Romans 12:10 kjv
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Romans 12:10 nkjv
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
Romans 12:10 niv
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10 esv
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:10 nlt
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Romans 12 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 13:34-35 | "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another..." | New commandment to love one another |
| Jn 15:12 | "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." | Christ's example of love |
| Gal 6:2 | "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." | Practical expression of love through bearing burdens |
| Eph 4:2 | "...with all humility and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love." | Humility and endurance in love |
| Eph 4:32 | "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another..." | Kindness and forgiveness as mutual action |
| Php 2:3-4 | "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." | Esteeming others, humility |
| Col 3:12-13 | "Therefore, as the elect of God... put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another..." | Virtues for interaction within community |
| 1 Thess 4:9 | "But concerning brotherly love... you yourselves are taught by God to love one another." | God-taught mutual love |
| Heb 13:1 | "Let brotherly love continue." | Exhortation for ongoing brotherly love |
| 1 Pet 1:22 | "...love one another fervently with a pure heart," | Fervent and pure brotherly love |
| 1 Pet 2:17 | "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood." | General honor, specific love for believers |
| 1 Pet 3:8 | "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers..." | Compassion and fraternal love |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders... humble yourselves." | Humility in submission |
| 1 Jn 3:11 | "For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." | Fundamental Christian command to love |
| 1 Jn 4:7 | "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God..." | Love originates from God, practice it |
| Lk 14:10-11 | "But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place... For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." | Humility leads to exaltation |
| Mk 9:35 | "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." | Servant leadership, not self-exaltation |
| Rom 13:8 | "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." | Love fulfills the law |
| Rom 15:7 | "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God." | Mutual acceptance based on Christ's example |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "Now I plead with you, brethren, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you..." | Unity and absence of divisions |
| 1 Cor 12:25 | "...that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another." | Mutual care in the body of Christ |
| Pro 27:2 | "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips." | Against self-praise, seeking honor from others |
| Isa 58:7 | "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor into your house...?" | Practical, compassionate acts of care |
| Mic 6:8 | "...what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" | Divine requirements of humility and love |
Romans 12 verses
Romans 12 10 Meaning
Romans 12:10 calls believers to manifest a deep, warm, and natural familial affection towards one another within the Christian community, actively leading the way in showing mutual honor and respect, rather than seeking it for themselves. It advocates for a profound, selfless love that is expressed through proactive humility and deferential regard for fellow believers.
Romans 12 10 Context
Romans chapter 12 marks a significant transition in Paul's letter, moving from the foundational theological exposition of chapters 1-11 to practical application for Christian living. After establishing the doctrines of sin, salvation, and God's sovereign plan, Paul begins to detail what a transformed life, offered as a "living sacrifice" (Rom 12:1-2), truly looks like within the body of Christ. Verses 3-8 discuss the humble use of spiritual gifts for the common good. Verses 9-21 then offer a series of concise ethical exhortations regarding Christian love and community behavior, often using "one another" commands. Romans 12:10 is embedded within this cluster of commands, providing specific guidance on how believers are to relate in affection and honor, thereby promoting unity and mutual edification against the backdrop of a Roman culture that highly valued personal honor and status, often achieved through self-promotion and competition. Paul's instruction radically redefines honor by instructing believers to actively grant it to others.
Romans 12 10 Word analysis
Be kindly affectionate (Φιλόστοργοι - Philostorgoi):
- Word: A unique, rare compound Greek word in the New Testament.
- Significance: Blends philos (friendship love, fondness) with storge (natural, familial affection, like that between parents and children or siblings).
- Meaning: Paul is calling for more than mere friendliness; he demands a deep, tender, almost instinctive bond, characteristic of a loving family, imbued with natural warmth and devoted care.
- Connotation: It speaks to a profound, intrinsic, and gentle concern for others within the Christian family.
to one another (εἰς ἀλλήλους - eis allēlous):
- Meaning: Expresses reciprocity and mutual direction. This affection is to be given and received among all members.
with brotherly love (τῇ φιλαδελφίᾳ - tē philadelphia):
- Word: Philadelphia (brotherly love) is a common New Testament term for love among Christians.
- Significance: While philadelphia broadly covers the affection for fellow believers, its combination with philostorgos here intensifies its meaning. It moves beyond a general "brotherhood" into a very deep, familial feeling of kinship.
- Meaning: Reinforces the idea of believers as a family, bound by deep, intrinsic, shared affection.
in honor (τῇ τιμῇ - tē timē):
- Word: Timē refers to honor, respect, esteem, value, or a high regard.
- Significance: In the Roman context, honor was central to social standing and identity, often pursued aggressively for oneself.
- Meaning: Paul directs believers to regard others with high esteem and show respect.
giving preference (προηγούμενοι - proēgoumenoi):
- Word: The participle of proēgeomai, meaning "to go before," "to lead the way," "to show the way."
- Significance: It is active and proactive. It doesn't mean passively waiting to receive honor, but taking the initiative to give it. It counters the cultural drive for self-promotion.
- Meaning: Actively seeking out opportunities to confer honor, esteem, and respect upon fellow believers, initiating the act of recognition and deferral. It signifies being the first to serve and value.
to one another (ἀλλήλους - allēlous):
- Meaning: Reiterates the reciprocal nature of the command; believers are to actively give preference in honor to each other.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love": This phrase paints a picture of the internal warmth and closeness expected within the Christian community. It combines a deep, natural, family-like affection (philostorgos) with the conscious choice to love fellow believers (philadelphia). It calls for a tenderness that runs deep, making the church feel like an immediate and loving household, where genuine concern and comfort are freely shared and deeply felt, surpassing mere formal association.
"in honor giving preference to one another": This phrase then provides the practical outworking of that deep affection, specifically in the realm of respect and status. It instructs believers not to wait to be honored but to actively take the initiative to confer honor upon others. This means prioritizing others' dignity, respect, and welfare above one's own, intentionally looking for ways to uplift and esteem them. This attitude fundamentally challenges human pride and the natural inclination to seek personal recognition, replacing it with a selfless posture that builds unity and demonstrates humility within the Body of Christ.
Romans 12 10 Bonus section
The specific choice of the Greek term philostorgos is notable because it's a rare and strong descriptor for love that implies an almost biological or natural familial bond. While agape is often described as a divinely-sourced, self-sacrificing love and philia as friendship love, storge (from which philostorgos is derived) represents the natural, tender affection. Paul's use here indicates that Christian community love is meant to be deeply embedded, unforced, and tender, as innate as the love within a family, alongside the deliberate, willed aspect of philadelphia. This underscores that Christian love is both a divine gift (expressed through agape which allows for philadelphia) and a deeply personal, human, and heartfelt connection that grows naturally through genuine fellowship. The instruction to proēgoumenoi also carries the sense of going first as a moral leader or guide, not just being compliant. It encourages believers to become pacesetters in humility and honoring others.
Romans 12 10 Commentary
Romans 12:10 is a foundational directive for the functional ethics of the church, instructing believers to cultivate an inward disposition of deep, familial love, and an outward practice of proactive deference. The unusual pairing of philostorgos with philadelphia elevates the standard of Christian love from mere camaraderie to an intimate, tender bond akin to that found within the closest family. This intense affection is not passive but is to be actively expressed through "giving preference in honor." This means taking the initiative to show respect, acknowledge worth, and place others' dignity above one's own. It stands in stark contrast to cultural norms, both then and now, that encourage self-advancement and competition for status. Practicing this command fosters genuine community, safeguards against pride and contention, and vividly demonstrates the transformative power of the gospel in daily relational living.