Greg introduces a new series on love by examining the four Greek terms that are commonly translated as the English word “love,” thus clarifying what love is and what it means to love as God does. He then takes us through the first three verses of 1 Corinthians 13 to demonstrate why love is so crucial to our walk with God.
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A More Excellent Way
• Greg Boyd
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This the first sermon in a new series entitled “Love Is” which is based on 1 Corinthians 13. Here, Greg lays a foundation for this topic in two parts. The first identifies the four different kinds of love. The second, expounds on the first three verses of the great love chapter.
First, Greg examines the word love. The challenge we face in using this term is that it covers so many different experiences. We “love” animals, “love” children and “love” our spouses. We might “love” a hobby, “love” a band and “love” strawberries. Clearly these are very different kinds of love.
In ancient Greek, there are four different terms that are used to speak about four different kinds of love. The first three are based on how we feel. The first is storgē, which refers to preference, fondness or affection. Friendship love, philia, is the second. The third, eros, refers to romantic relationships. The fourth and final love is agapē, a term that pertains to covenantal faithfulness. Agape is choice based, not feeling based. Even when it is not convenient, agape is about acting in commitment for the sake of the other. It says that I promise to be here for you no matter what. This is covenantal faithfulness.
God is agape, which we are told in 1 John 4:8. Then in the same letter, God defines agape: “This is how we know what love (agapē) is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). This is the nature of who God is at the core of his being, and the cross allows us to participate in this love and replicate it. Ephesians 5:1-2 calls us to live in agape as God agapes us. We have the potential to be bearers of God’s way of being in our daily lives.
Now we turn to 1 Corinthians 13. The church of Corinth, who was the audience of this letter, was experiencing division and relational struggles. They were also quite chaotic, as they were squabbling over spiritual gifts. In this context, Paul says that he will show them a more excellent way (12:31), which introduces the 13th chapter.
The first three verses of this chapter identify some incredible things that can happen by the power of God, but these things are nothing if they are not done in agape. Agape is the greatest of all virtues. It’s the only thing that gives any value to anything that we do or have. Without agape, nothing else matters. If we fail at this, we fail at everything. But if we succeed at this, the failure of other things is no failure at all.
Agape is the purpose for which we are made. We were created in the image of the triune God. God is love at the core and we only live out who we are designed to be when we replicate who God is. Here we find our true calling and the meaning of life.
Agape is the bond that makes us one. It is the way that we are unified and connected to each other. Instead of competing with each other, we are lifting one another up that all might be built up.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: Covenant, Faithfulness, Love
Sermon Series: Love Is, Wholehearted
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The MuseCast: September 9
Focus Scripture:
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1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
