What is brotherly kindness?

1911 336 Scripture says, "Let brotherly love continue"; and indeed it is so sweet, that the wonder is that we should ever let it drop. But we are such an unwise people, and the hardening influence of the world so much affects us, that even where there has been happy fellowship, coldness often creeps in. Sometimes brotherly affection will wither, just for want of a little expression, and our watchful enemy is only too glad to see it die down. Then, Christian, if you have love in your heart to your brother, do not hide it as a secret that must not be known. Refrain not from those small expressions of love, which will not only refresh thy brother's heart, but keep love from dying in thine own. One can imagine how Satan may chuckle when he manages to estrange Christians from one another. Where you see this estrangement, you see the work of Satan; but where Christians are loving one another, you see the work of God's Spirit, for "love is of God" (1 John 4:7). Do you see a Christian walking in the power of love? Then you see one who is under divine teaching, for Paul says of the Thessalonians that they were "taught of God to love one another" (1 Thess. 4:9). God is glorified and Satan defeated when love triumphs amongst Christians.

Scripture distinguishes between "love" and "brotherly love." They are expressed by distinct words in the original. Love is "agape," and brotherly love is one word, "philadelphia." "Philadelphia" is rather friendly love; and the Authorised Version has tried to convey this by the expression, "brotherly kindness" (2 Peter 1:7). But it is more than that. It includes kindness, but it is love; only, love in the form which it takes in the intercourse of brethren. Perhaps the best rendering is Mr. Kelly's, which is "brotherly affection."

Peter tells us to add to godliness, brotherly affection, and to brotherly affection, love (2 Peter 1:7). That is to say, dry godliness — if one may speak so — won't do; we must have with godliness, the warmth of Christian friendship, brotherly affection. How stiffly, hardly, with what grinding and creaking, the machine sometimes moves; per haps won't move at all, when a few drops of oil make it all right and smooth: so is love amongst brethren. Love surmounts the difficulties of the day, conquers coldness and apathy, and goes forth winning the hearts of the saints in order to serve them. Surely it is not without significance, in a book so full of symbols as the Revelation, that "Philadelphia" is the name of perhaps the most admirable of the seven churches. But then brotherly affection will not suffice alone, or it may degenerate into mere human sentiment, so there must be godliness; and with godliness, brotherly affection: then again, with brotherly affection, love: that is, love in its highest, broadest, noblest sense; love to God, love in the truth, love to the brethren shown in walking according to His commandments (2 John 1-6), love to poor fallen man. How perfect is Scripture!

Scripture says, ‘Let brotherly love continue’ (Heb. 13:1); and indeed it is so sweet, that the wonder is that we should ever let it drop. But we are such an unwise people, and the hardening influence of the world so much affects us, that even where there has been happy fellowship, coldness often creeps in. Sometimes brotherly affection will wither, just for want of a little expression, and our watchful enemy is only too glad to see it die down. Then, Christian, if you have love in your heart to your brother, do not hide it as a secret that must not be known. Refrain not from those small expressions of love, which will not only refresh thy brother’s heart, but keep love from dying in thine own. One can imagine how Satan may chuckle when he manages to estrange Christians from one another. Where you see this estrangement, you see the work of Satan; but where Christians are loving one another, you see the work of God’s Spirit, for ‘love is of God’ (1 John 4:7). Do you see a Christian walking in the power of love? Then you see one who is under divine teaching, for Paul says of the Thessalonians that they were ‘taught of God to love one another’ (1 Thess. 4:9). God is glorified and Satan defeated when love triumphs amongst Christians.

Scripture distinguishes between ‘love’ and ‘brotherly love’. They are expressed by distinct words in the original. Love is agape, and brotherly love is one word, philadelphia. ‘Philadelphia’ is rather friendly love; and the Authorised Version has tried to convey this by the expression, ‘brotherly kindness’ (2 Pet. 1:7).[1] But it is more than that. It includes kindness, but it is love; only, love in the form which it takes in the intercourse of brethren. Perhaps the best rendering is Mr Kelly’s, which is ‘brotherly affection’.

Peter tells us to add to godliness, brotherly affection, and to brotherly affection, love (2 Pet. 1:7). That is to say, dry godliness — if one may speak so — won’t do; we must have with godliness, the warmth of Christian friendship, brotherly affection. How stiffly, hardly, with what grinding and creaking, the machine sometimes moves — perhaps won’t move at all — when a few drops of oil make it all right and smooth: so is love amongst brethren. Love surmounts the difficulties of the day, conquers coldness and apathy, and goes forth winning the hearts of the saints in order to serve them. Surely it is not without significance, in a book so full of symbols as the Revelation, that ‘Philadelphia’ is the name of perhaps the most admirable of the seven churches. But then brotherly affection will not suffice alone, or it may degenerate into mere human sentiment, so there must be godliness; and with godliness, brotherly affection; then again, with brotherly affection, love: that is, love in its highest, broadest, noblest sense — love to God, love in the truth, love to the brethren shown in walking according to His commandments (2 John 1–6), love to poor fallen man. How perfect is Scripture!

Brotherly Love. — There are two manifestations of the activity of the Divine nature — love, or charity, as the Authorised Version in places calls it (1 Cor. 13; 2 Peter 1:7), and brotherly love, which the last reference distinguishes from the former. The former of course has a wider range than the latter. There is a community on earth the members of which are indissolubly connected by a birth-tie, as well as by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, and that which results from it — viz. the formation of the Body of Christ. Viewed in this last character, we should speak of membership one of another. Viewed in the former, we speak of brotherhood. To this clearly the Apostle refers, as he here writes, "Let brotherly love continue" (13:1). Illustrations connected with this will follow.

THE FIRST VERSE of our chapter is very short but very important. The word continue is virtually the same as the word remain, which closes verse 27 of the previous chapter. Only the things which cannot be shaken are going to remain when the great day of shaking arrives; then, let brotherly love remain amongst the saints of God today. It is one of the things which will remain unshaken in eternity.

Let us recall that in the early part of the epistle believers are spoken of as the "many sons" being brought "to glory." Christ was seen to be "the Captain of their salvation," who is "not ashamed to call them brethren." Hence most evidently Christians are brethren, and the love existing between them, the fruit of the new nature divinely implanted, is to be cultivated. In fostering it we shall not be like children building a sandcastle to be washed away by the next tide, but like those who build for eternity.

Romans 12:10. "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another." The love spoken of in the previous verse is probably love to all men; here brotherly love is particularly specified. The teaching of the Spirit in this verse seems to be, that Christians should cherish for each other, as brethren in Christ, a love as sincere and tender as if they were the nearest relatives. And this love is to be manifested, not merely in repaying the attentions of others, but in anticipating them in acts of respect and kindness. All Christians are brethren, but as they belong to different families in this life, and called by different names, there is nothing to distinguish them but brotherly love. If this fails, what is left? Our Father is in heaven. He who loves the Father, loves the brethren also." Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him." 1 John 5:1.

But here, on a point of such practical importance, and one so difficult to practise, it may be well for thee, my soul, to pause, and inquire what the difference is between brotherly love and brotherly kindness. The apostle says, in writing to the Hebrews, "Let brotherly love continue." But he nowhere says, Let brotherly kindness continue. "Love never faileth." Kindness must in some cases. A brother, through the power of Satan, may be walking disorderly, or he may fall into error, and so become a proper subject of discipline; towards such an one our conduct must be changed, though our love remains the same, or even stronger. The mind of the Lord on this point is plainly given: "Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them … For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all but are busybodies. If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed, yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." (Rom. 16; 2 Thess. 3.) The persons here spoken of are still in communion; hence the difficulty in cherishing brotherly love, and at the same time exercising a wholesome discipline towards them. When it comes to a case of excommunication, the perplexity is less, but our love should be none the less. See 2 John.

(V. 10). The next two exhortations concern our relations with one another. We are to "be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another". Our affection to one another should flow from our relationship as "brethren", and not simply because of some quality which may be attractive or advantageous to us. Brotherly love would make us ready to let others have honour rather than grasping it for ourselves.

Then there is the circle of “brotherly love” — the Christian circle: in this we are to be “kindly affectioned one to another.” This is tender consideration as in a closely attached family. As regard honor, rather than seeking it for ourselves, let us delight in paying it to other saints — drawing attention to their virtues and work rather than our own.

In godliness, brotherly kindness; for we are now able to adjust ourselves fittingly in regard to our fellow-believers. We view them too in relation to Christ and as begotten of God, and not according to our whims and fancies, our own partialities, our likes or dislikes.

In brotherly kindness we are to have charity, or love; that is divine love, the love that goes on loving the naturally unlovely, since now the fountain of love is within and hence love has not to be excited by the presentation without of what may appeal to one personally. The believer who by diligent spiritual growth loves after this fashion is a partaker of the divine nature in a very practical manner, and is fruitful as verse 8 plainly declares.

Then brotherly kindness is to be added—kindness to a brother or sister in Christ. Are we kind? “Love suffers long and is kind” (1 Cor. 13:4). “Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

Add to that love—love is the divine nature and we are made “partakers of the divine nature”, and love is its great characteristic. In brotherly kindness there is an object for my love that draws it out, but love is nature and seeks for an object on which to expend it.

You notice, he does not say, Have brotherly love, but, "Let brotherly love continue;" as the apostle says to the Thessalonians: "As touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." The Spirit of God never contemplates the saints as being without love; but encourages them to let it abound, by putting no hindrance to the natural outflow of every renewed heart. It is to show itself practically, as in the next exhortation, as to hospitality. This refers to the familiar scene in the life of Abraham when he received the three guests at his tent door at Mamre, and round that he had been entertaining, unawares, the Lord Himself and His angelic messengers.