According to Wikipedia, there are 6 words for love in the Greek language. Each of them deserves to be looked at as we, that being western authors, often find our perceptions of love colored by the different categories outlined by these six words.

Part 1: Agape

Agape is the ultimate love of the West; it is selfless and cares not for itself but for others. The word is described by St. Thomas Aquinas as “to will the good of another.” God is the epitome of this love. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, down to live a perfect life and die a perfect death for us. But death did not win that day. Nor will death ever win again unless a person allows it to win.

John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The word “loved” here is translated from the Greek word “ēgapēsen,” which finds its roots in Agape.

This love is not just a religious concept; however, this is the same love that Boromir had for the Hobbits in Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings he did not want anything from them, he knew they were, in all reality a burden on the fellowship, but still he fought to the death in an effort to save “the little ones” from the orcs. His bravery, sacrifice, and devotion are part of what inspired the fellowship to turn away from the road to Mordor and pursue the captured hobbits.

In case you haven’t seen it in a while, here is that heroic sacrifice on YouTube.

What character in your world exemplifies Agape? I want to hear about them. There is no greater love than this: that a man might lay his life down for his friends. The masculine pronouns aside, has a character sacrificed themselves? Has someone stood their ground and allowed others to escape or died trying to prevent a capture?