5368 philéō (from
5384 /phílos, "
affectionate friendship") – properly, to show
warm affection in intimate friendship, characterized by
tender, heartfelt consideration and kinship.
So below would be accurate :
Jesus: "Peter, do you love Me?"
Peter: "Yes Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus: "Peter, do you love Me?"
Peter: "Yes Lord, you know that I have intimate friendship, heartfelt affection for you."
Jesus: "Peter, do you love Me?"
Peter: "Yes Lord, you know that I have intimate friendship, heartfelt affection for you."."
Here is the amplified bible and youngs literal which conveys the meaning.
Amplified Bible
He said to him the third time, “Simon,
son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you [really] love Me [
with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend]?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [
with a deep, personal affection, as for a close friend].” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Young's Literal Translation
He saith to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonas, dost thou dearly love me?' Peter was grieved that he said to him the third time, 'Dost thou
dearly love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, thou hast known all things; thou dost know that
I dearly love thee.' Jesus saith to him, 'Feed my sheep;
John 5:20 V-PIA-3S
GRK: γὰρ πατὴρ
φιλεῖ τὸν υἱὸν
NAS: For the Father loves the Son,
KJV: For the Father loveth the Son, and
INT: indeed [the] Father loves the Son
John 11:3 V-PIA-2S
GRK: ἴδε ὃν
φιλεῖς ἀσθενεῖ
NAS: behold, he whom You love is sick.
KJV: behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
INT: Behold he whom you love is sick
John 11:36 V-IIA-3S
GRK: Ἴδε πῶς
ἐφίλει αὐτόν
NAS: See how He loved him!
KJV: Behold how he loved him!
INT: Behold how he loved him
John 12:25 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: ὁ
φιλῶν τὴν ψυχὴν
NAS: He who loves his life loses
KJV: He that loveth his life
INT: He that loves the life
John 15:19 V-IIA-3S
GRK: τὸ ἴδιον
ἐφίλει ὅτι δὲ
NAS: the world would love its own;
KJV: the world would love his own: but
INT: the own loved because moreover
John 16:27 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ὁ πατὴρ
φιλεῖ ὑμᾶς ὅτι
NAS: Himself loves you, because
KJV: the Father himself loveth you, because
INT: the Father loves you because
John 16:27 V-RIA-2P
GRK: ὑμεῖς ἐμὲ
πεφιλήκατε καὶ πεπιστεύκατε
NAS: you, because you have loved Me and have believed
KJV: because ye have loved me, and
INT: you me have loved and have believed
John 20:2 V-IIA-3S
GRK: μαθητὴν ὃν
ἐφίλει ὁ Ἰησοῦς
NAS: Jesus loved, and said
KJV: whom Jesus loved, and saith
INT: disciple whom loved Jesus
1 Corinthians 16:22 V-PIA-3S
GRK: τις οὐ
φιλεῖ τὸν κύριον
NAS: anyone does not love the Lord,
KJV: If any man love not the Lord
INT: anyone not love the Lord
Titus 3:15 V-PPA-AMP
GRK: Ἄσπασαι τοὺς
φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν
NAS: those who love us in [the] faith.
KJV: thee. Greet them that love us in
INT: greet those who love us in
Revelation 3:19 V-PSA-1S
GRK: ὅσους ἐὰν
φιλῶ ἐλέγχω καὶ
NAS: Those whom I love, I reprove
KJV: As many as I love, I rebuke
INT: as many as if I love I rebuke and
Herbert William Magoun, for instance, argues there is, perhaps, a significance in the use of words “agape” and “phileo” in John 21:15–17. He defines the bounds of phileo as being that of love for a friend (such as that of David and Jonathan), a fellow countryman, or a member of one’s own fraternity or school. He defines the bounds of agape as being that of devotion, adoration, and benevolence; it is deep and pure and unselfish.
These distinctions in definition are close to those drawn by
C.S. Lewis when he explores the “four loves”. The two loves that are of relevance here are that of friendship (corresponding with Magoun’s definition of phileo) and charity (corresponding with Magoun’s agape). david blynov
People sometimes try to explain the distinction between the words by saying that
agape is divine love, while
phileō is human love. There is truth in that slogan, but it’s not the whole story. God the Father loves the Son with
phileō-style love (
John 5:20), and many passages command Christians to love one another with
agape-style love. In fact, there is much overlap between the words, and they can often be interchangeable. ezra project
There are, however, some distinctions between the two:
Agape | Phileo |
Used very little in secular Greek, but becomes the predominant word in the New Testament.
Primarily a matter of choice rather than emotions.
One-way love that can flow even toward someone who does not deserve or return it. |
Used in secular Greek as the love of friends, which they considered the highest kind of love.
Often an emotional response to someone or something that appeals to you.
Two-way love that instinctively flows toward someone who returns your love. |
hope this helps !!!