Agape

Bauer's Lexicon mentions a sepulchral inscription, most likely to honor a polytheistic army officer held in "high esteem" by his country.

This understanding is built upon the foundational Hebrew concept of chesed, or the loving kindness of God, which is taught throughout the Old Testament.

But I say to you, Love (agapāte) your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Anglican theologian O. C. Quick writes that agape within human experience is "a very partial and rudimentary realization," and that "in its pure form it is essentially divine."

[12] The word agape is used in its plural form (agapai) in the New Testament to describe a meal or feast eaten by early Christians, as in Jude 1:12 and 2nd Peter 2:13.

The agape love feast is still observed by many Christian denominations today, especially among Brethren and other Plain, Anabaptist churches.

In Thelema, a new religious movement developed by Aleister Crowley in the early 20th century, the term agape holds significant importance.

In Thelemic practice, agape represents the highest form of love and is often associated with True Will and the central tenet of the religion: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.