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 side and it ought to be universal, and reach to all the saints, though of different gifts, light, knowledge and experience, or whether high or low, rich or poor and should show itself by bearing one another's burdens, bearing with, and forbearing each other, forgiving one another, and by edifying one another in their most holy faith, and praying with, and for one another. 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. This is one branch of that love, before advised to, which should be unfeigned, and without guile and deceit. Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBe kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love. It would humble the ambition of those who, like Diotrephes, love to have the pre-eminence 3 John 1:9, and make every man willing to occupy the place for which God has designed him, and rejoice that his brethren may be exalted to higher posts of responsibility and honor. And especially, it would give order and beauty to the church. It would produce contentment, harmony, love, and order in the community and stay the progress of crime, and annihilate the evils of strife, and discord, and malice. If this single direction were to be obeyed in society, it would put an end at once to no small part of the envy, and ambition, and heartburning, and dissatisfaction of the world. How different this from the spirit of the world the spirit which seeks, not to confer honor, but to obtain it which aims, not to diffuse respect, but to attract all others to give honor to us. and all to strive by mutual kindness to promote the happiness of the Christian community. Thus, they were to be studious to show to each other all the respect which was due in the various relations of life children to show proper respect to parents, parents to children, servants to their masters, etc. Thus, in showing mutual respect and honor, they were to strive to excel not to see which could obtain most honor, but which could confer most, or manifest most respect compare 1 Peter 1:5 Ephesians 5:21. Preferring one another - The word "preferring" means going before, leading, setting an example. Not in seeking honor, or striving after respect, but in showing it to one another. In honour - In showing or manifesting respect or honor.
This he expresses by a word which is made for the occasion (φιλοστοργοὶ philostorgoi), blending love with natural affection, and suffering it to be manifest in your contact with one another. It should be with the tenderness which characterizes the most endearing natural relationship. He does not simply enjoin brotherly love, but he adds that it should be kindly affectioned. The apostle Paul in this place manifests his unique manner of writing. 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 13:34-35, "By this shall all people know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another " John 15:12, John 15:17 Ephesians 5:2 1 Thessalonians 4:9 1 Peter 1:22 1 John 2:7-8 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:23 1 John 4:20-21. The word denotes the affection which subsists between brethren. With brotherly love - Or in love to the brethren. The Syriac renders this, "Love your brethren, and love one another " compare 1 Peter 2:17. 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. Barnes' Notes on the BibleBe kindly affectioned - The word used here occurs no where else in the New Testament.
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