Exegetical Meaning

Agapē is love in its deepest and most meaningful sense—not the warm, fuzzy feeling of affection, but a deliberate commitment to care for someone's wellbeing, even when it costs you something. It's the kind of love that chooses to act in someone's best interest regardless of whether they deserve it or whether you feel like it in the moment. This word appears throughout the New Testament as the supreme virtue that God calls His people to practice, especially toward one another and toward enemies who oppose them. In Scripture, agapē describes God's fundamental nature and His costly sacrifice for humanity. It's the love that Jesus demonstrated by laying down His life for people who rejected Him. When Paul writes that "love covers a multitude of sins" or when Jesus commands His followers to "love your enemies," he's using this word to point toward something far greater than emotions—a sacrificial, forgiving, other-centered commitment. The word carries the idea of valuing someone as precious and worthwhile, and then acting on that valuation through kindness, patience, and genuine concern. English translations render agapē as "love," "charity," or sometimes "affection," though none of these fully captures its rich meaning. First John 4:8, which simply states "God is love," reveals the heart of this word: agapē isn't something God sometimes does—it's who He fundamentally is.

Origin

Root form

English Glosses

Canon Usage

Context Themes

• God's Essential Nature
• Redemptive Love in Action
• Love as the Supreme Ethic

Exegetical Meaning

The Greek word *elpis* (hope) describes a confident expectation or anticipation of something good in the future. Unlike our modern word "hope," which sometimes means wishful thinking with little substance, *elpis* in Scripture carries the weight of genuine trust and assurance. When the Bible speaks of hope, it's not a vague "maybe things will work out"—it's a solid confidence rooted in God's character and promises. The word captures both the abstract sense of hopeful longing and the concrete, lived experience of trusting God despite present circumstances. In the New Testament, *elpis* appears most powerfully in passages about Christian confidence in God's promises. Paul frequently uses it when discussing salvation, resurrection, and God's faithfulness: "hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts" (Romans 5:5). The word encompasses not just mental assent to a promise, but the deep, stabilizing peace that comes from knowing God will keep His word. When Paul tells Timothy about "faith and love" and grounds them in "the hope laid up for you in heaven" (Colossians 1:5), *elpis* represents the forward-looking certainty that anchors a believer's entire spiritual life. This hope isn't fragile or dependent on changing circumstances—it's the bedrock of Christian perseverance and joy.

Origin

Root form

English Glosses

Canon Usage

Context Themes

• Hope as Living Anchor
• Resurrection Hope