“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
My Notes
What Does Romans 12:10 Mean?
Paul describes how believers should treat one another. "Be kindly affectioned" (philostorgos) combines familial love with brotherly love. This is the warm, natural affection of a close family — not formal politeness but genuine tenderness.
"In honour preferring one another" means placing others ahead of yourself in respect and recognition. The Greek (proegeomai) means to lead the way in showing honor — to compete in a race where the goal is honoring others rather than yourself.
The image is of a community where everyone is racing to honor each other rather than to be honored. It is a radical inversion of the normal social dynamic where people jockey for position.
This verse is part of Romans 12's practical instructions for community life. Paul has just described the church as one body with many members. This verse describes how those members should actually relate — with familial warmth and competitive generosity.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does 'kindly affectioned' look like in your community or church?
- 2.Where do you struggle to prefer others above yourself?
- 3.What would a community look like where everyone competed to honor each other?
- 4.Who could you specifically honor this week and how would you do it?
Devotional
Be kindly affectioned. The word Paul uses is the kind of love you feel for family — not the polite tolerance of acquaintances, but the deep, instinctive warmth of people who belong to each other.
In honour preferring one another. Imagine a community where everyone is trying to be second. Where the competition is not for the spotlight but for the privilege of putting someone else in it.
This is countercultural in every era. We are trained to self-promote, to make sure our contributions are seen. Paul says: race to honor others. Let your first instinct be to lift someone else up rather than yourself.
The beauty of this kind of community is that nobody gets overlooked. If everyone is competing to honor others, then everyone ends up honored.
Who in your life could you honor today — genuinely, without expecting anything in return?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love,.... This is one branch of that love, before advised to, which…
Be kindly affectioned - The word used here occurs no where else in the New Testament. It properly denotes tender…
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love - It is difficult to give a simple translation of the original:…
We may observe here, according to the scheme mentioned in the contents, the apostle's exhortations,
I. Concerning our…
Be kindly, &c. Lit. In point of your brotherly love [be] affectionate to one another. The word rendered…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture