1 Peter 3:8

Finally, be ye all of one mind From the two special relations which were the groundwork of social life, the Apostle passes to wider and more general precepts. The adjective for "of one mind" (not found elsewhere in the New Testament) implies, like the corresponding verb in Romans 12:16; Romans 15:5, and elsewhere, unity of aim and purpose. That for "having compassion one of another" (this also used only by St Peter in the New Testament) exactly answers, as describing the temper that rejoices with those that rejoice and weeps with them that weep, to our word sympathizing.

love as brethren Here also we have an adjective peculiar to St Peter. The corresponding substantive has met us in ch. 1 Peter 1:22. It may mean either what the English version gives, or "lovers of the brethren." On the whole the latter meaning seems preferable.

pitiful The history of the word, literally meaning "good-hearted," affords an interesting illustration of the influence of Christian thought. It was used by Greek writers, especially Greek medical writers, such as Hippocrates (p. 89 c), to describe what we should call the sanguine or courageous temperament. By St Peter and St Paul (Ephesians 4:32), it is used, as the context in each case shews, for the emotional temper which shews itself in pity and affection.

be courteous The MSS. present two readings, one of which, "courteous" or better, perhaps, friendly, is a fair rendering, and the other a word not found elsewhere, but meaning "lowly" or "humble," and corresponding to the noun "humility" in Acts 20:19; Php 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5.