Is the Meaning of Love Greek to You?

Part 2 – How the Bible Describes Eros

Welcome back to our second installment of “Is the Meaning of Love Greek to You.” For this word series, we’re exploring the word, “love” in the New Testament of the Bible and, lucky you, this one is about eros love – sensual love.

You may recognize Eros as the Greek god of love, but, as ladies of the truth, we know that true love stems from the one true God. 

I enjoy learning about the Word of God and one interesting tidbit I discovered is that with each new version of the Bible, the word “love” has been put in exponentially more. For instance, in the KJV version, the word is found 442 times. In the NKJV, 504 times. In the NIV, 686 times. We are using the word more loosely and in greater volume, glossing over specific meanings. That’s why I’m so glad you’re here – to learn more about the true love that comes from the Father, the love we should have for Him, and the pure love we should have for others.

Even though eros is a known type of love in the Greek, it doesn’t actually appear verbatim in the Bible. Surprised?

God’s chosen writers of the Bible use delicate words to describe what happens in the bedroom. Soft words like known, lay with, cleave, hold fast to, joined, united, and others, sculpt an honorable and sacred depiction of marital love. 

What happens when that type of love is defiled? It’s not a mystery that God uses different words for the same meaning. God views sensual love in two ways: the undefiled marital bed or sexual immorality. 

The sexual immorality version of this erotic “love” is often (but not always, due to its semantic range) described with the root word: porn-eia/euo/e/os. Not surprisingly, epidemics of sexual immorality have occurred throughout the ages. You may cringe at this, but it’s no shock that the root word in the Greek is a prevalent form of sexual immorality in our culture today – so obvious, that it doesn’t require us to unpack it.

This word study is not intended to study that word, so please breathe a sigh of relief. I only point it out to show the world’s continued degeneration of what God intended to be kept sacred in the marital bed.   

Let’s continue. Each time Jesus or the writers of the New Testament talk about sexual immorality, the root word (porn-) covers a broad spectrum of sin: fornication, lewdness, uncleanliness, idolatry (which is an interesting study in and of itself!), adultery, incest, and others. 

The same root word is also used in the context of people who practice such things. Porne and pornos are nouns – people who practice sexual immorality. 

As believers washed clean by the blood of Christ, I’m so thankful that He doesn’t label us by our sin! Have you ever heard this popular quote: “The devil knows your name but calls you by your sin. God knows your sin but calls you by your name.”¹ Take a moment to thank the Lord in your heart for the things He has forgiven you of, and that He knows you by name. In the same breath, ask Him to continually guard your heart against any and all forms of the dark side of eros love. 

Now, take some time to pray for those who are prisoners to that type of immorality – we all know someone who has fallen victim to the alluring temptation of it. May the Lord Almighty open their eyes to healing and freedom in His name! May His light dispel the darkness and may they see the wondrous promises that await all who call upon His name in humility, confession, and repentance! 

Flipping the script to focus on the purer version of eros, there is a beautiful book in the Bible that encompasses marital love between husband and wife: Song of Songs/Song of Solomon. Since this is the only book in the Bible where eros love is expressed in depth from a human standpoint, it’s often highlighted as a go-to book for marriages when couples need help in the intimacy department. 

However, I urge you to take some time in your quiet time and examine these passages referring to the general idea of eros love in marriage: 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, Genesis 2:18-25, and Matthew 19:4-6. 

For further study, read the entirety of Ephesians chapter five, as it covers the do’s and don’ts of both kinds of eros love.

Speaking directly to marriage, 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the “love chapter,” and it’s read at many weddings. However, it only speaks of agape love. No verses on marital intimacy there! Or are there?

It is my conviction and understanding that agape is the highest form of love. Just as loving God and others is the greatest commandment, which the law and the prophets hang on (Matthew 22:40), I would think that agape is like that, too, especially for the married believer. Storge, duty-type love. Eros, sensual love. Phileo, friendship love. Many times, it takes a sacrificial love on my part to fulfill storge love when I’m too tired to clean up the cat litter. It takes sacrificial love during moments of eros love to answer my husband’s needs even if I’m not entirely “in the mood.” It takes sacrificial love to see my husband as my friend (phileo), when in times of anger, I’m tempted to see him as an enemy. ALL forms of love are needed to be present in my marriage in order to display the highest form of love that 1 Corinthians 13 speaks of – agape. 

As we wrap up, I hope you’ve found some insight into God’s view of eros love and have a new perspective of the word and what it means for your life in the world we live in today. What are some healthy ways today that you can either combat the dark side of eros or nurture the intended kind?

I look forward to taking the next steps with you in the coming articles on phileo love and agape love!

¹Unknown author. I do not own the rights to this quote.