Charity
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Agape, a New Testament Greek word, refers to a new ideal and principle of life that permeated the Christian consciousness of the earliest communities. It is an apostolic term that appears predominantly in the Pauline writings.
What is the meaning of Charity in the Bible?
Agape, a New Testament Greek word, refers to a new ideal and principle of life that permeated the Christian consciousness of the earliest communities. It is an apostolic term that appears predominantly in the Pauline writings.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding agape clarifies the ethical framework of the New Testament, revealing how early Christians distinguished self-sacrificial love from mere affection or duty, thereby shaping their communal interactions and missionary efforts.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Charity in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Charity clarify?
Related Topics
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.