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agape
agape
1. The Greek word for love. In the Septuagint it is used to cover love in all its senses. In the NT it acquired a special connotation; in Christian usage agape (αγάπε) denotes spiritual and unselfish love, contrasted with eros (ἤρως), carnal love. It was translated into Latin by caritas; hence the original meaning of ‘charity’ in English. 2. The term is also applied to the common religious meal which seems to have been in use in the early Church in close relation to the Eucharist. Since 1986 the C of E has allowed an Agape within the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday. 3. In the 18th cent. the Agape was introduced among various Pietist communities, including the Moravians, and ‘Love Feasts’ became an established feature of Methodism until the mid-19th cent. In the 20th cent. it has been used as a means of reconciling Christians of different traditions in a liturgical rite distinct from the Eucharist. |
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-agape.html E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-agape.html |
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agape
agape Greek noun meaning ‘love’ not much used in secular writings but common in the NT for the gracious selfgiving love of God shown in Christ; and correspondingly of unselfish human love (1 Cor. 13: 4).
The word came later to denote the shared meal held by Christians in conjunction with the Eucharist. It was the occasion for the exercise of mutual confidence and it would seem that 1 Cor. 11: 17–24 is a description of the agape in embryo and into which abuses such as over-indulgence in drink were creeping. By the time of Jude 12 abuses have worsened, and in the 4th cent. regulations to control the love-feasts were necessary. By the 8th cent. the agape, as a fellowship meal, was defunct. |
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "agape." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "agape." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-agape.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "agape." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-agape.html |
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agape
agape in Christian theology, Christian love, especially as distinct from erotic love or simple affection; a communal meal in token of Christian fellowship, as held by early Christians in commemoration of the Last Supper. The word is recorded from the early 17th century, and comes from Greek agapē ‘brotherly love’.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "agape." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "agape." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-agape.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "agape." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-agape.html |
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Agape
Agape (Gk.).
1. ‘Love’ (avoiding the sexual associations of erōs), the word used in the New Testament for the love of God or Christ, or of Christians, of a new and different quality. 2. The ‘love feast’ celebrated by early Christians (1 Corinthians 11. 17–34). |
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JOHN BOWKER. "Agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Agape.html JOHN BOWKER. "Agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Agape.html |
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agape
a·gape1 / əˈgāp/ • adj. (of the mouth) wide open, esp. with surprise or wonder: Downes listened, mouth agape with incredulity. |
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"agape." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "agape." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-agape.html "agape." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-agape.html |
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agape
agape2 early Christian love-feast XVII; Christian love XIX. — Gr. agápē brotherly love, f. agapân. vb. love.
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T. F. HOAD. "agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-agape1.html T. F. HOAD. "agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-agape1.html |
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Agape
Agape, in Spenser's Faerie Queene, IV. ii. 41, the Fay, mother of Priamond, Diamond, and Triamond.
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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Agape." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Agape." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Agape.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Agape." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Agape.html |
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agape
agape1 gaping. XVII. f. A-1 + GAPE.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-agape.html T. F. HOAD. "agape." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-agape.html |
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agape
agape
•frappé • jaspé
•épée, Pepe
•Príncipe
•coupé, Nupe, toupée
•agape • canapé
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"agape." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "agape." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-agape.html "agape." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-agape.html |
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