Love One Another

1 Thessalonians 4:9 “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.”

One thing I love in reading and studying the Bible is a good “word study” of Scripture for the full meaning of the original text by the inspired writer. That’s what we find in the Bible passage above. The Christian life involves both individual accountability and interpersonal involvement. Each of us is individually responsible for maintaining the right sort of relationship to others, especially others in our Christian fellowship.

A word study that I read on this text speaks of the beautiful Greek word is “allelon”, often translated “one another.” For example, we are commanded: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” - Ephesians 4:32.  Furthermore, we are to “be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility” - (1Peter 5:5), “be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” – (Romans 12:10).

Galatians 5:13 “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”

The study states that there are many other such instructions, all built around the beautiful phrase “one another.” We are also to “exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” - Hebrews 3:13 and to “let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” – Hebrews 10:24. “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” – 1 Peter 4:9. We are told: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” – Galatians 6:2.

The study goes on to tell us that in times of sorrow, Christians are directed to “comfort one another with these words” - 1 Thessalonians 4:18. “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and “pray one for another” – James 5:16. But by far the most frequently repeated admonition is that in our text: “Love one another!” There are no less than 15 times where this command is given in the New Testament. Most significantly of all, it is Christ’s own “new commandment” … “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one another” – John 13:34-35.

“Allelon”, its a beautiful Greek word. I pray that this “Word Study” was a blessing to you. 

Love one another.

In Christ, Brian