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''Agape'' (〔''Oxford English Dictionary''〕 or ; Classical Greek: , ''agápē''; Modern Greek: ), translated as "love: the highest form of love, especially brotherly love, charity; the love of God for man and of man for God." The noun form first occurs in the Septuagint, but 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 philia (an affection that could denote friendship, brotherhood or generally non-sexual affection) and eros, an affection of a sexual nature. Christianity developed ''Agape'' as the love of God or Christ for humankind. In the New Testament, it 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 man.〔("agape." ) Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 17 Sep. 2011. 〕 Although the word did not have a specific religious connotation, it has been used by a variety of contemporary and ancient sources, including biblical authors and Christian authors.〔"The love racket: Defining love and agape for the love-and-science research program", ''Zygon'', vol. 40, no. 4 (December 2005), pp. 919-938 (Defining Love (PDF) ) * 〕 == Christianity == A journalist of ''Time'' Magazine has described John 3:16 as "one of the most famous and well-known Bible verses. It has been called the 'Gospel in a nutshell' because it is considered a summary of the central doctrines of Christianity."〔(John 3:16 in Pop Culture ). Time.com Accessed: 22 May 2009〕 The verb translated "loved" in this verse is ''ἠγάπησεν'' (ēgapēsen), past tense of "agapaō". ''Agape'' received a broader usage under later Christian writers as the word that specifically denoted "Christian" love or "charity" (), or even God himself (, ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν, "God is Love"). The term ''agape'' was used by the early Christians to refer to the self-sacrificing love of God for humanity, which they were committed to reciprocating and practicing towards God and among one another (also see kenosis). When says "God is love," the Greek New Testament uses the word agape to describe God's love. ''Agape'' has been expounded on by many Christian writers in a specifically Christian context. C. S. Lewis, in his book ''The Four Loves,'' used ''agape'' to describe what he believed was the highest level of love known to humanity – a selfless love, a love that was passionately committed to the well-being of the other.〔Kreeft, Peter. ("Love" ) Accessed: May 22, 2009 * 〕 The Christian usage of the term ''agape'' comes almost directly from the canonical Gospels' 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. In the King James Version of the New Testament, the word ''agape'' is translated "charity" (some places ) which has a contemporary connotation of giving to meet needs of the less fortunate.〔 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: Tertullian, in his 2nd century defense of Christians, remarks how 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' " (''Apology'' 39). Anglican theologian O.C. Quick cautions however that this ''agape'' within human experience is "a very partial and rudimentary realization," and that "in its pure form it is essentially divine." Quick suggests that, In the New Testament the word ''agape'' is often used to describe God's love. However, other forms of the word ''agape'' (such as the various forms of the verb ''agapaō'') are at times used in a negative context. Such examples include: * — "...for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved () this present world...". * — "For they loved () the praise of men more than the praise of God." * — "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved () darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Agape」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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