One of the greatest blessings of life is being a part of a warm, loving, devoted family. Knowing that the members of your family love you, care for you, provide for you, and are committed to you provides a wonderful sense of comfort and belonging. All of us ought to be striving to have that kind of family life.

That’s true for our physical families, and it ought also be true for our church, our spiritual family.

Sadly, some people do not have that kind of family life at home. Their home and extended family is not particularly loving, devoted, and supportive. Perhaps the extended family is unsaved and does not show much affection or commitment.

For those who have a warm, loving family life, the church can be an extension of that warmth and love. For those who do not have a loving physical family, the church can provide that love and affection that someone is missing.

As we continue with our Building Up One Another series, today we’ll be considering a verse that has two “one another” statements in it.

Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

The text says, literally, “with brotherly love for one another, [be] kindly affectionate.” (Τῇ φιλαδελφίᾳ εἰς ἀλλήλους φιλόστοργοι) Paul is exhorting us here toward “brotherly love,” “kind affection,” and mutual honor.

We should check the context of this verse. This whole list, in Rom 12:9-18, explains the command in verse 9a: “Let love (ἀγάπη) be without dissimulation” (i.e., hypocrisy). I.e., let love be sincere or genuine. These words, “kindly affectioned,” “brotherly love,” and “in honor preferring,” describe the “love” in vs. 9. Sincere love is kindly affectionate and brotherly, not hypocritical or insincere. That kind of love prefers others more than one’s self.

Paul is telling us here that the church ought to be a place of warm, brotherly love. We should be intentional about showing honor toward one another.

Let’s look at these terms and then consider how the church should demonstrate kind affection, brotherly love, and honorable preference for one another.