Deeper Reflection
Our genuine love is to be directed, next, towards other Christians. In verse 10a, the Greek word philostorgos (ESV: “love”; NASB: “be devoted to”) typically describes parental love, while philadelphia (ESV: “brotherly affection”; NASB: “brotherly love”) designates love between siblings. Both words originally denote familial blood relationships, but Paul applies them here to the mutual affection within God’s family.10Paul also exhorts us in verse 10b to show mutual honour, giving credit to others over ourselves. This may mean either to “take the lead in honoring one another” (CSB), or to “give preference to one another in honor” (NASB).11 Elsewhere, Paul instructs Christians to “in humility consider others as more important than yourselves” (Phil 2:3b CSB; “count others more significant than yourselves”, ESV).Generosity moves us to “share with God’s people who are in need” (v.13a, NIV). Indeed, the Jerusalem church “had all things in common” and believers willingly sold private possessions and distributed the proceeds to all “as any had need”12. The church in Antioch also gave, “everyone according to his ability”, to the needs of believers in Judea.13Hospitality ministers to visitors. In verse 13b, “to show hospitality” is translated from the Greek word philoxenia, literally “love of strangers”. As inns were few in Paul’s time, it was crucial for believers to open their homes to travelling visitors, especially Christian missionaries, providing food and shelter without charge. Christians must pursue hospitality – gladly, not grudgingly (as may have sometimes occurred, see 1 Pet 4:9).14When we practise mutual affection, mutual honour, generosity and hospitality within the church, we are acting in love together as one family in God.

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¹⁰ John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans: God’s Good News for the World, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 331 ¹¹ This exhortation, in its original language, can be read either way, both correctly. ¹² Acts 2:44-45; also 4:32, 34-37. ¹³ Acts 11:27-30. ¹⁴ John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans: God’s Good News for the World, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 332; also Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, 779-780.