Etymology
Love
*leubh=PIE root= Proto-Indo-European root= “to care, desire, love.” [same root]
Lubo Proto-Germanic joy, praise, dear, beloved [lubojanan]
Lufu Old English= “feeling of love; romantic sexual attraction; affection; friendliness; the love of God; Love as an abstraction or personification,”
[lufian to feel love for, cherish, show love to; delight in, approve]
love (n)
https://www.etymonline.com/word/*leubh-?ref=etymonline_crossreference
https://www.etymonline.com/word/love
As to be expected with a commonly used word there are several definitions. As with God, who though a single being, when encountered by Man has a multifaceted dimension.
Sacred Scripture
1 Jn 4:16 God is love
16 So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
16 καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐγνώκαμεν καὶ πεπιστεύκαμεν τὴν ἀγάπηνἣν ἔχει ὁ θεὸς ἐν ἡμῖν.
Ὁ θεὸς ἀγάπη ἐστίν, καὶ ὁ μένων ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ ἐν τῷ θεῷ μένει καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἐν αὐτῷ [a]μένει.
Strong’s Concordance
ἀγάπην
agapé: love, goodwill
Original Word: ἀγάπη, ης, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: agapé
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ah’-pay)
Definition: love, goodwill
Usage: love, benevolence, good will, esteem; plur: love-feasts.
26 agápē – properly, love which centers in moral preference. So too in secular ancient Greek, 26 (agápē) focuses on preference; likewise the verb form (25 /agapáō) in antiquity meant “to prefer” (TDNT, 7). In the NT, 26 (agápē) typically refers to divine love (= what God prefers).
>> What God prefers is the central question, the drama for each person
Person- Individual substance with a rational nature i.e. Boethius
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11726a.htm
Man like God in the Intellect & will
Love as affective & effective
Man placing affective definition of love over and above the effective definition
Love-to will the good of the other
God is perfect love, goodness only can will good for us
God’s identity
How is God unknowable?
Jesus reveals God
Knowledge starting point for love
Love requires entrance into relationship giving & receiving love
People define themselves by unknowable and subjective standards. Relationship becomes unattainable.
Marriage profoundly beautiful total self-donation in so far as human is capable. Knowing on deep level. Jesus loves the Church. Love and become one. Model.
Revelation, provided means to know God especially on the Cross last drop of blood.
