If you have been a Christian very long, you know that there is a certain breed of "scholar" that loves to point out certain words in the Authorized Version that are "better rendered as" (something else,) or "the original Greek says" (something other than what the Author's Version says.) One of the main passages where they try to hoodwink new Christians is John 21:15-17, where two different greek words for LOVE, Agape [ag-AH-pay] & Phileo [fill-EH-oh] are found.

15 "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."

The claim is made by Greek scholars, that "agape" in Greek speaks of a deep, intimate, selfless love. But "phileo" on the other hand is little more than a casual "friendly" (brotherly) type of love. The scholar then laments, almost tearfully, the lack of fullness of the English language, and points out that Jesus actually says, "Peter ... lovest [agape] thou me. [With a deep, intimate, selfless love] more than these?" And Peter responds, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee." [With a casual, friendly type of love.]
Then that Bible critic points out that Jesus, not receiving the answer that He desires, asks again: "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [agape] thou me?" [With a deep spiritual love?] And Peter, it is then pointed out, is unwilling to commit himself to such a deep relationship so he responds again: "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee." [With a friendly brotherly love.]
At this point the Bible corrupter points out that a saddened Saviour gives in to Peter's lack of commitment and changes His own choice of Greek words to "phileo". "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [phileo] thou me?" This sudden change then supposedly shocks Peter into seeing his own spiritual infidelity to the Lord: And he sadly answers. "... thou knowest that I love [phileo] thee."

The false teacher then points out to his audience that there is no way to attain such depth of meaning from this passage using only the feeble English. Once more the trusty "Greek" has enlightened us as English can never do! (Ta Da! :)

That presentation is tremendously effective and has only one flaw - The definitions given for "agape" and "phileo" are NOT TRUE! There was practically no difference in New Testament times between "agape" and "phileo"; And it is evident that BOTH are used interchangeably by Jesus Christ and others, in the writings of the New Testament: Regardless of what Greek grammars, Greek teachers and Greek preachers may say!

Now, if you have been duped by the false teaching of "agape" and "phileo" by your college professor or pastor, you will immediately (and with much prejudice) reject the truth. "Oh sure," you say sarcastically, "and now I suppose you're going to prove your 'opinion' is right?"

NOPE - You're going to prove these things yourself! with evidence provided from the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter, John, and Paul!

The way to prove these things is to examine how the words are used in the New Testament and test whether or not the "definitions" foisted on us by the pseudo-scholars are so, or not. The "test" has two parts. In the first part (#1 thru 10) are partial quotes by the Lord Jesus. In the second part (#11 thru 20) are quotes from other writers. Just be HONEST and simply look at each quote, and then using ONLY the scholar's definitions of Agape and Phileo, choose which one of the two applies to the "love" in the verse. Don't look at the answers until you have gone through each part. (Or you can number from 1 to 20 on a piece of paper and indicate your answers with A for Agape or P for Phileo and check your answers with the list at the bottom of this web page.)

 The Agape/Phileo Love Challenge 
Here are the Definitions again--
AGAPE love: Deep, intimate, selfless love.
PHILEO love: Casual "friendly" (brotherly) love.

Now, if you have taken the test, and if you have been honest, you have found out for yourself that the TRUTH of the matter is that neither Jesus nor any of the New Testament writers acknowledged the false rule foisted on us by heady and high-minded Bible critics. The identical phrase, "love the uppermost", appears in both lines 7 and 8 -- line 7 is Phileo, but line 8 is Agape. The identical phrase, "love of God", appears in both lines 19 and 20 -- line 19 is Phileo, but line 20 is Agape. Thus you have proven that Greek "nuggets" are made of "FOOL'S GOLD" and have never really existed except in the deluded minds of certain scholars.

Part 1 Answers: 1=A, 2=A, 3=P, 4=A, 5=P, 6=P, 7=P, 8=A, 9=P, 10=A
Part 2 Answers: 11=A, 12=P, 13=P, 14=A, 15=P, 16=A, 17=A, 18=P, 19=P, 20=A

(The preceding test was based upon a similar test in: The Answer Book by Samuel C. Gipp)

 PRINTOUT:  This web page should print out on 3 sheets of paper, depending on your margin settings. To print out only the test part of this page, first click the "HIDE" button to hide the answers; then SELECT only the test header ("The Agape/Phileo Love Challenge") and test table. (First select the word "The" in the header, page down to the bottom of the test, hold your "shift" key as you click below the table to -extend- the selection. Your printer dialog should have a print "selection" option in the "Page Range" options.

Final Note: Neither Jesus nor Peter were Greeks, but Hebrews. There is only one place in the Bible where you are told what language Jesus was speaking, and that was "the Hebrew tongue." (Acts 26:14p - Paul was re-telling his Damascus road encounter with the Lord of glory.) Three times in John chapter 21, Jesus addressed Peter by his Hebrew name "Simon", not his Greek name "Peter", nor his Aramaic name "Cephas." There is no reason to believe that they were speaking any other language than Hebrew in that place. The normal Hebrew word for love, "ahab" [aw-HAB], can be translated as either Agape or Phileo.  --Richard