The Definition of Human Love and Biblical Love

When most people think of love, they think of human love. In fact, many dictionaries have similar definitions: "affection towards a person" or "sexual desire" ("Love"). These definitions of love are correct, but there are better ways of its explanation. People say "I love you" and think that that is how they feel about a significant other. They might love for that person, and they might have feelings for that person, but those feelings are not love. True love is not a feeling, but instead it is an action.

Love is not one thing; it can be several things, so more than one kind of love exists. These kinds are human love and Biblical love. Human love is predominantly based on feelings, which is the kind of love that most dictionaries refer to ("Love"). This can be organized into even smaller subcategories. The first subcategory is lust, passion, and desire. This kind of love is very common today as well as all throughout history. It was given to man by God in order for His people to be able to reproduce. A person feels a burning in his heart that is caused by a tremendous craving. The second subcategory is enjoyment and affection. Most people experience this kind of love in friendships. A person can feel satisfied when with his friend because he enjoys his friend's company or he enjoys the way that his friend makes him feel.

The second subcategory is enjoyment and affection. Most people experience this kind of love in friendships. A person can feel satisfied when with his friend because he enjoys his friend's company or he enjovs the way that his friend makes him feel.

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The last subcategory is exaggerated love. Many people say they love something when they are really just emphasizing the fact that they like something very much. When they enjoy something or someone a lot, they experience good feelings inside. Clearly, all three of the subcategories of human love are based on feelings.

He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (NASB)." In this passage, John is not saying that God felt love for His people and as a result of that feeling, He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross. Instead he says that God gave His Son; giving is the love that God showed to His people. Here giving is an action; giving equals love; therefore love is an action. Another instance where love is defined by action is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; beats all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails (NASB)."

It is plain that these verses describe what love does. It does not do things and it does other things. Pastor Cooper P. Abrams writes "The primary meaning of the word love' in Scripture is a 'purposeful commitment to sacrificial action for another' ("The Biblical Meaning of Love")." He is saying that to love is to sacrifice, to act, or to show affection or care towards an object, whether it is a person or a thing. If a person truly loves something, the person demonstrates his feelings of affection towards that something by loving it, or essentially, by taking action to show his feelings.

Taking action because a person feels that they care for something is love. Love is not exemplified by feelings themselves, but rather, love is the action that is caused by certain feelings. Human "love" is in a completely different category than Biblical love. Many people think that love is what they are feeling inside when they are doing something for someone special. They have the wrong impression. Real love is not defined by any emotion; love is an action.

Works Cited

1. "Love." <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love>. 2014. 11 Sept. 2014. New American Standard Bible. Ed. The Lockman Foundation. California: La Habra, 1997. Print. Abrams. Cooper, P.
2. "The Biblical Meaning of Love." Bible Truth. Shttp://bible-truth.org msg38.html>. 17 June. 2014. Web. 11 Sept. 2014.

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