Words of Love – Philia (Friendship)

Theme for this week: Words of Love

February 2, 2022 (Wednesday)

Our theme this week is “Words of Love,” which in these blogs means, “Four Greek Words for Love.” Yesterday’s word was “storge,” which means, “affection.” Today’s word is philia, which means “friendship.” You probably have heard Philadelphia called “the city of brotherly love,” because the name of the city is a combination of two Greek words, philia and adelphos (“love” and “brother”). “Brotherly love” is “Friendship.”

Friendship is valuable. Someone has said that if you go through life and make only one true friend, your life will have been worth it.

“To the Ancients, Friendship seemed the happiest and most fully human of all loves,” says Lewis, “the crown of life and the school of virtue.” I think the Bible gives us an excellent example of real friendship in David and Jonathan. Though David was to be the king even though Jonathan was the prince made no difference in their love for each other. In fact, it may have strengthened it.

Those who find a true friend today are fortunate people. One acronym that emerged from social media is “BFF,” “best friends forever.” I am thankful for my friends. I suppose I have known thousands of people after living so long, but I was taught to avoid having a “circle of close friends” by teachers wiser than I. Yet, the “philia” drive within is strong enough to have given me some “BFF’s.” I am so very grateful for them. I love the poem, “Best Friend,” by Roy Croft:

Perhaps this expresses the meaning of the Greek word, “philia.”

I love songs about friends (click on a song):
   “Bridge Over Trouble Water,” by Simon and Garfunkel
    “You’ve Got A Friend,” by Carole King
     “You’ve Got A Friend in Me,” by Randy Newman.

And, I love
   “What A Friend We Have in Jesus,” by Alan Jackson.