The Greek word is “agape.”`
Its English equivalent, “love!”
In the King James Version it is translated “charity” 27 times as well. (“Love” is its KJV rendering a total of 86 times, though.)
And this concept (this noun) heads Paul’s list of virtues in Galatians 5:22-23. Sprit produced qualities designed for the true Believer in Jesus!
Perhaps “agape” is listed first (by Paul here) because it is the “hinge” on which the door of real Christian “freedom” swings!
Now that God has granted me freedom (from the law of Moses) … I am led (of the Spirit) to serve my brothers and sister in Christ, to serve them “in love!”
Re-read Galatians 5:13 please … “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, BUT BY LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHR.”
Wow!
Now our Text … “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE …” (Here we begin an exciting nine Lesson journey! Stay with us!)
What does it mean, “love” or “agape?”
It is derived, many scholars believe, from a Greek root word spelled “agan,” which essentially means “much!” I love this possibility! Love, which is first God’s Love … is drawn (“much”) from an inexhaustible supply!
Wow!
God’s Love will never be depleted!
As Christians filled with the Holy Spirit … neither should ours!
Now … as far as the many qualities of “agape love” … Paul in 1st Corinthians 13 lists them magnificently. There of course under the moniker “charity.” But it’s still “agape.”
A committee of Greek scholars (many years ago now) expanded and defined Paul’s exposition this way, “love in action!”
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].”
Isn’t that beautiful?
(I am not condoning everything that committee wrote. I merely use this paragraph as an illustration of the “beauty” of genuine “agape” love.)
The “Source” of this love, so powerfully mediated by the Holy Ghost of God? 1 John 4:19 tells us … “We love Him (our great God), because He first loved us.” Both “love” verbs used here translate “agapao!”
This love to us is a divine gift! “Poured into us” the very moment we were saved, according to Romans 5:5. “The love of God IS SHED ABROAD (poured, gushed out) in our hearts BY THE HOLY GHOST which is given unto us.”
Wow!
Yet again, this special “love” is to be retained, guarded, treasured, and further developed in our lives! We have an obligation to it! Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:1 … “Follow after charity (agape)!” Where “follow” means “to chase, to pursue” that love! An imperative verb, I might add, a stark command!
Folks, pages could be written on “agape,” and have been! Thousands of pages!
But today surely I have shared enough information to roughly outline the path we should be walking!
Love!
Love!
Love!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell