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AGAPEANDEROS

PART I

A Study of the Christian Idea of Love

PART II

The History of the Christian Idea of Love _

By

ANDERS NYGREN", ...

Bishop oj Lund

Translated by

PHILIP S. WATSON

Philadelphia

THE WESTMINSTER PRESS

RdVL/- (p '5r;lZI "3G. ;;1-../,

First published in Great Britain by the S.P.C.K. House:Part I, 1932; Part n,Vol. I, 1938;Part II, Vol. II, 1939; revised, in part retranslated,and published in one volume; 1953.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES 'oF AMERICA

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

~~ IN the introductory chapter of this work, it is stated that the'G question there raised for discussion is one of the most'centralh and yet most neglected in the theological field. When thisfl) statement was originally made, that was in fact the position.ri But during the last twenty years the situation has entirely'~T; changed. The problem of" Agape and Eros" has become a

J matter of major theological interest, and there has been quite1~ a

lspathe of literature ddealing with it. thlt woluld tabke fkar todO

1)0 ong ere to name an comment on e re evant 00 s ani,l articles.

1:1 Part One of the present work appeared in an English trans-"Jl lation-somewhat abridged-by A; G. Hebert in 1932. Part~I Two was translated by Philip S. Watson and published in-iJJ two volumes in 1938-39. It has now been thought desirable

1\ ~ to make a ful~ version of Part One available to English

i,j: ~ ~:~:::~~~: ~ea:s::{~e~::~~t.to I;~~~e;o;at~l:~:ef~~,~ 1me that~ work, ~hieh has lo~g been out of print, is now

..... agam available, and 10 an unabndged form.

.:. It is tempting to join issue in this Preface with a number of\J English authors who have paid more particular attention to

.., my work. I think especially of J. Burnaby's Amor Dei (1938)~ and M. C. D'Arcy's The Mind and Heart 0/ Love: A Study~ in Eros and Agape (1945). But as the reason why these Un"', portant and interesting works come to different conclusions" from my own, is essentially that they start from differentq premisses, any profitable discussion of them would have to be.; conducted at considerable length, and for that there is no

room in a Preface. I have therefore had to resist the tempta-

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vi AUTHOR'S PREFACE

tion of an otherwise very attractive undertaking. In the dis­cussion of the subject that has so far taken place, I have foundno reason to abandon my original position at any point, andmy work is therefore being republished without alteration.

ANDERS NYGREN.

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TRANSLATOR'S -PREFACE

PART I ofthi~ work consists of a study of the Christian ideaof love as it appears in the New Testament and in contrast to_the Hellenisticide3?Wi~ starting-pomt forthe history of the Christian idea of love is given and also theessential distinction between the two " fundamental motifs"(Eros and Agape) which have left their impress upon it.That history is described in Part II up to the point where theproblem of " Agape and Eros" finds its natural solution in /.the Reformation. It is substantially the story of how a syn-J

. thesis of these two " motifs" was re ared com leted, anddestroyed. In his origina reface to Part I the -author ex­plained why he had chosen the Reformation as his terminusad quem.1 It was not that the Christian idea of love had hadno history since the Reformation, nor that the problem of" Agape and Eros" had ceased to eX1:.'1: as a result of the solu­tion then found for it. It was rather because the develop- '------- ­ment of Christian thought ahout Jove had proceeded along 1somewhat ditkKnt lines, and could not very ~uitably be dis­cu~~s_~tMd~.L!!te h~ading of '~ Agape and Eros".

Since this work first appeared in English, there have beena number of recurrent misunderstandings of its theme, whichmay perhaps be obviated if something is said here about themeaning of the major techniCal terms employed in it.2 Wemay begin with the two that are in the tide: Agape and Eros.

1 Den kristna karlekstanken genom tiderna. - Eros odz Agape 1.(Svenska Kyrkans Diakonistyrelses Bokforlag. Stockholm, 1930), pp. 3f.(part II was issued by the same publishers in 1936.)

2 See also myartic1e on "Some Theological Implications of Agape andEros" in The Expository Times, September 1938.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ....

CHAPTER ONE

THE AGAPE MOTIF

I. AGAPE AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 61

I. The Starting-po~t for the Interpretation of the Id~ ofAgape.

(!)The Distinctive Charaeterof Christian Fellowshipwith ,God•.J 3· The Content of the Idea of ~gape.

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AUTHOR's PllEFACE •

flllANSLAToR;S PREFACE

INTRODUCTION·

THE .PROBLEM OF AGAPE AND EROS

I. THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM

I. The Twofold Purpose of the Inquiry.2. Two opposed Fundamental Motifs.3. Fundamental Motifs and Motif-research.4. Motif-research and Historical-genetic Research.5. Motif-research ;lnd Value-judgments.

II. THE PLACE OF THE IDEA OF AGAPE IN CHIllsTIANlTY

I. More Precise Definition of the Term If Fundanien~tMotif ".2. The transformation of the Basic Ethical and Religious

Questions by Christianity.3. Agape as the Fundamental Motif of Christianity.

III. "THE HEAVENLY EROS" •

IV. CONFLICTING FUNDAMENTAL MOTIFS"I. Eros and Agape..../'2. Eros and caritas.3. An OOtline of the F~erCourse of the Inquiry.

PART ONE

J( THE TWO FUNDAMENTAL MOTIFS

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xx TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS xxi

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CHAPTER TWO

THE EROS MOTIF

I. THE DOCTRINE OF EROS AS A DOCTRINE OF SALVATION 160

1. Eros-piety, Christianity's Forerunner or Rival?2. Mystery-religion as the Source of the Eros-motif.

- II. THE PLATONIC IDEA OF EROS - 166I. Eros and Dialectic.2. The Myth of Eros.3. The Content of the Idea of Eros.

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(I) Eros as Acquisitive Love. ,(2) Eros as Man's Way to the Divine.8) Eros as Egocentric Love.

III. THE ARISTOTELIAN AND NEOPLATONIC DEVELOPMENTS

OF EROS 182

1. The Importance of the Later Developments.2. The Eros Motif in Aristotle.~. The Eros Motif in Neoplatonism.

PART 'TWO

FUNDAMENTAL MOTIFS IN CONFLICT

INTRODUCTION - 235I. The Confusion of Motifs in the Christian Idea of Love._2. The Hellenisation of the Christian Idea: of Love.3' Synthesis and Reformation;

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-/ 220 ~L/TWO MOTIFS 227

. . (I) Plato and Plotinus. The " Alexandrian World-scheme". . - .

(2) The Descent and the Ascent.8) Eros in Platinus compared with Plato's Eros and

Christian Agape,.,- (4) God is Eros.

THE CONTRAST AS IT ApPEARS IN THE DIFFERE~DIMEN-

SIONS OF LOVE - 211

(I) God's Love.(2) Love towards God.(J) Neighbourly Love.(4) Self-love.

V. POSSIBILITIES OF CONFUSION BETWEEN THE

(I) The Hellenisation of Judaism.(2) Allegorical Exegesis.8) The" Alexandrian World-scheme ".

IV. THE AGAPE-SYSTEM AND THE EROS-SYSTEM

III.

CHAPTER THREE

X.J' to.l _THE FUNDAMENTAL CONTRAST BETWEEN~ AGAPE AND EROSI. THE TRANSVALUATION OF ALL ANCIENT VALUES - 200

I. The General Signjficance of the Transvaluatio~.2. The Religious-historical Background of the Transvaluation.

II. TABULATION OF THE ESSENTIAL POINTS OF CONTRAST - 208

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(I) Agape is Spontaneous and" Unmotivated ".(2~ Agape is " Indifferent to Value".(J Agape is Creative.(4 Agape is the Initiator of Fellowship with God.

4. e Evidence of the Pm"ables.5· The Commandment of Love in its Christian Meaning.6. Love and Judgment.

II. THE AGAPE OF THE CROSS

1. Jesus and Paul.2. The Idea of Agape in Paul's Religious Development.3. Agape as a Technical Tenii for the Christian Love-motif.4. Agape and theTheology of the Cross.5. Love towards God.6. Neighbourly love and Love for God.7. Gnosis and Agape.

III. GOD IS AGAPE

e~I. The Final Formulation of the Agape Motif.2. The Duality of the Johannine Idea of Agape..

(I) The" Metaphysic of Agape" and Unmotivated Love.(2) Brotherly Love and Particularism. .(J) Love for God andLove for.theWorld...

~I. THE COMPLETION OF THE SYNTHESIS

CHAPTER .TWO

THE CARITAS-SYNTHESIS

I. AUGUSTINE'S POSITION IN THE HISTORY OF RELIGIOI\I - . 449I. The Christian Idea of Love in a New Phase.2. Love :is the Centre of Augustine's Interpretation of·

Christianity. . .3. Neoplatonism and Christianity mAugustine.

II. AUGUSTINE'S VITAL PROBLEM: THE SETTLEMENT OF THE

ISSUE BETWEEN THE EROS AND TIn AGAPE MOTIFS - 464I. The' Eros Motif in Augustine's Religious Development.2. The Agape Motif as a Basic Factor in Augustine's

.Oudook.'3, The Settlement of the Issue between Eros and Agape..

III. ANALYSIS OF THE, IDEA OF' CAllITAS -, .' - 476I. AC<J.uisitive Love as the Ground·form of Human Life.2. Cantas and Cupiditas. .3. Frui and Uti.4. The Ascent to God.5. Caritas and Gratia. OUl' Ascent and God's Descent.

TABLEOP CONTENTS

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3. Gnosis and Agape in Clement of Alexandria.4. Origen's Religious Synthesis. .5. Origen's Defence of C~istianity.6. Origen's System. .7. God is Eros--God is Agape.

VII. THE AGAPE TYPE IN IREN...£Us - 393I. Irenzusand the Three Fundamental Dogmas of the Early

Church. .2. The Limitation of the Idea of Agape in Irenzus.

VIII. THE COMPROMISE - 413I. The Result of the Contests of the Second Phase.2. Methodius of Olympus.3. Athanasius.4. Gregory of Nyssa.

, 5. Eros Symbols in Gregory of Nyssa.

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TABLE OP CONTENTS.

I. THE PREPARATION OF THE SYNTHESIS

CHAPTER ONE

NOMOS; EROS ,AND· AGAPE

I.. THE THREE MAIN TypllS: A SuTCH OF THE CHllImAN .

IDEA OP Low IN POST-APoSTOLIC TIMllS _

(I~ The Inftuence of Judaism.(2 'The Inftuence of Hellenism.<3 The Reaction of the Agape Motif.

II. THE NOMOS TypE IN THE APOSTOLIC FATHERs AND'THE, ApOLOGISTS. .' .

I. The Iftfluence of tile OldTestament.2. The" Two Ways ". . ,3· The.~~istic MPdification of die Agape Motif. .4· ChrlStlantty as ." The True Ilhilosopliy" and .. The New

Law".5· Th~ Three Fundamental Dogmas of the Early Church.

(I) Creation.(2) InWnatiC?n.<3) Resurrection.

III. THE EROS TYPE IN GNOSTICISM

I. Gnosis and the Eros Motif.2. The Gnostic Way of Salvation. .3· The Transformation of Agape into Vulgar Eros.4· ,GnosticiSJ;n and the Three Fundamental Dogmas of Early

Christianity. .5. Gnostics andApologists.

IV. THE AGAPE TYPE IN MARCION

t. The Rediscovery.of theldea of Agape.2. The Reaction agains~'the Nomos Motif.3· The Reaction againsi: the Eros Motif.4- The Limitation of the Idea of Agape.5· Mardon's Significance for the Christian Idea of Love.

,V. THE NOMOS TYPE IN TUTULLIAN

, I. The Result of thoe Foregoing Contests.2. Tertullian's Defence of the Three Fundamental Dogmas. .3· Tertullian's Campaign against the Idea of Agape.

VI. THE EROS TYPE IN ALEXANDRIAN THEOLOGY _

t. The General Character of Alexandrian Theology.2. Faith and Gnosis in Clement of Alexandria.

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6. Amar Dei andAm(W sui.7. Love to Neighbour. God's Love.8. The Double Nature of .the Ideapf. Carit~s. Amar,

Dilectia and Carita!. . .

IV. AUGUSTINE, THE MIDDLE AGli~ AND'TiiEREFORMATION 559

CHAPTER THREE"

THE EROS MOTIF PASSES TO TfIE MIDDLE AGES

I. FROM" PLOTINUS TO P~OCLUS . :.. . : - 563I. The Modmcationof the'Fundamental Motifs.. '2. The Transformation of the Doctrine of Eros in Prociu5,

(I) The Transformation of the .. Alex;andCianworld-scheme ".

(2) The Eros that Descends.' .<.3) The Chain of Love.(4) The ardo salutis of Proclus.(5) Eros, the Power of Cohesion in Existence.

II. DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGlTE 576I. The. Position of PSl:udo-Dionysius in .the History of the

Christian Idea ofLove; . . .. .2. The Fundamental Idea of Pseu!lo-Dionysius.J. The Heavenly and the EcCleSiastical Hierarchy.4. Eros is .. MoreOivin.e .. th;m.Agape.

III. FROM DIONYSIUS .TO ERJ;GENA - 594I. The Ladder of Paradise.2; The Hierarchical-sacramental and.the Practical-ascetical

. HeavenlyLadders..3. The Cycle of Nature.

III. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SYNTHESIS

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CHAPTER SIX

THE RENEWAL OF THE AGAPE MOTIF INTHE REFORMATION

LUTHER'S COPERNICAN REVOLUTION - 681I. Theocentric Love.2. Fellowship with God on Our Level.

LUTHER'S VITAL PROBLEM: THE SETTLEMENT OF THE

ISSUE BETWEEN THE EROS AND THE AGAPE MOTIFS - 692

I. Synthesis and Reformation:2. The Struggles of the Monk and Contritio.3. The Sacrifice of the Mass and the Lord's Supper:

How THE CARITAS-SYNTHESIS IS BROKEN DOWN - 700

I. The Campaign against the" Heavenly Ladders ".2. The Campaign against Self-love.3. The Campaign against Fides caritote formato.

CHAPTER FIVE

THE RENEWAL OF THE EROS MOTIF INTHE RENASCENCE

I. EROS RE-BORN - 66]

II. THE HUMAN GoD 672

III. THE DIVINE SELF-LOVE - - 678

ill. THE DEvELOPMENT OF THE CARll-AS DOCTRINE .~ 638I. Augustine, the Middle Ages and Luther.2. The Problem of Unselfish Love.3. God is Amar.iui~ is Am;citia.4. Fides caritote formato. Fellowship with God on God's

Level.

IV. NEW CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DOCTRINE OF LOVE

I. Minne-piety.2. Passion·mysticism.

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CHAPTER FOUR

THE MEDI~VAL DOCTRINE OF LOVE­

I. INTRODUCTORY

II. THE MEDI..f:VAL 1~TI:RPRin~TION OFCiIIWlTIANITY

I. Cosmology and the Upward Tendency.2. Christianity as CaritaS;rdigion.3. The Three Heavenly Ladders.

(I) The Ladder of Merit. . .(2) The Analogical Ladder of Speculation"(3) The Anagogical Ladder of Mysticism. "

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IV~ How AGAPE-LOVE IS BUiLT .Up- ~ 7Z2

1.. Amor Dei and Amor hQminis.2. The Uniq,ueness of Christian Love. , . .3' The ChrIStian as theChannet of ~ s down-pourmg

Love.

CONCLUSION - 739

INDICES - 743

I. Scripture References - 745

2. Greek W or4s .. 748

3. Proper Names 75°

4. Subjects - 754

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INTRODUCTION

THE PROBLEM OF AGAPE AND EROS

I

THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM

I. THE TWOFOLD PuRposE OF THE INQUIRY

THE purpose of the present inquiry is twofold: first, to in­vestigate the meaning of the Christian idea of love; andsecondly, to illustrate tho main changes it has undergone inthe course of history.

.It might reasonably have been e:![pected that theologianswould have given special attention to these questions, for it isplain that the idea of love occupies a-not to say the-centralplace in Christianity, both fiom a religious and an ethicalpoint of-View. Yet we have only to glance at the treatmentthe subject has received from theologians in recent times, tosee that it is among the most neglected. In the history of

. doctrine, comprehensive and painst;lking work has been de~

voted to the elucidation of quite peripheral details, while thiscentral question has been largelyleh on one side, as thoughthe meaning and stnicture of the Christian idea'of love wereself-evident and unambiguous, and were sufficiendy definedby the mere mention of the word " love"; and as though theidea of love had had one and the same significance for allChristians in all ages. Nor is the position any different whenwe turn to the history of Christian ethics. Here, too,thedetails are often well worked out, and we are given particularsof what were often quite unimportantmodifications of currentethical ideas and ideals by individual thinkers; but little is

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