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(; ) is "the highest form of love, charity" and "the love of God for human and of human for God". This is in contrast to , brotherly love, or , self-love, as it embraces a profound sacrificial love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance.
The verb form goes as far back as Homer, translated literally as affection, as in "greet with affection" and "show affection for the dead". Other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity, in contrast to (an affection of a sexual nature).
In the New Testament, refers to the covenant love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God; the term necessarily extends to the love of one's fellow human beings. Some contemporary writers have sought to extend the use of into non-religious contexts.
The concept of has been widely examined within its Christian context. It has also been considered in the contexts of other religions, religious ethics, and science.
has been expounded by many Christian writers in a specifically Christian context. C. S. Lewis uses in ''The Four Loves'' to describe what he believes is the highest variety of love known to humanity: a selfless love that is passionately committed to the well-being of others.
The Christian use of the term comes directly from the canonical ' accounts of the teachings of Jesus. When asked what was the great commandment, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." () In Judaism, the first "love the thy God" is part of the Shema Yisrael (), while the second "love thy neighbour as thyself" is a commandment from .
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:
Tertullian remarks in his 2nd century defense of Christians that Christian love attracted pagan notice: "What marks us in the eyes of our enemies is our loving kindness. 'Only look,' they say, 'look how they love one another ( Apologetics 39).
Anglican theologian O. C. Quick writes that within human experience is "a very partial and rudimentary realization," and that "in its pure form it is essentially divine."
In the New Testament, the word is often used to describe God's love. However, other forms of the word are used in an accusatory context, such as the various forms of the verb . Examples include:
Karl Barth distinguishes from on the basis of its origin and depth of devotion without want. With , humanity does not merely express its nature, but transcends it. identifies with the interests of the neighbor "in utter independence of the question of his attractiveness" and with no expectation of reciprocity.
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