Romans 12:10

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; BE ... - better, 'In brotherly love be affectionate one to another; in [giving or showing] honour outdoing each other.' The word rendered 'prefer' [ proeegoumenoi (G4285)] means, rather, 'to go before,' 'take the lead' - i.e., 'show an example.' How opposite is this to the reigning morality of the pagan world; and though Christianity has so changed the spirit of society that a certain beautiful disinterestedness and self-sacrifice shines in the character of not a few who are but partially, if at all, under the transforming power of the Gospel, it is only those whom "the love of Christ constrains to live not unto themselves," who are capable of habitually acting in the spirit of this precept. Personal Duties ...

10._With brotherly love, etc. _By no words could he satisfy himself in setting forth the ardor of that love, with which we ought to embrace one another: for he calls it _brotherly, _and its emotion στοργὴν _, _affection, which, among the Latins, is the mutual affection which exists between relatives; and truly such ought to be that which we should have towards the children of God. (391) That this may be the case, he subjoins a precept very necessary for the preservation of benevolence, — that every one is to give honor to his brethren and not to himself; for there is no poison more effectual in alienating the minds of men than the thought, that one is despised. But if by honor you are disposed to understand every act of friendly kindness, I do not much object: I however approve more of the former interpretation. For as there is nothing more opposed to brotherly con

9-16 The professed love of Christians to each other should be sincere, free from deceit, and unmeaning and deceitful compliments. Depending on Divine grace, they must detest and dread all evil, and love and delight in whatever is kind and useful. We must not only do that which is good, but we must cleave to it. All our duty towards one another is summed up in one word, love. This denotes the love of parents to their children; which is more tender and natural than any other; unforced, unconstrained. And love to God and man, with zeal for the gospel, will make the wise Christian diligent in all his wordly business, and in gaining superior skill. God must be served with the spirit, under the influences of the Holy Spirit. He is honoured by our hope and trust in him, especially when we rejoice in that hope. He is served, not only by working for him, but by sitting still quietly, when he cal...

Verse Romans 12:10. _BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY_ _LOVE_] It is difficult to give a simple translation of the original: τῃ φιλαδελφιᾳ εις αλληλους φιλοστοργοι. The word φιλαδελφια signifies that affectionate regard which every Christian should feel for another, as being members of the same mystical body: hence it is emphatically termed the _love of the_ _brethren_. When William Penn, of deservedly famous memory, made a treaty with the Indians in North America, and purchased from them a large _woody_ tract, which, after its own _nature_ and his _name_, he called _Pennsylvania_, he built a city on it, and peopled it with Christians of his own denomination, and called the city from the word in the text, φιλαδελφια, PHILADELPHIA; an appellation which it _then_ bore with strict propriety: and still it bears the...

BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED - The word used here occurs no where else in the New Testament. It properly denotes tender affection, such as what subsists between parents and children; and it means that Christians should have similar feelings toward each other, as belonging to the same family, and as united in the same principles and interests. The Syriac renders this, “Love your brethren, and love one another;” compare 1 Peter 2:17. WITH BROTHERLY LOVE - Or in love to the brethren. The word denotes the affection which subsists between brethren. The duty is one which is often presented in the New Testament, and which our Saviour intended should be regarded as a badge of discipleship; see the note at John 13:34, “By this shall all people know tha

EXPOSITION VER. 1–CH. 14:23 III. HORTATORY. It is St. Paul's way to supplement his doctrinal treatises with detailed practical directions as to the conduct that should of necessity ensue on belief in the doctrines propounded. So also in Ephesians 4:1, etc., where, as here, he connects his exhortations with what has gone before by the initiatory παρακαλῶ οὖν_. _Beyond his exposition of the truth for its own sake, he has always a further practical aim. Saving faith is ever with him a living faith, to be shown by its fruits. Nor, according to him, will these fruits follow, unless the believer himself does his part in cultivating them: else were these earnest and particular exhortations needless. If, on the one hand, he is the great assertor of our salvation being through faith and all of grace, he is no less dist

BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE,.... This is one branch of that love, before advised to, which should be unfeigned, and without guile and deceit. The objects of this grace are "brethren", not in such sense as all the descendants of Adam are, or men of the same country be, or as such who are born of the same parents in a natural sense are; to each of whom love is due under their respective characters and relations: but such who are so in a spiritual sense, who are born of God, are of his household, belong to his family, are the brethren of Christ, and one another; and are either members of the same church, incorporated together in the same church state, or at least members of Christ, and of the church universal. Now love to these should be kind, tender, and affectionate, reciprocal and mutual; such should love one another; there should be no love wanting on either...

Romans 12:1. _I beseech you therefore, brethren,_ Paul is a calm reasoner. He is a bold starer of truth, but here he comes to pleading with us. I think that I see him lift the pen from the paper and look round upon us, as. with the accent of entreaty, he says, «I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, by God's great mercy to you, his many mercies, his continued mercies.» What stronger plea could the Apostle have? «I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God.» Romans 12:1. _By the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service._ Though he beseeches you to do it, he claims a right to it. It is but your reasonable service. Do we need to be entreated to be reasonable? I

III. EXHORTATIONS AND THE CONCLUSION. Chapter s 12-16. CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The Body as a Willing Sacrifice. (Romans 12:1 .)_ 2. Service. (Romans 12:3 .) 3. The Daily Walk in Holiness. (Romans 12:9 .) Romans 12:1 . Grace calls for obedience. After God has made known the riches of His grace, the fulness of the Gospel, His Spirit shows how believers should walk in a world of sin and tribulation. The first thing is to present the body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. This connects with the truth of Romans 6:19

IN THE CHRISTIAN TEMPER, _modesty_ is the first desideratum. Romans 12:3. I tell everyone that is among you not _to_ be high-minded above a right mind, but to be of a mind to be sober-minded (Sp.). This is the mind as _temper, disposition_ (so in Romans 8:5), not as _intellect_ (Romans 12:2). A modest temper comes from appreciating other men's gifts. Measure of faith, as the sequel shows, means faith in the variety of its apportioned manifestations. Romans 12:4 f. For Christians form in Christ a single body with many members, of widely diverse functions (pp. 646, 812);...