How is God’s love different from human love?
God’s love (agape) is not driven by the worthiness of its object — it gives freely to enemies, sinners, the unlovely. Human love at its best images this; at its worst it loves only those who please us.
Greek had several words for love. The New Testament’s favorite — agape — is love as choice, gift, and self-giving, regardless of return.
"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). His love did not wait for us to deserve it.
Human love mixes affection, attraction, gratitude, and selfishness. Touched by the Spirit, it can learn to love like God — choosing to seek another’s good even when nothing is returned.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.