from dictionary at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape
agape ~ Agape (pronounced /ˈæɡə.piː/ AG-ə-pee;[1] and sometimes /əˈɡɑː.peɪ/ ə-GAH-pay
after the Classical Greek agápē;
Modern Greek: αγάπη [aˈɣapi]),
also called parental love,
is one of several Greek words translated into English as love.
Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love.
Although the word does not have specific religious connotation,
the word has been used by a variety of contemporary and ancient sources, including Biblical authors and Christian authors.
Thomas Jay Oord has defined agape as
"an intentional response to promote well-being when responding to that which has generated ill-being
In his book, The Pilgrimage, author Paulo Coelho defines it as
"the love that consumes," i.e., the highest and purest form of love,
one that surpasses all other types of affection.
Greek philosophers at the time of Plato and other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity, in contrast to philia—an affection that could denote either brotherhood or generally non-sexual affection, and eros, an affection of a sexual nature.