Romans 12:10

τῇ φιλαδελφίᾳ. Cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22 (in LXX[245] only in 4 Macc.). A recognised duty, therefore liable to formalities; this must be provided against by an eager feeling of affection as to real members of a family.

[245] LXX. the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament

φιλόστοργοι. Always of family affection; so 2Ma 9:21 alibi Polyb. alibi

τῇ τιμῇ. Cf. Romans 13:7; John 4:44; 1 Timothy 6:1; Hebrews 3:3; 1 Peter 3:7, of respect paid by man to man.

ἀλλήλους προηγούμενοι. We have to choose between (1) an unparalleled construction = giving each other a lead; this requires the genitive: (2) an unparalleled sense ‘each considering another superior to himself.’ Even if we take (1) the proper meaning would be ‘taking the lead of each other,’ which is the opposite of the evident sense. (2) assumes that the compound follows the sense of ἡγεῖσθαι = to hold, consider, τινὰ τοιοῦτον, the only sense in which the simple verb is used in N. T. except in the participle. This is supported by Philippians 2:3 and Theodoret’s παραχωρείτω δὲ ἕκαστος τῶν πρωτείων τῷ πέλας. Chrys. wavers: (1) τὸ σπουδάζειν τῇ τιμῇ νικᾷν τὸν πλησίον; (2) λέγει οὐ τιμᾶτε�; and although no parallel to this sense of the compound can be found, it is possible and suits the context.