sacrificial love
Giving without receiving
Sacrificial love is love expressed through giving up something valuable for another's benefit—comfort, resources, safety, or life itself.
The phrase often appears in religious contexts, especially Christian theology, where Christ's death exemplifies ultimate sacrifice: His sacrificial love redeemed humanity.
More broadly, it describes any love that prioritizes another's wellbeing over one's own: A parent's sacrificial love means going without so children can have more.
- agapeMouth held wide
- CalvaryBiblical execution mount
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- suffering servantOne afflicted on behalf of others
- EucharistSacramental bread and wine
redemption · covenant · Golgotha · shed blood · heroism · martyrdom · forgiveness · vicarious · oblation · Pietà · salvation · virtue · faithfulness · altruism · mercy · unconditional · devotion · empathy
- Biblical Fellowshipkoinonia, disciples, apostles, agape, discipleship
- Christian serviceministry, service, serving, serving others, deacons
- sacred loveagape, loving-kindness, caritas, divine grace, divine compassion
- benevolencealtruism, benevolence, charity work, generosity, giving
sacrificial loveselfishness
Excessive concern for oneself
self-interest · egoism · self-absorption · self-centeredness · narcissism