Types of Love

The understanding of what “love” is has been distorted over time. Today, you find the word love is commonly substituted (in secular movies and songs) to that of lust and only given a sexual connotation. Below is an in depth explanation of the four different types of Love:

1. The Physical Sexual Love

This is the most common type. In the Bible this is one of the kinds of love called Eros. It is human level of love between husband and wife. This level of love is possessive so that the two involved are joined, become one flesh. 

In Eros a man and his wife, different sexes are joined to become one flesh. This is the Bible standard. 

Since Eros is over possessive and many a times selfish, it is easily perverted. 

Here are some of the perversions of Eros: 

a) Fornication: 

This is the sexual relationship between unmarried people. 

1 Corinthians 5:9-11

b) Adultery 

This is sexual unfaithfulness of a husband or wife in marriage. This could be in thought or indeed. 

Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 20:10; Mark 7:21-23; Proverbs 6:24 

c) Same Sex Attraction: 

This perversion is unnatural affection between two males or two females. It is against nature and an abomination to God

Further Study: Deuteronomy 23:17-18; Romans 1:26-28 

2. The Supportive and Caring love

The Bible encourages Christians to be supportive and caring at all times and especially to those in need. The supportive and caring love is Storge. It is a love demonstrated in deed and in truth. 

“ [My] Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.” 

~ 1 John 3:18

This is no more a physical show of affection. In Storge is found care and concern for the person or people loved. This kind of love is shown at:

•The time of defeat and victory

•The time of failure or success

•The time of sickness or in good health 

•The time of sadness and joy

•The time of achievement and disappointments

There are many kinds of love needed in Christian marriage. This is the most needed kind of love in marriage and in the family. A practical love, when shown among couples, children and all family members is a great blessing. God wants us to demonstrate love in our little world, to friends and neighbors. In fact to everyone we come across 

Further Study: 1 John 3:18 

3. The Friendship or companionship love

Phileo simply means friendship or companionship. This manifests in human relationship. This is not to be confused with a man and woman cohabiting without marriage. Cohabitation is not God’s plan, marriage is. 

Most friendships are built around Phileo. It is something you see in someone that attracts you to be his or her friend. 

Further Study: Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 18:24 

4. The Supreme Love 

Agape is God’s kind of love. It is supreme love. Why? It covers a multitude of sins. God is Love. Therefore He is all forgiving and all forgetting:

“And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” ~ Hebrews 10:17

God is not counting sins. In fact He doesn’t want to remember anything about your faults or mistakes.

Ignorance of God’s word is the cause of every guilt feeling in the world. God is not counting your sins against you because He is the Great Love. So why count it against yourself? God has a permanent solution and cure for guilt. Like the healing balm of Gilead it must be applied.

This is one of the kinds of love that should dominate your life and relationships. If you love this way, you will forgive others and you will not need to worry about your faults and mistakes.

Why are you counting your mistakes? Why are you pointing fingers to someone? Why do you find faults with people? All is because you do not love God’s way. 

Agape is God’s kind of Love 

It is God’s standard of love for you. Never accept any lesser way of loving. You are to love without counting the price. You are to love unconditionally. You are to love people who deserve no love. Yes, this is God’s standard. 

Among the kinds of love, Agape is the kind God demands from the husband to his wife and from the wife to her husband. Ephesians 5:25 

This is the only kind of love required to hold couples together until death. 

Love that lasts 

The love that lasts longer than dinner and the movie is a healthy blend of Eros, the physical attraction, Storge, the total support and care, Phileo, the friendship and Agape the unconditional commitment. 

Solid and successful relationship comes when your commitment is based on Storge which gives needed support and Care and Agape, which endures selflessly.

Source: bible solutions.org