"love, generosity, kindly concern, devotedness; pl. love-feasts, Jude 12"
Definition and meaning
love, generosity, kindly concern, devotedness; pl. love-feasts, Jude 12
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀγάπη
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of agape (G26) across the King James Bible.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
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Common questions
Strong's G26 (agape) is a Greek word that means: love, generosity, kindly concern, devotedness; pl. love-feasts, Jude 12 It appears 106 times in the King James Bible.
The word agape (G26) appears 106 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G26 is agape, a Greek word defined as: love, generosity, kindly concern, devotedness; pl. love-feasts, Jude 12. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
agape is a Greek word found in the New Testament.