Part I

Introduction

There are so many exhortations in the New Testament to ‘love’ and to ‘love one another.’ This great commandment cannot be overlooked or substituted for. Loving other believers is one of the great indicators of someone’s salvation. Characteristic of the Christian is that they love other Christians and have godly desires to fellowship with one another.

Scriptural Foundation - Christian Behavior

1. There are 4 Greek words for love. All four are present in Romans 12.

2. Romans 12:9, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” (NKJV)

   1. Agape – None of the other words for love came close to describing what the Apostle Paul wanted to communicate. Agape was chosen by Paul in 1 Cor. 13 to describe love, although it was relatively rarely used outside of the New Testament and obscure because this word describes a love that is based on the deliberate choice of the one who loves rather than the worthiness of the one who is loved. It goes against human inclination and requires a selfless giving, and an expectation of nothing in return.

   2. This is self-sacrificial love. It involves an act of the will whereby one seeks the best for another.

   3. Verse 9 declares that agape love, in this form, should be without hypocrisy. Another translation for this is, “without dissimulation,” or unfeigned, undisguised, sincere.

3. Romans 12:10, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;” (NKJV)

   1. Philos (φίλος ) – means ‘affectionate regard.’ This word for love suggested the esteem and affection found in a casual friendship.

      1. A lot of people think that ‘philos’ means brotherly love. They are wrong: Philadelphia is translated brotherly love in this verse, which is derived from philos.

      2. So, the full definition of just this one root word, philos, is “ friend, to be friendly to one, wish him well”

      3. Philos carries with it the image of, “one of the bridegroom's friends who on his behalf asked the hand of the bride and rendered him various services in closing the marriage and celebrating the nuptials.”

   2. Philadelphia – means, “love of brothers or sisters, brotherly love” and, “in the NT the love which Christians cherish for each other as brethren.”

      1. Yet, there’s one more word derived from Philos here in this verse. Philostorgos

   3. Philostorgos (φιλόστο&rho ;γος ) – This is also derived from another word, ‘storge’ which means “cherishing one's kindred, especially parents or children.” It means, “the mutual love of parents and children and wives and husbands, loving affection, prone to love, loving tenderly; loving affection, prone to love, loving tenderly: chiefly of the reciprocal tenderness of parents and children.”

4. In Romans 12:10, it says that we’re to honor one another. The word here means to hold reverence for, of the honour which one has by reason of rank and state of office of which he holds; it also means valuing by price paid or received for a person.

   1. We’re also called to give each other preference. This is also an interesting word, proegeomai, which means to go before and show the way, or to go before as a leader.

5. Romans 12:11, “not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;” (NKJV)

   1. Another translation for ‘lagging in diligence’ is ‘not slothful in business.’ We should make it our business to diligently serve the Lord by loving one another, with haste and eagerness.

6. Romans 12:12-13, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” (NKJV)

   1. Philoxenia (φιλ&omic ron;ξενία) – The word ‘hospitality’ here means a love to strangers. We should be getting to know each other and we should no longer be strangers because we’re taking the lead to love one another more deeply.

Thank you so much for your attention to this study. I hope and pray that God glorifies Himself through you as He reveals Himself to you through His Word. God bless you and keep you.

Cheers,
Isaac D.