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AGAPE AND EROS I
PART
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
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AUTHOR'S PREFACE ~~
IN the introductory chapter of this work, it is stated that the question there raised for discussion is one of the most'central h and yet most neglected in the theological field. When this fl) statement was originally made, that was in fact the position.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 quite a spathe of literature ddealing with it. thlt woluld tabke fkar todO long ere to name an comment on e re evant 00 s an articles. Part One of the present work appeared in an English translation-somewhat abridged-by A; G. Hebert in 1932. Part Two was translated by Philip S. Watson and published in two volumes in 1938-39. It has now been thought desirable ~ to make a ful~ version of Part One available to English 'G
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.
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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES
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~ ~:~:::~~~: ~ea:s::{~e~::~~t.to I;~~~e;o;at~l:~:ef~~ 1 me 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 different q 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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AUTHOR'S PREFACE
tion of an otherwise very attractive undertaking. In the discussion of the subject that has so far taken place, I have found no reason to abandon my original position at any point, and my work is therefore being republished without alteration. ANDERS NYGREN.
TRANSLATOR'S -PREFACE
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PART I ofthi~ work consists of a study of the Christian idea of love as it appears in the New Testament and in contrast to_ the Hellenistic ide3?Wi~ starting-pomt for the history of the Christian idea of love is given and also the essential 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 the problem of " Agape and Eros" finds its natural solution in / .the Reformation. It is substantially the story of how a syn. thesis of these two " motifs" was re ared com leted, and destroyed. In his origina reface to Part I the -author explained why he had chosen the Reformation as his terminus ad quem. 1 It was not that the Christian idea of love had had no 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 somewhat 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 been a number of recurrent misunderstandings of its theme, which may perhaps be obviated if something is said here about the meaning of the major techniCal terms employed in it. 2 We may begin with the two that are in the tide: Agape and Eros.
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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 and Eros" in The Expository Times, September 1938. vii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHOR's PllEFACE •
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flllANSLAToR;S PREFACE
vii
INTRODUCTION·
THE .PROBLEM OF AGAPE AND EROS I.
THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM
The Twofold Purpose of the Inquiry. Two opposed Fundamental Motifs. 3. Fundamental Motifs and Motif-research. 4. Motif-research and Historical-genetic Research. 5. Motif-research ;lnd Value-judgments. I.
2.
}-
II.
THE PLACE OF THE IDEA OF AGAPE IN CHIllsTIANlTY
More Precise Definition of the Term If Fundanien~tMotif ". The transformation of the Basic Ethical and Religious Questions by Christianity. 3. Agape as the Fundamental Motif of Christianity. I.
2.
III. IV.
"THE HEAVENLY EROS" •
"I.
CONFLICTING FUNDAMENTAL MOTIFS
49
53-
Eros and Agape..../' 2. Eros and caritas. 3. An OOtline of the F~er Course of the Inquiry.
PART ONE THE TWO FUNDAMENTAL MOTIFS
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CHAPTER ONE
THE AGAPE MOTIF
I.
AGAPE AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
The Starting-po~t for the Interpretation of the Id~ of Agape. The Distinctive Charaeterof Christian Fellowshipwith ,God• 3· The Content of the Idea of ~gape. I.
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XIX
61
xxi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
xx
TABLE OF CONTENTS
.,AGJ:
j II.
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(I) Agape is Spontaneous and" Unmotivated ".
scheme".
(2~ Agape is " Indifferent to Value".
THE AGAPE OF THE CROSS
3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Christian Agape, . , - (4) God is Eros.
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105
CHAPTER THREE
X. J'
to.l _THE FUNDAMENTAL CONTRAST BETWEEN
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I.
AGAPE AND EROS
THE TRANSVALUATION OF ALL ANCIENT VALUES I. 2.
GOD IS AGAPE
e~I. The Final Formulation of the Agape Motif.
.•
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 and Love for.theWorld...
2.
II.
III.
TABULATION OF THE ESSENTIAL POINTS OF CONTRAST
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II.
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208
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(I) God's Love. (2) Love towards God. (J) Neighbourly Love. (4) Self-love. /'._.~
IV.
THE DOCTRINE OF EROS AS A DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
V.
160
THE AGAPE-SYSTEM AND THE EROS-SYSTEM
THE PLATONIC IDEA OF EROS
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(I) The Hellenisation of Judaism. (2) Allegorical Exegesis. 8) The" Alexandrian World-scheme ".
166
Eros and Dialectic. The Myth of Eros. 3. The Content of the Idea of Eros. (I) Eros as Acquisitive Love. , (2) Eros as Man's Way to the Divine. ( 8) Eros as Egocentric Love.
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POSSIBILITIES OF CONFUSION BETWEEN THE TWO MOTIFS
Eros-piety, Christianity's Forerunner or Rival? Mystery-religion as the Source of the Eros-motif.
2.
200
THE CONTRAST AS IT ApPEARS IN THE DIFFERE~ DIMEN-
CHAPTER TWO
1.
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The General Signjficance of the Transvaluatio~. The Religious-historical Background of the Transvaluation.
SIONS OF LOVE
THE EROS MOTIF I.
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8) Eros in Platinus compared with Plato's Eros and
Jesus and Paul. The Idea of Agape in Paul's Religious Development. Agape as a Technical Tenii for the Christian Love-motif. Agape and theTheology of the Cross. Love towards God. Neighbourly love and Love for God. Gnosis and Agape.
2.
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(2) The Descent and the Ascent.
(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.
1.
III.
. . (I) Plato and Plotinus. The " Alexandrian World-
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I. 2.
III.
THE
ARISTOTELIAN
AND
NEOPLATONIC
PART 'TWO '\ DEVELOPMENTS
OF EROS 1.
2. ~.
The Importance of the Later Developments. The Eros Motif in Aristotle. The Eros Motif in Neoplatonism.
FUNDAMENT AL INTRODUCTION
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MOTIFS
IN
CONFLICT -
The Confusion of Motifs in the Christian Idea of Love._ The Hellenisation of the Christian Idea: of Love. 3' Synthesis and Reformation;
I. 2.
235
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TABLE OP CONTENTS.
TABLEOP CONTENTS
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I. THE PREPARATION OF THE SYNTHESIS
CHAPTER ONE
I'
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PAG.
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.
NOMOS; EROS ,AND· AGAPE
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THE THREE MAIN TypllS: A SuTCH OF THE CHllImAN . IDEA OP Low IN POST-APoSTOLIC TIMllS _
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VII. THE AGAPE TYPE IN IREN...£Us I.
(I~ The Inftuence of Judaism. (2 'The Inftuence of Hellenism.
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2.
The Reaction of the Agape Motif.
THE NOMOS TypE IN THE APOSTOLIC , ApOLOGISTS. .'
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VIII. THE COMPROMISE
FATHERs
AND'THE
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Irenzusand the Three Fundamental Dogmas of the Early Church. . The Limitation of the Idea of Agape in Irenzus. -
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The Result of the Contests of the Second Phase. Methodius of Olympus. 3. Athanasius. 4. Gregory of Nyssa. , 5. Eros Symbols in Gregory of Nyssa. I. 2.
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The Iftfluence of tile Old Testament. The" Two Ways ". . , 3· The. ~~istic MPdification of die Agape Motif. . 4· ChrlStlantty as ." The True Ilhilosopliy" and .. The New I.
2.
Law". 5· Th~ Three Fundamental Dogmas of the Early Church. (I) Creation. (2) InWnatiC?n.
<3)
Resurrection.
~I.
THE COMPLETION
OF
THE SYNTHESIS
III. THE EROS TYPE IN GNOSTICISM
Gnosis and the Eros Motif. 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.
CHAPTER .TWO
I. 2.
IV. THE AGAPE TYPE IN MARCION
THE CARITAS-SYNTHESIS
I.
AUGUSTINE'S POSITION IN THE HISTORY OF RELIGIOI\I - .
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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. t.
,V.
THE NOMOS TYPE IN TUTULLIAN
II. AUGUSTINE'S VITAL PROBLEM: THE SETTLEMENT OF THE ISSUE BETWEEN THE EROS AND AGAPE MOTIFS -
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The Result of thoe Foregoing Contests. 2. Tertullian's Defence of the Three Fundamental Dogmas. . 3· Tertullian's Campaign against the Idea of Agape. t. 2.
The General Character of Alexandrian Theology. Faith and Gnosis in Clement of Alexandria.
464
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.. I.
, I.
VI. THE EROS TYPE IN ALEXANDRIAN THEOLOGY _
449
The Christian Idea of Love in a New Phase. Love :is the Centre of Augustine's Interpretation of· Christianity. . . 3. Neoplatonism and Christianity Augustine. I. 2.
III. ANALYSIS OF THE, IDEA OF' CAllITAS
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TABLE OF CONTEN?:S rAGI
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
ill.
I. 2.
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IV. NEW CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DOCTRINE OF LOVE I. 2.
563
The Modmcationof the'Fundamental Motifs.. ' The Transformation of the Doctrine of Eros in Prociu5, (I) The Transformation of the .. Alex;andCianworldscheme ". (2) The Eros that Descends.' . <.3) The Chain of Love. (4) The ardo salutis of Proclus. (5) Eros, the Power of Cohesion in Existence.
III.
I.
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. .TO ERJ;GENA The Ladder of Paradise. 2; The Hierarchical-sacramental and.the Practical-ascetical . HeavenlyLadders.. 3. The Cycle of Nature.
FROM DIONYSIUS
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SYNTHESIS
CHAPTER FIVE
I.
III.
II.
EROS RE-BORN
II.
THE MEDI..f:VAL
Cosmology and the Upward Tendency. 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. "
LUTHER'S COPERNICAN REVOLUTION 2.
II.
- 609 OFCiIIWlTIANITY
I.
681
Theocentric Love. Fellowship with God on Our Level.
LUTHER'S VITAL PROBLEM: THE SETTLEMENT OF THE ISSUE BETWEEN THE EROS AND THE AGAPE MOTIFS -
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692
Synthesis and Reformation: 2. The Struggles of the Monk and Contritio. 3. The Sacrifice of the Mass and the Lord's Supper: I.
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2.
..
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THE RENEWAL OF THE AGAPE MOTIF IN THE REFORMATION
DOCTRINE OF LOVE-
1~TI:RPRin~TION
678
CHAPTER SIX
I.
INTRODUCTORY
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594
I.
I.
66]
672
III. THE DIVINE SELF-LOVE -
CHAPTER FOUR MEDI~VAL
-
THE HUMAN GoD
I.
THE
Minne-piety. Passion·mysticism.
THE RENEWAL OF THE EROS MOTIF IN THE RENASCENCE
576
II. DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGlTE
.~ 638
Augustine, the Middle Ages and Luther. The Problem of Unselfish Love. 3. God is Amar .iui~ is Am;citia. 4. Fides caritote formato. Fellowship with God on God's Level.
THE EROS MOTIF PASSES TO TfIE MIDDLE AGES FROM" PLOTINUS TO P~OCLUS
THE DEvELOPMENT OF THE CARll-AS DOCTRINE I. 2.
CHAPTER THREE"
I.
.XXV
TkBL'E OF CONTENTS
r
III.
How THE CARITAS-SYNTHESIS IS BROKEN DOWN
The Campaign against the" Heavenly Ladders ". The Campaign against Self-love. 3. The Campaign against Fides caritote formato.
I. 2.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
XXVI
PA!l&
IV~
How
AGAPE-LOVE IS BUiLT
.Up-
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1.. Amor
Dei and Amor hQminis. The Uniq,ueness of Christian Love. , . . 3' The ChrIStian as theChannet of ~ s down-pourmg Love. 2.
CONCLUSION
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INDICES
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743
THE PROBLEM OF AGAPE AND EROS
745 748
I
I.
Scripture References
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2.
Greek W or4s
.
3. Proper Names 4. Subjects
INTRODUCTION
THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM I.
75°
THE
TWOFOLD PuRposE OF THE INQUIRY
THE purpose of the present inquiry is twofold: first, to in-
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vestigate the meaning of the Christian idea of love; and secondly, to illustrate tho main changes it has undergone in the course of history. .I t might reasonably have been e:
