The Concept of Love and Friendship
Introduction His Holiness Pope Shenouda III clarifies that love must be directed first to God; all our true love begins from love for God. Any correct human love springs from within the love of the heart given to God.
Types of Love Natural love: like the blood love between parents and their children. Acquired love: it arises over time among colleagues or friends and may develop from companionship into friendship then into love. Love related to admiration: is not always true love but may be intellectual admiration without heart-union.
Distinguishing Love from Lust True love gives and sacrifices, while lust always wants to take and enjoy. If the relationship harms the other or ruins their purity or future, it is lust not love.
Conditions of True Love Love must be pure, wise, and reasonable — it must not harm others. Inclusive love loves everyone even enemies and does not choose love for some and hatred for others.
Love, Means and Results His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that love can be wrong because of itself or because of the means or the result: for example a love that justifies deceit or helps someone in wrong is wrong love because it harms and encourages sin.
Correction and Rebuke as Part of Love Correct rebuke and discipline are forms of true love when they aim at a person’s salvation and lead him back to the way of truth, because he who loves disciplines so he will not continue in error.
Love is Practical not Mere Words Love is realized by deeds: giving, sincere help, standing with the needy and spreading God’s word. Love without work is only words and bears no fruit.
Eternal Love versus Earthly Love For love to continue in eternity it must be pure and may lead both to the kingdom together. Earthly impure love may ruin one’s future in salvation.
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