The last virtue we studied, “godliness,” is significantly placed on Peter's list of essential virtues. It links the previous personal virtues with the following two social ones. If our personal relationship with God is right, so will be our relationship with others. If the vertical dimension is right, the horizontal will be also. “Brotherly kindness” is the fruit of the cultivating of the previous personal virtues.
This expression is actually one word in the Greek – “philadelphia.” It speaks of fraternal affection and kindness. In secular Greek usage the word stood merely for true friendship, but the Christians of the first century gave it a special meaning to include the affectionate regard and the “kindred spirit” that came to characterize the “household of faith.”
Such a spirit in action is indeed beautiful to behold! Psalm 133:1 declares, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” It is beautiful, but so rare.
The very fact that considerable emphasis is given to this matter of brotherly kindness in the New Testament shows both its importance and its difficulty. It requires real grace and Christian maturity to cultivate this virtue. That's why it is almost last on the list. We are going to have to honestly evaluate ourselves and work at making our church a true “Philadelphia.” It won't just happen.
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Bob Vradenburgh is the senior pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has spent 40 years in full-time Christian service: the first 20 years as a missionary and the past 20 years in the pastorate. Bob’s passion is the expository preaching of God’s Word,...
