Many marriages fail because the love the partners have for each other is not able to carry them through the rough times. Agapic love is built especially for tough assignments. It has a wonderful warmth and is exceptionally tender. But it is much more than that. It is the kind of love that continues to function even when one or both of the marriage partners do things that violate their trust in each other.
Forgiveness plays a major role in agapic love.
And this love keeps on doing loving acts even when the emotions are bent out of shape. Commitment lies at the core of agapic love. It is the glue that holds marriage partners together when the way is rough. That is why Paul says that this is a love that lasts forever and can withstand almost anything. The marriage vows in a Christian marriage clearly have agapic love in mind when the bride and groom promise to be faithful to each other in all circumstances of life.