Within God’s design was an interweaving of His three forms of love. When these three are an integral part of the two becoming one in marriage, there is solidarity.
So we begin with God’s highest form of love-Agape. This is the love that God is noted for -- complete, unconditional love. This is the love that the shared vows have as a focus.
Next we explore the love that is meant by God to be unique to marriage. This is Eros -- physical, intimate love. Yes, God reserves sexual love for marriage within His plan of procreation and pleasure.
The third form of love is Phileo. The city of Philadelphia derives it name from this “brotherly” quality. The friendship shared by a couple falls in this arena. It is likely the most frequent form of daily love experienced within marriage.
When these three forms of love form in two spouses there is a wholeness in the marriage. God planned it that way, making human love unique in creation.
Now imagine marriage with an absence of any of the three forms of love. The outcome is a gap in the relationship that can have serious ramifications.&nb ...
