Phaedrus: Reading 1

This reading documents a conversation being Phaedrus and Socrates about love, specifically nonlovers and lovers. One idea from the text that stood out for me was Phaedrus states that he knows Socrates better than Socrates knows himself.

Being a newlywed I am finding this statement is true in a lot of ways. David and I are best friends but we are so close that he can read me like a book!

For example, David can read my facial expressions, even when I try so hard to disguise them. He knows when I am mad, sad, happy, confused, and so on, even if I do not feel like I am giving my emotions away. Not only that but we share common interests and will often say the same things at the same time.

I think that is part of why love is unique. There are various types of love however. The Bible says there are three types of love, eros, phileo, and agape.

Eros is defined as intimate or sexual love. (http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=eros)

Phileo is defined as brotherly love (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phileo)

Agape is defined as an unconditional love such as the love of Christ (http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=define:+agape&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)

In the reading, it seems as if Phaedrus and Socrates demonstrate phileo, or that brotherly love. Although the story Socrates was telling seemed to lean towards eros. 

It is interesting to me how loosely the word "love" is thrown around. For example, all to often we hear people say, or we say, "I LOVE that movie" or "I LOVE that restaurant," or "I LOVE that shirt!"

Has the real meaning of love been skewed because of how loose the word has become? Does it still mean the same things if we use the word to describe so many insignificant things such as food, clothes, movies or books?

I love 1 Corinthians 13 because it clearly defines the concept of love. I challenge you to read this passage and reflect on your own life. Do you use the word love too loosely? Do you follow what the Bible says? What are areas you can work on based on this passage?

1 Corinthians 13 4-18:  ⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸Love never fails... (NIV)