yea,
Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. Instead of Simon Peter
replying - yes Lord I love you, I (agape) you { a selfless deep heart felt
love}, he says yes, well, I love you as a friend I ( phileo) you.
The Lord says do you ( agape) me? Simon Peter replies I (Phileo) you,
I do not love you with (agape) deep selfless love, I would shake your hand
( so to speak). In verse 16 He saith to him again
the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He gives
Simon Peter a chance to get it right ; so He knows Simon (Phileo's) me
but do you ( agape) me – do you love me with that deep intimate selfless
heart felt love? Simon Peter returns in verse 16
- Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. Simon could not
bring himself to say I (agape) you, I love you with this deep heart felt
love, once again he says – I love you like a friend - By this time the
Lord is broken hearted and after two tries he gives up and condescends to
Simon’s position and in verse 17 . He saith unto
him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? When
the Lord speaks to Simon that time instead of saying – do you (agape) me,
do you love me with that deep heart felt selfless love? He says do you (Phileo)
me? Do you love me as a friend?
Simon was grieved because he saw the change that the Lord had made and it
grieved him that he could not tell the Lord that he loved him with (agape)
love
He was grieved and in v17 Simon Peter says – “thou
knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” He responds
– yes I do love you ( Phileo) love.
So the Lord used (agape) twice and the third time he said do you (phileo)
me. In all three times Simon Peter answered it with phileo.
Our false teacher then points out to his audience that there
is no way to attain such depth of meaning from this passage using only the
feeble English. Once more the trusty "Greek" has enlightened us as English
can never do!
Do you have an answer for it?
Above is not even an attack on the King James Bible. They are trying to prove that not
only do you need another translation, but you are IN NEED of the Greek
language, you NEED somebody that knows Greek!
This presentation is
tremendously effective and has only ONE flaw. The definitions given for
"agape" and "phileo" are TOTALLY UNTRUE!
I am about to make a statement concerning "agape" and "phileo" which is
not based on prejudice or opinion. It is based on careful honest study of
the way in which "agape" and "phileo" were used in the Bible ("Our final
authority in all matters of faith and practice) by Jesus Christ Himself
and the New Testament writers. The statement is this: There was absolutely
NO DIFFERENCE in New Testament times between "agape" and "phileo" and that
BOTH are used interchangeably by Jesus Christ and the writers of the New
Testament. REGARDLESS of what Greek grammars, Greek teachers and Greek
preachers may say!
If you have been steeped in the false teaching of "agape" and "phileo" by
your college professor or pastor, you will immediately (and with much
prejudice) reject my supposition. ("How could such godly men be wrong?"
Right?)
Yet, I will not attempt to prove it is true. The proof will come from
Jesus Christ, Paul, Peter and John, and any other New Testament writer
that I could have chosen for the comparison. But wait! They are not my
final witnesses. The final and most weighty argument will be waged by YOU!
IF you have the courage and IF you can be honest with God and yourself,
feel free to take the Test below(link). Here's how it goes.
In part #I, I have reproduced quotes from the New Testament which were
made by Jesus Christ using "agape" and "phileo". Without looking at a
Greek New Testament or Concordance or any other help, use the false rules
for "agape" and "phileo" given by critics of the English Bible. Read the
quote. Decide whether Jesus is referring to "agape" love (deep, intimate,
selfless love) or "phileo" love (casual, friendly love). Then put an "A"
for agape or "P"" for phileo in the blank before the quote.
Part #II is identical to part #I except that the quotes are taken from
various New Testament writers. Do the same as in part one, putting an "A"
for agape and a "P" for phileo, using only the critics definition of these
words. No guessing, no hunches. Use only their own rule.
After you have completed the test, turn to the answer sheet found at the
bottom or side.
 The
Agape Vs Phileo Love Challenge
Don’t feel bad about failing this test because YOU ARE going to fail it. I
say that to say this that if every Greek Professor who teaches what has
been taught you, they too are going to fail USING THEIR OWN RULE.
If you have taken the test and if you
have been honest, you have found that the TRUTH of the matter is that
neither Jesus nor any of the New Testament writers acknowledged the false
rule foisted on us by heady and high-minded Bible critics.
Thus we see that this little "nugget" is made only of "FOOL'S GOLD" and
has never really existed except in the deluded minds of men.
Who will you believe? Jesus Christ or your Greek professor?
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