El amor ágape: la forma de devoción más elevada del universo

“This is the secret of life: the self lives only by dying, finds its identity (and its happiness) only by self-forgetfulness, self-giving, self-sacrifice, and agape love.” – Peter Kreeft

The word ‘love’ has been interpreted over and over so many times that it has almost lost its original meaning.

La verdad es que para cada uno de nosotros representa algo diferente.

Puedes amar a tu pareja, a los miembros de tu familia, a tu mascota. Puedes amar una canción, un libro inspirador, las estrellas brillantes, una flor, el cielo azul brillante.

Ahora, cómo explicar el amor when it’s more than just a feeling? Are poemas románticos de amor o canciones suficientes para retratar la complejidad de nuestras emociones?

Explicamos (y expresamos) el amor a través de nuestras palabras y acciones hacia los demás, la naturaleza y el mundo entero.

Hay tantos diferentes tipos de amor y cada uno de ellos es único y especial.

¿Y sabe cuál es la más poderosa de todas? Es el amor ágape.

If you’re familiar with the Bible, you’ve probably stumbled upon this concepto de amor.

For those who aren’t, the easiest way to explain this kind of love is by saying that it is universal and unconditional!

4 tipos de amor en la Biblia

Eros Amor

Es el tipo de amor que a todos nos resulta más familiar. Eros significa amor romántico.

Esta palabra para amor no se utiliza en el Nuevo Testamento, sino sobre todo en la literatura griega.

As you may have noticed, the English word ‘erotic’ is derived from the Greek word eros.

Eros se asocia sobre todo con el amor físico y romántico entre diferentes tipos de amantes. A menudo se representa como una fuerte atracción física, deseo y lujuria por otro ser humano.

If you’ve ever been in a relationship or if you’re married, you’ve probably experienced this kind of love.

Even though the word eros doesn’t appear in the Bible, it still plays an important role in many Old Testament problems.

Storge Amor

Este tipo de amor representa el amor familiar. Representa el vínculo especial que se desarrolla de forma natural entre padres e hijos, así como entre hermanos.

Se basa en el hecho de que cada persona querrá y respetará a su familia independientemente de su personalidad general y otros rasgos.

There are multiple depictions of storge love found in scripture, such as Jacob’s love for his sons, Noah and his family and so on.

Also, this kind of love represents the idea that Christians are members of God’s family and connected by the Spirit.

The Bible says that we’re all children of God and therefore, we should love and respect each other.

Philia Amor

Philia love means friendship love. Philia comes from the Greek word ‘philos’, meaning ‘dear, beloved, a trusted friend’.

The Bible also mentions the word ‘phileo’ which stands for brotherly love and friendship.

Quienes experimentan este tipo de amor se sienten atraídos los unos por los otros. Representa una verdadera amistad entre dos individuos.

A diferencia del amor eros, en el que los amantes se preocupan principalmente el uno del otro, los amigos crean un poderoso vínculo emocional al disfrutar de las mismas cosas y compartir intereses similares.

It’s when you’re feeling deeply connected to another human being, they understand you better than anyone and you feel free to share your deepest thoughts, fears and dreams with them.

Hay muchos niveles de amistad y el amor philia es el pináculo de todos ellos.

Véase también: 150 formas diferentes de decir te quiero de una manera profundamente romántica

Amor ágape

¿Qué significa el amor ágape?

No, este no es el tipo de amor que se ve en las redes sociales, sino que sucede en la vida real.

El amor ágape (forma verbal: agapao) se ajusta a la definición de amor verdadero, pero no sólo hacia tu pareja, sino hacia el mundo entero.

Es un amor universal e incondicional. El concepto de amor ágape se utiliza a menudo para describir el amor que una persona siente por Dios, pero va más allá.

Es el amor a la naturaleza, a Dios, a la humanidad y a todos los demás aspectos de tu vida.

Here’s my favorite agape love definition:

El amor ágape es la forma de amor más elevada del universo.

Básicamente, representa la mentalidad que tienes hacia el mundo en general. Plantea las siguientes preguntas:

¿Sientes empatía por los demás? ¿Te esfuerzas por hacer del mundo un lugar mejor haciendo a diario todas esas cosas pequeñas pero significativas?

El amor ágape es desinteresado. Se centra en dar, ayudar y dedicarse a los demás sin esperar nada a cambio.

Su concepto responde a la pregunta: ¿Qué significa el amor??

C. S. Lewis utilizó el término ágape en Los cuatro amores para representar la forma más elevada de amor que conoce el ser humano.

¿Qué es el amor ágape en la Biblia?

El amor ágape es el amor más poderoso de la Biblia. Se define como God’s limitless and unique love de la humanidad.

El amor ágape designa el amor cristiano o a Dios mismo. Es incondicional, puro y sagrado.

‘Love feast’ is another term in the Bible that represents agape. It stands for a common meal in the early church, with an accent on powerful Christian brotherhood.

Jesucristo demostró genuinamente este tipo de amor a su Padre y a la raza humana en la forma en que vivió y murió desinteresadamente.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:8

The above Bible verse states that ‘God is love’ (agapos) which means that God is the source of agape love.

Amar a los demás con amor ágape significa entregarse desinteresadamente a los demás y por el bien común.

Este tipo de amor se expresa a través de nuestras acciones. Jesucristo muriendo por nuestros pecados es el ejemplo más poderoso de un amor ágape verdadero y desinteresado.

El Nuevo Testamento hace referencia al amor ágape más de doscientas veces. Su verdadero poder y belleza se describen mejor en el siguiente pasaje:

Si hablo lenguas humanas y angélicas, pero no tengo amor, no soy más que un gong que resuena o un címbalo que retiñe. Si tengo el don de profecía y puedo desentrañar todos los misterios y todo el conocimiento, y si tengo una fe que puede mover montañas, pero no tengo amor, no soy nada. Si doy todo lo que poseo a los pobres y entrego mi cuerpo a las llamas, pero no tengo amor, no gano nada. El amor es paciente, el amor es bondadoso. No es envidioso, no es jactancioso, no es orgulloso. No es grosero, no es egoísta, no se enfada fácilmente, no guarda rencor. El amor no se complace en el mal, sino que se alegra con la verdad. Siempre protege, siempre confía, siempre espera, siempre persevera. (1 Corintios 13:1-7)

El amor ágape en el matrimonio

Muchas parejas piensan que el amor eros es el aspecto principal del matrimonio.

Aunque el amor eros es una parte importante de todo matrimonio, es el amor agape el que lo mantiene unido.

Representa un amor desinteresado e incondicional hacia nuestra pareja que inspira perdón, respeto y aprecio.

He aquí los rasgos más importantes del amor ágape en el matrimonio:

• Respecting your partner no matter what

• Selflessly taking care of your partner and family

• Forgiving your partner when they make a mistake and knowing that tomorrow it may be you seeking forgiveness from them

• Putting your partner’s needs before your own

Todo matrimonio sano y feliz se basa en el principio de dar y recibir.

Cuando ambos cónyuges se centran en los aspectos mencionados, crean armonía en su matrimonio y se motivan mutuamente para seguir dando lo mejor de sí mismos.

En intimidad física en el matrimonio es esencial, la intimidad emocional es también la clave para establecer un equilibrio en su matrimonio.

And in case you’re not married, remember the importance of God’s timing in relationships.

Véase también: Ten fe en que Dios te enviará a la persona adecuada en el momento oportuno

Ejemplos de amor ágape

Apart from the most powerful example of God’s agape love for us, there are also many other examples around us.

Este tipo de amor puede encontrarse en personas que se han dedicado a ayudar a los demás y a mejorar la vida de los seres humanos.

Profesiones como la enfermería y la enseñanza son dignos ejemplos del amor ágape.

También se encuentra en personas que participan en donaciones benéficas y hacen cosas por los demás (desde cosas menores a otras más grandes).

No se trata sólo de hacer cosas por las personas cercanas. El amor ágape lo abarca todo, desde los animales hasta los seres humanos.

You can express agape love by petting a random cat on the street because by doing so, you’re showing affection and appreciation for it.

Además, ayudar a un desconocido es el acto supremo de amor desinteresado.

El amor ágape es un estilo de vida. Es una forma de despertar espiritual y no es algo que se haga una o dos veces.

Es un proceso en el que te esfuerzas constantemente por mejorar las cosas a tu alrededor, ayudar a los demás y hacer del mundo un lugar mejor.

It is the feeling that you get when you see an older person having difficulty crossing the street and you decide to help them, regardless of whether it means that you’ll be a few minutes late or not.

Es la decisión de consolar a una persona cualquiera a la que ves llorar.

Es ayudar a tu amigo con una tarea difícil en la universidad, animar a otros a liberar todo su potencialAdmirar el cielo, ser considerado con la Madre Naturaleza, saludar a los demás con una sonrisa, etc.

You do all that not because you secretly wish to be rewarded for it but because it is the right thing to do and you don’t expect anything in return for it.

Agape love is an expression of love for the sake of love. You don’t do it just because someone else ordered or told you to do it.

You do it because you want to, that wish comes from the heart and you don’t expect reward or praise for it.

24 frases inspiradoras sobre el amor ágape

1. “We do not measure the value of a person by their outward appearance, rank, or creed, rather by the sum of the agápe in their heart. Your value in the cosmos is greater than precious metals or jewels, humans have… potential to take us all into a period of great enlightenment, or to our ruin. The choice is yours.” – Guy T. Simpson, Jr.

2. “The only way love can last a lifetime is if it’s unconditional. The truth is this: love is not determined by the one being loved but rather by the one choosing to love.” – Stephen Kendrick

3. “Agape is a sobering love to receive, for it says, ‘If I cannot love you for who you are, then I will do so despite who you are…’ It is unique in that it is able to love those whom it cannot like.” – James Michael Castleton

4. “Everywhere you find yourself a great opportunity for you to manifest agape love and give. This must be your lifestyle everyday.” – Paul Silway

5. “Shine your soul with the same
humildad sin ego como el arco iris
y no importa donde vayas
en este mundo o en el otro,
love will find you, attend you, and bless you.” – Aberjhani

6. “Agape love is strengthened by the person who expresses it – not by the person who receives it. In fact, the person who receives agape love does not have to show any appreciation at all.” – Brian Apollo

7. “‘Agape’ is loving a person for exactly who they are – not who we hope they’ll become with enough fixing. It’s this idea that every person has their layers, so you can never confine a person to only what you know about them from the first glance. It’s stacked on the premise that to love anyone is to hope in them always.” – Hannah Brencher

8. “Agape doesn’t love somebody because they’re worthy. Agape makes them worthy by the strength and power of its love. Agape doesn’t love somebody because they’re beautiful. Agape loves in such a way that it makes them beautiful.” – Rob Bell

9. “Agape makes ‘neighbors’ out of those who would otherwise be our enemies.” – James Michael Castleton

10. “…agape is something of the understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill for all men. It is a love that seeks nothing in return. It is an overflowing love; it’s what theologians would call the love of God working in the lives of men. And when you rise to love on this level, you begin to love men, not because they are likeable, but because God loves them.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

11. “Agape is the catalyst that makes value appear in anything.” – Peter Kreeft

12. “Agape love is… profound concern for the well-being of another, without any desire to control that other, to be thanked by that other, or to enjoy the process.” – Madeleine L’Engle

13. “Immature love seeks to change the beloved for its own benefit. Mature love seeks to see the beloved change for their benefit. Sacrificial love recognizes that there may be wounds so deep that their beloved may not be able to change. It is content to care, sometimes without the contentment which is to be found in being cared for.” – James Michael Castleton

Véase también: Citas de amor incondicional: Las frases más puras para tus seres queridos

14. “… agape means recognition of the fact that all life is interrelated. All humanity is involved in a single process, and all men are brothers. To the degree that I harm my brother, no matter what he is doing to me, to that extent I am harming myself.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

15. “Agape means love for another self not because of any lovable qualities which he or she may possess, but purely and entirely because it is a self capable of experiencing happiness and misery and endowed with the power to choose between good and evil. The love of humans is thus more than a feeling, it is a state of the will.” – Obert C. Tanner

16. “Fasting and feasting are universal human responses, and any meal, shared with love, can be an agape.” – Elise M. Boulding

17. “Divine love, agape, is self-sacrificing love, which sounds difficult, as it is, and not very attractive. If the best image we have of love is of a man who’s been tortured and hung upon a cross to die an excruciating death, this is something that human beings find very, very hard to understand as love. But it is the highest Christian image of love.” – Unknown

18. “I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.” – Unknown

19. “There’s another term, agape, you hear used a lot with charismatic religious groups, that it’s this more pure love of caring, of sharing of concern and understanding.” – Phil Jackson

20. “I am very happy

Porque me he conquistado a mí mismo

Y no el mundo.

Estoy muy contento

Porque he amado al mundo

And not myself.” – Sri Chinmoy

21. “When one has once fully entered the realm of love, the world – no matter how imperfect – becomes rich and beautiful, it consists solely of opportunities for love.” – Søren Kierkegaard

22. “I live by the maxim, love people when they least expect it and least deserve it.” – Mark Batterson & Parker Batterson

23. “Agape is total love. It is the love that consumes the person who experiences it. Whoever knows and experiences agape learns that nothing else in the world is important – just love.” – Paolo Coelho

24. “Agape is the concrete commitment to the flourishing of someone or something outside of oneself. Even and perhaps especially when that flourishing, hence the joy, is threatened.” – Bas Heijne

27 versículos bíblicos sobre el amor

1. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5:1-2

2. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:12-13

3. “…and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.” – Revelation 1:5

4. “God has shown us his love by sending his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins.” – 1 John 4:8-10

5. “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.” – Romans 15:30

6. “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” – Luke 10:27

7. “And I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” – John 17:26

8. “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 6:23

9. “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:5

10. “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” – John 15:10

11. “I made your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have for me may be in them and I myself may be in them.” – John 17:26

12. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

13. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

14. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” – 1 John 4:7

Véase también: Citas de Dios: Dichos edificantes para inspirarte y darte fuerza

15. “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” – 1 John 3:16

16. “But God demonstrates his love for us by the fact that the Messiah died for us while we were still sinners. Now that we have been justified by his blood, how much more will we be saved from wrath through him!” – Romans 5:8-9

17. “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” – 1 John 4:9

18. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this es the first commandment.” – Mark 12:30

19. “Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” – 2 John 1:3

20. “Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.” – Jude 1:21

21. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

22. “And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” – Romans 5:5

23. “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” – John 16:27

24. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” – Galatians 5:22

25. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us..” – Ephesians 2:4

26. “… nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:39

27. “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…” – Deuteronomy 7:9

Véase también: Cómo dejarse llevar y confiar en Dios como guía en la vida

Trata a los demás como quieres que te traten a ti.