A similar idea is found in the New Testament with the Greek word agape.

Agape love is the goodwill and

benevolence of God shown in self-sacrifice and an unconditional commitment to loved one. Agape is
similar to chesed in that it is steadfast, regardless of circumstances. Agape love is the kind of love we are
to have for God in fulfillment of the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37). Jesus wants to instill
agape in His followers as we serve others through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 22:39; John
13:34).

In the most basic sense, love is the emotion felt and actions performed by someone concerned for the
well-being of another person. Love involves affection, compassion, care, and self-sacrifice. Love
originates in the Triune Godhead, within the eternal relationship that exists among the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit (1 John 4:7–8). Loving is unique to the human experience of being an image-bearer of God. A
pet owner may love her dog; she is concerned for its well-being and cares for it. On the other hand, her
dog doesn’t truly love her. Oh, it wags its tail, sits by her, and comes when she calls, but all of those
responses are based on the fact that she feeds it and keeps it warm. Animals cannot love in the same
way that humans, created in God’s image, can love.

Here is the bottom line on love: “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only
Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved
us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also
ought to love one another.… We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:9–11, 19).

Recommended Resource: The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D.A. Carson

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