Brotherly love
is the affection of the family of God.
As touching brotherly love
ye need not that I write unto you:
for ye yourselves are taught of God
to love one another.
Brotherly love is the love that belongs to brothers and sisters in the church. Paul tells the Thessalonians that as touching brotherly love they need not that he write to them, for they themselves are taught of God to love one another. They already do it toward all the brethren in Macedonia. He urges them to increase more and more. The same chapter that speaks of sanctification and the lust of concupiscence turns to this family affection.
- Brotherly love is taught by God. It is not merely a human sentiment.
- It is already present among believers and is to increase.
- It extends beyond one local group to the brethren in other places.
- Jesus is the source of the new commandment to love one another.
The church is a family. Brotherly love is the mark of that family.
Ye yourselves are taught of God
to love one another.
And indeed ye do it
toward all the brethren.
Increase more and more.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 is a primary text for brotherly love.
- Believers are taught of God to love one another.
- The love already shown is to increase more and more.
- It reaches the brethren in Macedonia and beyond.
- Hebrews and Peter also call for brotherly love among the saints.
- The Source – Taught of God.
- The Object – One another, the brethren.
- The Scope – All the brethren, near and far.
- The Growth – Increase more and more.
- The Family – The affection proper to the household of faith.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 – “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more.”
- John 13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you… By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
- Hebrews 13:1 – “Let brotherly love continue.”
- 1 Peter 1:22 – “See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”
- Romans 12:10 – “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”
As touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia.
We beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more.
Brotherly love is the affection of the family of God. It is taught by God. It is already present. It is to increase.
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