What is the meaning ofbelovedin the Bible?

The term is beloved — agapeta.

The name ‘David’ means ‘the beloved one’. This was true in David’s life: his father loved him; his friend Jonathan loved him; his wife loved him; the people of Israel loved him. But above all he was the beloved of God. Of course, this is even more true of the Lord Jesus. He is ‘the Beloved’ (Eph. 1:6), the ‘Son of his love’ (Col. 1:13). He was God’s servant whom He had chosen, His beloved in whom His soul had found delight (Matt. 12:18). It was — and still is — the pleasure of the fulness of the Godhead to dwell in Him (Col. 1:19; 2:9). God the Father loved Him before the foundation of the world and the love of the Father to the Son will fill the eternity to come (John 17:24). When He was here on earth as man, the heavens opened twice and we hear the voice of the Father saying: ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight’ (Matt. 3:17; 17:5).

Another rendering of — Jacheed — in the Septuagint is — Agapetos, — this word is used some seven times, and is translated into English by "beloved" "loved." In these cases it is translated direct from the Hebrew by "only (son)," "only (beloved)."

But before we speak of this, we must first bask for a while in the sunshine of the love that radiates from this verse: "My Brothers, beloved and passionately longed for, my joy and crown, … Beloved." Our lovely Authorized Version has "Dearly Beloved," in each case, instead of "Beloved" alone: and I confess I like it better: and it may be right: only in the original it has but the one word, "Beloved", with no word qualifying it. But it is the stronger word, telling of the Love of God: and I am not sure that our own English word, "Beloved", may not have lost some of the fervour that is contained in the Greek; and so "Dearly Beloved," may give the apostle's meaning more truly.*

As has been mentioned, this has been called 'Paul's love-letter.' Another has said, — 'This prolonged form of address has no parallel in St. Paul's writings.' But then, perhaps, the Philippian saints had 'no parallel' in the affection the Apostle bore towards them. Notice that final 'Beloved,' he seems to linger over this theme, as if unable to break away from it. It makes me think of the way 'a certain Man' seemed to delight to repeat 'greatly beloved' in Daniel 10:5, 11 & 19, and then adds, "Be strong, yea, be strong." This love, known and treasured, whether with Daniel, whether with the Philippian saints, or whether with ourselves, makes strong: for 'Love is strong as death.'

In the New Translation of J.N.Darby it is rendered, “taken its into favour in the Beloved.” And this is assuredly right, for “accepted ” is too cold a word. It means that and more. It embraces the idea of warmth and favour and delight. “In the Beloved”—“the Beloved ” meaning the Lord Jesus Christ—adds a thought making it richer and fuller to a very wonderful degree. For if God accepts the believer “in the Beloved,” the acceptance can only be measured by the delight and favour in which Christ stands before the Father. We are lost in the contemplation of such a wondrous fact.

Ephesians 1:6 gives unity and strength to this twofold aspect of the Christian's calling: "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." This verse sums up the fulness of divine favour to the children, in their effectual calling. We are said to be blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ — to be chosen in Christ — to be children by Jesus Christ: but we are accepted in the Beloved. Here the word is changed to "Beloved." It means that we are accepted in the highest object of God's affection. Christ is the Well-beloved of God's heart; He could show favour to none as to Him; and yet the word is plain; we are accepted, loved, and blessed in Him — in the Beloved. Higher than this, royal favour itself cannot raise us; the heart can only bow and worship and adore in the presence of such love, and in the assurance that it can never change.

Again, in Ephesians 1:6, we read, "To the praise of the glory of His grace wherein He has made us accepted in the Beloved." "In the Beloved," what does that mean? If you can understand in any degree how much God loves this wonderful Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom He speaks here so prominently as "the Beloved" you can see what a stupendous revelation it is to us that we are taken into favour in the Beloved. Every Christian is verily beloved of God, the love of God rests upon him, and he can be rightly designated as one of the beloved of God. But while that is true, and true of all saints equally and alike, there is One Who is pre-eminently the Beloved. You who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are said to be accepted in the Beloved. That is the power of it; it is not simply to have that acceptance in the Lord, but in the Beloved. God would stress it, that you might understand how greatly you are loved, and that you are taken into favour in the measure of love that He has for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ's death in this aspect was alluded to by the Apostle Paul in writing, "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted IN THE BELOVED" (Eph. 1:6). The Beloved is Christ, but we do well to meditate on the reason why the word, "Beloved," is chosen. It is the only time our Lord is so designated. If the Scripture had said that we were accepted in Christ, that would have been true but hardly sufficient, for the Spirit of God would emphasize the warmth and wonderful nature of the acceptance in which our blessed Lord stands before God as our Representative. So the Spirit of God uses the endearing word, "BELOVED." We can sing with joy, "So dear, so very dear to God, We cannot dearer be; For in the person of the Son, We are as dear as He."

Then we read: "Having predestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved" (vers. 5, 6). The eternal thought of God was to take up poor sinners, bring them to Himself, turning foes into friends, and enemies into children. It does not say that He has taken us into favour in Christ. Why? It is not warm enough. Nor even in Jesus. No — it is "in the beloved." Fathom that for me, tell me how much God loves His blessed Son — tell me the depth of the love of the Father to that blessed Son, of whom He spoke twice when He was on earth as "My beloved Son." That love is infinite, and He has taken us into favour "in the beloved." Did not I tell you that the Church was heavenly in being? She belongs to heaven, though she has to live on earth for a while.

There you find the mind of God that we should be in all the dignity and intelligence and power of sonship. It refers, not so much to the moral nature in which we are to be formed, as to the relationship in which we stand before His face — by Jesus Christ. It is in each case for the gratification of His own heart. We are predestinated to sonship by Jesus Christ to Himself, in that near and holy relationship, to be enjoyed for ever. Again, in verse 6, "To the praise of the glory of His grace wherein He has made us accepted in the Beloved." "In the beloved," what does that mean? If you can understand in any degree how much God loves this wonderful Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom He speaks here so prominently as "the Beloved" you can see what a stupendous revelation it is to us that we are taken into favour in the Beloved. Every Christian is verily beloved of God, the love of God rests upon him, and he can be rightly designated as one of the beloved of God. But while that is true, and true of all saints equally and alike, there is One Who is pre-eminently the Beloved. You who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are said to be accepted in the Beloved. That is the power of it; it is not simply to have that acceptance in the Lord, but in the Beloved. God would stress it, that you might understand how greatly you are loved, and that you are taken into favour in the measure of love that He has for the Lord Jesus Christ.