After Jesus was resurrected, He asked Peter if he loved Him. This question was asked three times and Peter seemed to become frustrated at the repeated interrogation. It helps to understand this conversation by knowing that in the Bible various Grecian words were each translated into the English word love.
Eros was love between a man and a woman. It was the kind of feeling connected with the physical expression of passion. It was not what a brother or father would have toward a sister or mother. It did, however, refer to a relationship outside the family. It is this word from where modern people get erotic. This word is not in the Bible.
Storge was love within a family or it could be a deep patriotic expression toward a king or governor. The Apostle Paul once used this word to describe Christians as a mega-family and not just a cult or homogenous group of people with similar interests and purposes.
Philia is the root word from which the city of Philadelphia comes. Delphos means city. That is why Philadelphia is called the city of brotherly love. Philia means to regard someone in a special way or honor. It could be for a very good friend but not in a sexual manner.
Agape is commonly called divine love, but the real meaning is lost with this simple explanation. This is a noble word connected with beauty. However, agape is not a word of passion. It is a mental word dealing with decisions and attitudes. In John 3: 16 God is said to so love the world. It does not mean He became warm and fuzzy; nor does it mean He found something attractive about humans to love. It infers that God loves people despite themselves with all their flaws and sinfulness.
When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Jesus used the word agape twice. Peter replied that he had philia (or brotherly love) for Jesus. On the third round of the discussion Jesus asked Peter if he even had philia love for Him. Remember that Peter is the disciple that denied Christ as He was soon to be crucified. In February it is a good idea for everyone to ask if they really love God.
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