ΑΓΑΠΗ
Agape as the highest Christian virtue — not eros, not philia, but a third word that the writers of the New Testament carefully chose to express a meaning that did not yet exist: selfless, self-sacrificing love that gives without expecting return. Its lexarithmos (93) connects mathematically to the ideas of choice and preference.
Definition
In Liddell-Scott-Jones, ἀγάπη is originally "brotherly love, affection" — a noun rarely found in classical Greek, appearing mostly in later texts. Its root lies in the verb ἀγαπάω-ῶ, which meant "to receive with pleasure, welcome, prefer, to be content with someone".
In everyday ancient Greek, agape lacked the semantic weight of ἔρως (passionate desire) or φιλία (bond of companionship). It was a "calm" word — often used to mean "to prefer," as when someone loves their own children more than strangers' children.
The word acquired its universal meaning when it was chosen by the translators of the Septuagint (LXX) to render the Hebrew ahăbah (אַהֲבָה), and especially when the writers of the New Testament used it systematically to distinguish the selfless Christian love from erotic love.
Etymology
Related words: ἀγαπάω (to love, prefer), ἀγαπητός ("beloved, only child"), ἀγάπησις. The Latin caritas, source of English charity, is the medieval translation of agape in the Vulgate, since the Latin amor had already been captured by eros.
Main Meanings
- Brotherly affection, familial love — the primary meaning in classical Greek — love between kin.
- Preference, choice — from the verb ἀγαπάω ("to prefer one thing over another").
- Well-disposed attitude — calm esteem toward someone, without the passion of eros.
- The love of God toward humanity — in the Septuagint and New Testament — divine, fatherly.
- The love of humanity toward God — the first and great commandment: "you shall love the Lord your God".
- Love toward one's neighbor — the second commandment: "you shall love your neighbor as yourself".
- The highest Christian virtue — the greatest of the three: faith, hope, love (1 Cor 13:13).
- The common meal of early Christians — αἱ ἀγάπαι — fraternal meals after the Eucharist (Jude 1:12).
Philosophical Journey
Agape is perhaps the unique example in the history of language where a specific word was consciously "chosen" by religious writers to carry a new, revolutionary meaning. Its journey from a marginal classical word to a central theological concept took about 400 years.
In Ancient Texts
Three of the most important passages that shaped the meaning of the word in Christian tradition:
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΑΓΑΠΗ is 93, from the sum of its letter values:
93 decomposes into 90 (tens) + 3 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΑΓΑΠΗ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 93 | Base lexarithmos |
| Spelled Out | 386 | Alpha + Gamma + Alpha + Pi + Eta — spelled-out analysis pending |
| Decade Numerology | 3 | 9+3=12 → 1+2=3 — Triad, perfect balance, divine completion |
| Letter Count | 5 | 5 letters — Pentad, the number of life and compassion |
| Cumulative | 3/90/0 | Units 3 · Tens 90 · Hundreds 0 |
| Odd/Even | Odd | Masculine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Left | Material (<100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | Α-Γ-Α-Π-Η | Good (Αγαθή) Wisdom (Γνώμη) Holy (Αγίως) Offers (Προσφέρει) Gentle (Ήμερα) — interpretive acrostic |
| Grammatical Groups | 3V · 0SV · 2M | 3 vowels (Α,Α,Η) · 0 semi-vowels · 2 mutes (Γ,Π) — vowel dominance = spiritual, melodic word |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Elements | ♑☽♑♅♃ | Α=Capricorn, Γ=Moon, Α=Capricorn, Π=Uranus, Η=Jupiter (per the Greek Magical Papyri) |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Venus ♀ / Capricorn ♑ | 93 mod 7 = 2 · 93 mod 12 = 9 |
Isopsephic Words (93)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon sharing lexarithmos 93 — verified against the isopsephy database. In the lexarithmic tradition, isopsephy reveals hidden semantic connections — either confirming (isopsephic means consubstantial) or antithetically (the opposite reveals the limits).
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 12 words with lexarithmos 93. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon (LSJ), 9th edition. Entries ἀγάπη, ἀγαπάω.
- Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W. — A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG). Detailed analysis of the NT meaning.
- The Old Testament in the Septuagint (LXX). Choice of the word to translate Hebrew ahăbah.
- New Testament — Pauline Epistles (esp. 1 Corinthians 13), Johannine Epistles (1 John 4), Gospel of John.
- Nygren, A. — Agape and Eros (1930-36). Classic comparison of the two concepts in Christian thought.
- Lewis, C. S. — The Four Loves (1960). Popular analysis of the four Greek words for love (storge, philia, eros, agape).
- Spicq, C. — Agape in the New Testament (3 volumes, 1963-66). Detailed theological examination.
- Barry, K. — The Greek Qabalah: Alphabetic Mysticism and Numerology in the Ancient World (1999). Lexarithmic analysis.