The concept of agape love is one of the two or three most important theological concepts in the New Testament. More than that, it may be the most important attribute of God that Christ showed to us by the way that he lived and the way he treated people. Indeed, the central truth of the New Testament is that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." This is God's agape love, the self-giving, unconditional, sacrificial love that God demonstrates to us in the incarnation; that Christ demonstrated to us in his living and dying.
If we look to the Old Testament, there is a very similar concept, what I take to be the central Old Testament concept which the Holy Spirit used to convey God's nature to us. It is the word chesed, or lovingkindness.
*lovingkindness, mercy (chesed)
I believe that this is the most important single word in the Old Testament as a description of God's character and nature, his kingdom, and what he expects of his children. It occurs 240 times in the OT and is rendered in several different ways by the various translations. It is translated so many ways because it is not possible to capture all that this word means with a single English word.
KJV usually uses "mercy" or "mercies"
NAS usually uses "lovingkindness"
NIV usually uses "love"
RSV usually uses "steadfast love"
"Grace," "favor," "kindnesses" and faithfulnesses" are also found.
The word indicates love, combined with loyalty and mercy. It combines obligation with generosity. In many important cases, it applies to the relationship between God and his people in the context of covenant.
Most importantly, chesed / mercy / lovingkindness tells us what God is like. God created the world and everything in it out of his lovingkindness. It is the constant attribute of God. In his lovingkindness God meets us in our need. In his mercy God forgives us for our sin. In his steadfast love he does not abandon us when we fail.
When God replaced the two tablets of the ten commandments that Moses had broken, he passed Moses in a cloud and said of himself, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin ..." Exodus 34:6-7a
Isaiah speaks prophetically: (16:5) A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, and a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; moreover, he will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness.
Jeremiah, in 33:11, tells that in the Jerusalem that God will bring about, there will be heard "The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD.
Ezekiel says, in Lamentations 3:22-23, The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is thy faithfulness. (And in 3:32, For if he causes grief, then he will have compassion according to his abundant lovingkindness.
Daniel, in 9:4, prays, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments...
Hosea (2:19) And I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion.
Joel (2:13) exhorts, Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness...
Jonah (4:2) testifies, I (know) that Thou art a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.
Micah (7:18) Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in unchanging love. (steadfast love, lovingkindness).
Psalm 89:14. Righteousness (tsedeq) and justice (mishpat) are the foundation of Thy throne; Lovingkindness (chesed) and truth (emeth) go before Thee.
If we look to the Old Testament, there is a very similar concept, what I take to be the central Old Testament concept which the Holy Spirit used to convey God's nature to us. It is the word chesed, or lovingkindness.
*lovingkindness, mercy (chesed)
I believe that this is the most important single word in the Old Testament as a description of God's character and nature, his kingdom, and what he expects of his children. It occurs 240 times in the OT and is rendered in several different ways by the various translations. It is translated so many ways because it is not possible to capture all that this word means with a single English word.
KJV usually uses "mercy" or "mercies"
NAS usually uses "lovingkindness"
NIV usually uses "love"
RSV usually uses "steadfast love"
"Grace," "favor," "kindnesses" and faithfulnesses" are also found.
The word indicates love, combined with loyalty and mercy. It combines obligation with generosity. In many important cases, it applies to the relationship between God and his people in the context of covenant.
Most importantly, chesed / mercy / lovingkindness tells us what God is like. God created the world and everything in it out of his lovingkindness. It is the constant attribute of God. In his lovingkindness God meets us in our need. In his mercy God forgives us for our sin. In his steadfast love he does not abandon us when we fail.
When God replaced the two tablets of the ten commandments that Moses had broken, he passed Moses in a cloud and said of himself, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin ..." Exodus 34:6-7a
Isaiah speaks prophetically: (16:5) A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, and a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; moreover, he will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness.
Jeremiah, in 33:11, tells that in the Jerusalem that God will bring about, there will be heard "The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD.
Ezekiel says, in Lamentations 3:22-23, The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is thy faithfulness. (And in 3:32, For if he causes grief, then he will have compassion according to his abundant lovingkindness.
Daniel, in 9:4, prays, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments...
Hosea (2:19) And I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion.
Joel (2:13) exhorts, Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness...
Jonah (4:2) testifies, I (know) that Thou art a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.
Micah (7:18) Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in unchanging love. (steadfast love, lovingkindness).
Psalm 89:14. Righteousness (tsedeq) and justice (mishpat) are the foundation of Thy throne; Lovingkindness (chesed) and truth (emeth) go before Thee.