<P> If we could imagine the love of one who loves men purely for their own sake, and not because of any need or desire of his own, purely desires their good, and yet loves them wholly, not for what at this moment they are, but for what he knows he can make of them because he made them, then we should have in our minds some true image of the love of the Father and Creator of mankind . </P> <P> In the New Testament, the word agape is often used to describe God's love . However, other forms of the word are used in a negative context, such as the various forms of the verb agapaō . Examples include: </P> <Ul> <Li> 2 Timothy 4: 10--"for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved (agapēsas) this present world ...". </Li> <Li> John 12: 43--"For they loved (ēgapēsan) the praise of men more than the praise of God ." </Li> <Li> John 3: 19--"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved (ēgapēsan) darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil ." </Li> </Ul> <Li> 2 Timothy 4: 10--"for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved (agapēsas) this present world ...". </Li>

What is the meaning of agape in the bible