Lexical Summary agapétos: Beloved, dearly loved Original Word: ἀγαπητός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: agapétos
Pronunciation: ah-gah-pay-TOS
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-ap-ay-tos')
KJV: (dearly, well) beloved, dear
NASB: beloved, very dear
Word Origin: [from G25 (ἀγαπάω - love)]
1. beloved Strong's Exhaustive Concordance beloved, dear. From agapao; beloved -- (dearly, well) beloved, dear. see GREEK agapao HELPS Word-studies 27 agapētós (a verbal adjective, derived from 26 /agápē, "love") – properly, divinely-loved; beloved ("loved by God"), i.e. personally experiencing God's "agapē-love." K. Wuest helpfully translates 27 (agapētós) as "divinely-loved-ones" (Jude 17). Jude 3: "Divinely-loved-ones (27 /agapētós), while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I had [a sense of] necessity to write to you, exhorting [you] to constantly, appropriately contend for the-once-delivered-for the saints-faith." NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom agapaóDefinitionbeloved NASB Translationbeloved (60), very dear (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 27: ἀγαπητόςἀγαπητός, (ῆ, ( ἀγαπάω), beloved, esteemed, dear, favorite; (opposed to ἐχθρός, Romans 11:28): ὁ υἱός μου ( τοῦ Θεοῦ) ὁ ἀγαπητός, of Jesus, the Messiah, Matthew 3:17 (here WH marginal reading take ὁ ἀγαπητός absolutely, connecting it with what follows); Matthew 12:18; Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22; Luke 9:35 (where L marginal reading T Tr WH ὁ ἐκλελεγμένος); 2 Peter 1:17, cf. Mark 12:6; Luke 20:13; (cf. Ascensio Isa. (edited by Dillmann) Luke 7:23; Luke 8:18, 25, etc.). ἀγαπητοί Θεοῦ ( Winers Grammar, 194 (182f); B. 190 (165)) is applied to Christians as being reconciled to God and judged by him to be worthy of eternal life: Romans 1:7, cf. Romans 11:28; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12 (the Sept., Psalm 59:7 (); Psalm 107:7 (); Psalm 126:2 (), ἀγαπητοί σου and αὐτοῦ, of pious Israelites). But Christians, bound together by mutual love, are ἀγαπητοί also to one another (Philemon 1:16; 1 Timothy 6:2); hence, they are dignified with this epithet very often in tender address, both indirect (Romans 16:5, 8; Colossians 4:14; Ephesians 6:21, etc.) and direct (Romans 12:19; 1 Corinthians 4:14; (Philemon 1:2, Rec.); Hebrews 6:9; James 1:16; 1 Peter 2:11; 2 Peter 3:1; (1 John 2:7 G L T Tr WH, etc.). Generally followed by the genitive; once by the dative ἀγαπαπητοί ἡμῖν, 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (yet cf. Winers Grammar, § 31, 2; B. 190 (163)). ἀγαπητός ἐν κυρίῳ beloved in the fellowship of Christ, equivalent to dear fellow-Christian, Romans 16:8. (Not used in the Fourth Gospel or the Book of Revelation. In classical Greek from Homer, Iliad 6, 401 on; cf. Cope on Aristotle, rhet. 1, 7, 41.)
Topical Lexicon Beloved – Strong’s Greek 27Divine Sonship of the Messiah At the baptism and the transfiguration of Jesus the Father speaks from heaven, naming Him “beloved.”
• Matthew 3:17: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
• Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22; 2 Peter 1:17 echo the same heavenly acclamation. This title affirms the eternal relationship within the Godhead, validates the Messiah’s mission, and evokes Isaiah 42:1, where the Servant in whom the Lord delights will bring justice to the nations. The proclamation precedes decisive redemptive events (public ministry, passion prediction, resurrection preview), underscoring that every act of Jesus issues from the Father’s love. Covenantal Identity of the Church The earliest congregations are addressed collectively as “beloved,” revealing their standing in grace.
• Romans 1:7: “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.”
• Ephesians 5:1: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Divine affection is not merely sentimental; it describes the covenantal bond established by the blood of Christ. Adoption, election, and perseverance all flow from this love (Romans 8:29–39). The term therefore anchors assurance and fuels worship. Apostolic Fellowship and Ministry Partnerships Paul, Peter, and John employ “beloved” to describe fellow laborers, cutting across ethnic, economic, and social divisions.
• Romans 16 names Epaenetus (verse 5), Ampliatus (verse 8), Stachys (verse 9) and Persis (verse 12) as “beloved.”
• Colossians 4:7–14 applies the word to Tychicus, Onesimus, and Luke—two free men and a former slave.
• Philemon 1:16 speaks of Onesimus as “a beloved brother… both in the flesh and in the Lord.” By using the same designation the Father uses for His Son, the apostles dignify every coworker and abolish worldly hierarchies within the body of Christ. Pastoral Addresses and Moral Exhortations “Beloved” frequently introduces appeals to obedience or perseverance, reminding readers that command and comfort arise from love. 1 Corinthians
• 4:14: “I do not write this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.”
• 10:14: “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
• 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord.” General Epistles
• James 1:16: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.”
• 1 Peter 2:11: “Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh.”
• 1 John 4:7: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God.” The address softens admonition, frames ethical imperatives in grace, and guards against legalism. Warning and Correction within the Family of God When deviation threatens doctrine or conduct, the writers invoke “beloved” to reinforce solidarity even while confronting error.
• 2 Corinthians 12:19: Paul’s defense of his ministry.
• 2 Peter 3:17: “Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless.”
• Jude 1:3, 17, 20: repeated calls to contend for the faith while remaining in divine love. Correction is delivered without alienation, maintaining unity while preserving truth. Eschatological Assurance and Expectation The last days are addressed to the “beloved,” guaranteeing that eschatological hope rests on divine affection.
• 2 Peter 3:8: “Beloved, do not let this one fact escape your notice… with the Lord one day is as a thousand years.”
• Hebrews 6:9: “Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things.” Love secures the future; judgment and promise are both administered by the God who cherishes His own. Historical and Social Impact In the Greco-Roman world letters normally opened with status-laden greetings. Christian correspondence replaced social stratification with familial language. Masters (Philemon), slaves (Onesimus), Jews (Peter), Gentiles (Paul’s converts), men and women alike are embraced as “beloved.” This lexical choice formed communities whose cohesion baffled contemporaries and attracted seekers (John 13:35). Ministry Implications Today • Identity: Grounding believers in their beloved status fosters assurance and counters shame.
• Leadership: Elders model affection by addressing congregants as “beloved,” emulating apostolic tone.
• Discipleship: Commands should be framed by covenant love; truth without love becomes tyranny.
• Evangelism: The proclamation that God calls sinners “beloved in Christ” provides a compelling invitation.
• Unity: Recognizing all saints as “beloved” resists division based on culture, class, or giftings. Doctrinal Reflection The repeated use of “beloved” binds together Christology, soteriology, and ecclesiology. The Father’s eternal love for the Son becomes the measure of His love for the redeemed (John 17:23). To be “in Christ” is to be located where the Father’s pleasure eternally rests. Consequently, holiness is not a condition for love but its fruit (Ephesians 1:4–6). The church lives, serves, suffers, and hopes as the “beloved of God.” Forms and Transliterations αγαπητα αγαπητά ἀγαπητά ἀγαπητὰ Αγαπητε αγαπητέ Ἀγαπητέ αγαπητή αγαπητην αγαπητήν ἀγαπητήν αγαπητοι αγαπητοί ἀγαπητοί ἀγαπητοὶ αγαπητοις αγαπητοίς ἀγαπητοῖς αγαπητον αγαπητόν ἀγαπητόν ἀγαπητὸν αγαπητος αγαπητός ἀγαπητός ἀγαπητὸς αγαπητου αγαπητού ἀγαπητοῦ αγαπητω αγαπητώ ἀγαπητῷ καὶ agapeta agapetá agapetà agapēta agapētá agapētà Agapete Agapeté Agapēte Agapēté agapeten agapetḗn agapētēn agapētḗn agapeto agapētō agapetoi agapetoí agapetoì agapetôi agapētoi agapētoí agapētoì agapētō̂i agapetois agapetoîs agapētois agapētoîs agapeton agapetón agapetòn agapēton agapētón agapētòn agapetos agapetós agapetòs agapētos agapētós agapētòs agapetou agapetoû agapētou agapētoû kaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 3:17 Adj-NMSGRK: μου ὁ ἀγαπητός ἐν ᾧNAS: said, This is My beloved Son, in whom KJV: is my beloved Son, in INT: of me the beloved in whom Matthew 12:18 Adj-NMS
GRK: ᾑρέτισα ὁ ἀγαπητός μου εἰς
NAS: I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM
KJV: I have chosen; my beloved, in whom
INT: I have chosen beloved of me in Matthew 17:5 Adj-NMS
GRK: μου ὁ ἀγαπητός ἐν ᾧ
NAS: This is My beloved Son,
KJV: is my beloved Son, in
INT: of me the beloved in whom Mark 1:11 Adj-NMS
GRK: μου ὁ ἀγαπητός ἐν σοὶ
NAS: out of the heavens: You are My beloved Son,
KJV: art my beloved Son, in
INT: of me the beloved in whom Mark 9:7 Adj-NMS
GRK: μου ὁ ἀγαπητός ἀκούετε αὐτοῦ
NAS: This is My beloved Son,
KJV: is my beloved Son: hear
INT: of me the beloved listen you to him Mark 12:6 Adj-AMS
GRK: εἶχεν υἱὸν ἀγαπητόν ἀπέστειλεν αὐτὸν
NAS: more [to send], a beloved son;
KJV: son, his wellbeloved, he sent him
INT: having son beloved he sent him Luke 3:22 Adj-NMS
GRK: μου ὁ ἀγαπητός ἐν σοὶ
NAS: out of heaven, You are My beloved Son,
KJV: art my beloved Son; in
INT: of me the beloved in you Luke 20:13 Adj-AMS
GRK: μου τὸν ἀγαπητόν ἴσως τοῦτον
NAS: I will send my beloved son;
KJV: I will send my beloved son: it may be
INT: of me the beloved perhaps him Acts 15:25 Adj-DMP
GRK: σὺν τοῖς ἀγαπητοῖς ἡμῶν Βαρνάβᾳ
NAS: to send to you with our beloved Barnabas
KJV: with our beloved Barnabas and
INT: with the beloved of us Barnabas Romans 1:7 Adj-DMP
GRK: ἐν Ῥώμῃ ἀγαπητοῖς θεοῦ κλητοῖς
NAS: to all who are beloved of God in Rome,
KJV: in Rome, beloved of God, called
INT: in Rome beloved of God called Romans 11:28 Adj-NMP
GRK: τὴν ἐκλογὴν ἀγαπητοὶ διὰ τοὺς
NAS: of [God's] choice they are beloved for the sake
KJV: the election, [they are] beloved for
INT: the election beloved on account of the Romans 12:19 Adj-VMP
GRK: ἑαυτοὺς ἐκδικοῦντες ἀγαπητοί ἀλλὰ δότε
NAS: revenge, beloved, but leave
KJV: Dearly beloved, avenge not
INT: yourselves avenging beloved but give Romans 16:5 Adj-AMS
GRK: Ἐπαίνετον τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου ὅς
NAS: Epaenetus, my beloved, who
KJV: Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who
INT: Epaenetus the beloved of me who Romans 16:8 Adj-AMS
GRK: Ἀμπλιᾶτον τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου ἐν
NAS: Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
KJV: Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
INT: Ampliatus beloved of me in [the] Romans 16:9 Adj-AMS
GRK: Στάχυν τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου
NAS: in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
KJV: Stachys my beloved.
INT: Stachys the beloved of me Romans 16:12 Adj-AFS
GRK: Περσίδα τὴν ἀγαπητήν ἥτις πολλὰ
NAS: Persis the beloved, who
KJV: Salute the beloved Persis,
INT: Persis the beloved who much 1 Corinthians 4:14 Adj-NNP
GRK: τέκνα μου ἀγαπητὰ νουθετῶν
NAS: you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
KJV: as my beloved sons I warn
INT: children my beloved I admonish [you] 1 Corinthians 4:17 Adj-ANS
GRK: μου τέκνον ἀγαπητὸν καὶ πιστὸν
NAS: who is my beloved and faithful
KJV: is my beloved son, and
INT: my child beloved and faithful 1 Corinthians 10:14 Adj-VMP
GRK: Διόπερ ἀγαπητοί μου φεύγετε
NAS: Therefore, my beloved, flee
KJV: my dearly beloved, flee
INT: Therefore beloved of me flee 1 Corinthians 15:58 Adj-VMP
GRK: ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί ἑδραῖοι γίνεσθε
NAS: Therefore, my beloved brethren,
KJV: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
INT: brothers of me beloved firm be 2 Corinthians 7:1 Adj-VMP
GRK: τὰς ἐπαγγελίας ἀγαπητοί καθαρίσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς
NAS: promises, beloved, let us cleanse
KJV: promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
INT: the promises beloved we should cleanse ourselves 2 Corinthians 12:19 Adj-VMP
GRK: δὲ πάντα ἀγαπητοί ὑπὲρ τῆς
NAS: and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
KJV: [we do] all things, dearly beloved, for
INT: moreover and all things beloved for Ephesians 5:1 Adj-NNP
GRK: ὡς τέκνα ἀγαπητά
NAS: of God, as beloved children;
KJV: of God, as dear children;
INT: as children beloved Ephesians 6:21 Adj-NMS
GRK: Τύχικος ὁ ἀγαπητὸς ἀδελφὸς καὶ
NAS: Tychicus, the beloved brother
KJV: I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and
INT: Tychicus the beloved brother and Philippians 2:12 Adj-VMP
GRK: Ὥστε ἀγαπητοί μου καθὼς
NAS: So then, my beloved, just
KJV: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have
INT: So that beloved of me even as Strong's Greek 27
61 Occurrences
ἀγαπητὰ — 2 Occ.
Ἀγαπητέ — 3 Occ.
ἀγαπητήν — 1 Occ.
ἀγαπητῷ — 4 Occ.
ἀγαπητοὶ — 30 Occ.
ἀγαπητοῖς — 2 Occ.
ἀγαπητόν — 7 Occ.
ἀγαπητός — 11 Occ.
ἀγαπητοῦ — 1 Occ.
|
