TŘI STUPNĚ LÁSKY V ŘECKÉM JAZYCE? VÝRAZY „MILOVAT“ A „LÁSKA“ V KLASICKÉ ŘECKÉ LITERATUŘE A U CÍRKEVNÍCH OTCŮ
THREE LEVELS OF LOVE IN GREEK? WORDS OF LOVE IN NON-CHRISTIAN WRITERS AND THE CHURCH FATHERS

Summary/Abstract: In Christian literature (particularly in popular theological publications, on Christian web sites, and also in homilies) the threefold differentiation of love, referring to the ancient Greek linguistic reality, frequently appears: it is said that the lowest, self-interested love corresponds to the Greek term of eros, the higher love based on mutual sympathy corresponds to the term philia, and the highest, selfless, unconditional love was allegedly called agape by the ancient Greeks. The article refutes this myth and presents the Greek words of “love“ and “to love“ as they were used by non-Christian writers and the Church Fathers. The subsequent article will compare these findings with the situation in the Septuagint and the New Testament.

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