From: wes.williams@twcable.com
Date: Fri Jun 21 1996 - 20:29:01 EDT
>> Perhaps the best distinction (to add to DWilkens noted
distinctions) is that agapaw is based on principles more than philew.
Those principles may be selfish (Matt 5:46) or unselfish (Matt 5:44).
But principled nonetheless. Agape may or may not include
affection.<<
I forgot the application to John 21, but here's a suggested
application for John 21:15,17 to add to Don Wilken's distinction.
Jesus asked Peter "agapas me more than these?" Peter was a
fisherman. Fish ("these") represented income, a career. But Peter
may not have been particularly fond of or affectionate towards fish
in themselves. Jesus may have been implying to Peter, "Do you love
me more than your job? Your career?" These were principles involving
sacrifice in "following" Jesus. Jesus may have been cautioning Peter
to not return and focus on his previous "career," but instead to now
devote his life to "following me," as he had been doing while Jesus
was with him. Thus agapaw would be more appropriate than philew in
this particular context. Peter had affection for Jesus, but that
affection was not the focus of the use of agape here.
This principled agape may be illustrated in English when a person
says: "I love my country and will die for it." The individual holds
to patriotic principles and may not be fond of wanting to die and may
or may not be particularly fond of the country's leaders or other
things about the country. This love is different than "I love my
friend," or "I love chocolate."
"Fileis me?" probably needs no additional commentary than what is
already stated in this thread. A possible translation is:
"Do you have affection for me?"
Sincerely,
Wes Williams
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