Romans 12:10
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse calls us to actively "outdo one another" in showing honor. This isn't about a passive wish for peace, but an eager race to be the first to lift others up, reflecting a deep, familial affection that prioritizes the well-being and dignity of fellow believers. It’s about proactively seeking ways to esteem others higher than ourselves, going against the world’s drive to be honored.
In Romans 12, Paul shifts from theological argument to practical instruction for living out the Christian faith within the community. Following the call to present ourselves as living sacrifices, he outlines specific ways believers should interact with one another, emphasizing genuine love, humility, and service before turning to how they should engage with outsiders and navigate suffering. This verse, therefore, is part of a foundational exhortation on how the family of God should treat each other with deep affection and mutual honor, setting the tone for the practical advice that follows.
Imagine a love so deep, it feels like family. Paul uses a special word to describe the affection Christians should have for each other.
A Love That Goes Beyond Friendship
Paul urges believers to be "kindly affectioned" (or "tenderly affectionate") towards one another. This isn't just about liking people; it's about a deep, nurturing love, like that between a parent and child. It's a deliberate choice to embrace fellow Christians as true family, bound by faith.
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What if the way we show respect was a competition? Paul suggests a radical idea: let's race to see who can honor others more.
The Race to Give Honor
Paul doesn't just want us to receive honor, but to actively give it. The command to 'outdo one another in showing honor' means we should be the first to recognize and value others, even if it means putting ourselves last.
Understand the original words
philadelphia · Greek Noun
Refers to the familial, tender love shared between members of the household of faith. It acknowledges the spiritual kinship created by God through adoption in Christ.
timē · Greek Noun
The act of showing high regard, esteem, or value to others. It involves recognizing the dignity of others as image-bearers of God and elevating their needs above one's own.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment of brotherly love, emphasizing that it's a command from the very beginning, a foundational aspect of Christian identity and community that should be lived out.
Philippians 2:3This verse provides a powerful parallel to 'in honor preferring one another,' urging believers not to act out of selfish ambition but to consider others as more important than themselves.
John 13:34-35Jesus himself highlights the importance of loving one another as His disciples, linking this brotherly affection to the very identity and witness of the Christian community.
1 Peter 1:22Peter directly calls believers to 'love one another earnestly from a pure heart,' reinforcing the idea that sincere, deep brotherly affection is a core tenet of the faith.
1 Thessalonians 4:9This verse confirms that teaching about brotherly love is not new but is a fundamental instruction, underscoring its essential place in the life of believers.
ellicottRomans 12:10: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"
(10) With brotherly love. —Better translated as in the margin, In love of the brethren (fellow Christians) be kindly affectioned. The word for “kindly affectioned” is specially used of the family relation, and is, therefore, appropriately applied to the brotherhood of the Christian family. Preferring one another.—Rather, perhaps, anticipating one another. The Christian is to take the init…
barnesRomans 12:10: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"
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 lov…
The verse calls us to actively "outdo one another" in showing honor. This isn't about a passive wish for peace, but an eager race to be the first to lift others up, reflecting a deep, familial affection that prioritizes the well-being and dignity of fellow believers. It’s about proactively seeking ways to esteem others higher than ourselves, going against the world’s drive to be honored.
In Romans 12, Paul shifts from theological argument to practical instruction for living out the Christian faith within the community. Following the call to present ourselves as living sacrifices, he outlines specific ways believers should interact with one another, emphasizing genuine love, humility, and service before turning to how they should engage with outsiders and navigate suffering. This verse, therefore, is part of a foundational exhortation on how the family of God should treat each other with deep affection and mutual honor, setting the tone for the practical advice that follows.
In Romans 12, Paul shifts from theological argument to practical instruction for living out the Christian faith within the community. Following the call to present ourselves as living sacrifices, he outlines specific ways believers should interact with one another, emphasizing genuine love, humility, and service before turning to how they should engage with outsiders and navigate suffering. This verse, therefore, is part of a foundational exhortation on how the family of God should treat each other with deep affection and mutual honor, setting the tone for the practical advice that follows.
"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." — The verse calls us to actively "outdo one another" in showing honor. This isn't about a passive wish for peace, but an eager race to be the first to lift others up, reflecting a deep, familial affect…
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