What Scriptures refer to agape love?

Answer 1

Phileo love comes from the Greek 'philia' which is brotherly love. In the USA, the Pennslyvannia city named 'Philadelphia' is called the City of Brotherly Love.

Perhaps the best biblical verse expressing this 'best friend' love is found here:

1 Samuel 18:1-3

New International Version (NIV)

Saul's Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

Answer 2

There are many Scriptures that reflect this 'divine' type of love God has for His Son, believers and human beings in general.

This kind of love is perhaps best expressed in Jesus Christ's statement in John 15:13

, "Greater love [ agape ] has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Jesus Himself perfectly exemplified this kind of love throughout His lifetime, continually giving of Himself and His time and energies to serve others and ultimately offering up His life as a sacrifice for all of humanity. This is the kind of love God wants each of us to exemplify in our lives and particularly in our marriages.

Jesus is our perfect outward example of what this type of love is. Suggest reading Isaiah 42 and Philippians 2.