Hebrews 13:1

¶ Let brotherly love continue.

Let {G3306} brotherly love {G5360} continue {G3306}.

Let brotherly friendship continue;

Continue in brotherly love.

Let love of the brethren continue.

Hebrews 13:1 KJV: "Let brotherly love continue."

Context

Hebrews 13:1 opens the final chapter of this profound epistle, shifting from deep theological exposition and warnings against apostasy to practical exhortations for Christian living. After emphasizing the superiority of Christ's new covenant and the need for perseverance in Hebrews 12, the author transitions to specific commands that demonstrate genuine faith. This verse serves as a foundational command for the community, setting the tone for the practical duties that follow, such as hospitality, remembering prisoners, and honoring marriage.

Key Themes

  • Enduring Christian Love: The primary command is for "brotherly love" to "continue." This isn't a suggestion but an imperative for believers to maintain and deepen their affection for one another, especially in the face of external pressures or internal disagreements. It speaks to the ongoing nature of Christian fellowship and the importance of unity.
  • Community and Fellowship: This verse underscores the vital role of strong, loving relationships within the Christian community. It's a call to actively cultivate and preserve the bonds that tie believers together as a spiritual family, reflecting the very nature of God.
  • Practical Discipleship: "Brotherly love" is not merely an abstract concept but a practical outworking of faith. It sets the stage for other tangible actions described in the subsequent verses, illustrating that true faith is always accompanied by visible acts of love and service to others.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "brotherly love" translates the Greek word philadelphia (φιλαδελφία). This term specifically denotes the affectionate love shared among brothers and sisters, particularly within a family or a close-knit community. While distinct from agape (the unconditional, divine love), philadelphia is a natural outflow of agape within the Christian family. It highlights a deep sense of kinship, loyalty, and mutual care that should characterize the body of Christ. The command "let... continue" (from the Greek verb μένω, menō) implies that this love should remain, abide, or endure, suggesting that it's a constant, unwavering quality, not something that fades or is easily abandoned.

Reflection and Application

Hebrews 13:1 calls every believer to actively participate in fostering a loving and supportive Christian environment. In a world often marked by division and individualism, this verse reminds us of the profound importance of Christian community. To "let brotherly love continue" means to:

  • Prioritize Relationships: Actively seek to build and maintain strong, loving connections with fellow believers.
  • Practice Forgiveness: Be quick to forgive and extend grace, understanding that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).
  • Show Compassion: Be sensitive to the needs and struggles of others within the church, offering practical help and emotional support.
  • Persevere in Unity: Despite differences or challenges, strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).

This continuing brotherly love is a powerful testimony to the world and a cornerstone of a healthy, thriving church, reflecting Christ's new commandment to love one another.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 John 4:20

    If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

  • 1 John 5:1

    ¶ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

  • 1 Peter 3:8

    ¶ Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous:

  • 1 Peter 1:22

    Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:

  • 2 Peter 1:7

    And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

  • 1 Peter 2:17

    Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

  • 2 John 1:5

    ¶ And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
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