Questions for 2/12: Brotherly Love

The Christian Virtues
Discussion Sheet #10
Brotherly Love/Liberality

1. Brotherly Love (philadelphia)

The Bible makes specific statements about the sources, nature, and outcomes of brotherly love. For each of these verses, identify an insight we gain into brotherly love, and then think of a disposition or action that is the opposite of the loving disposition or action described in the passage.

Romans 12:10
1 Thessalonians 4:9
Hebrews 13:1
1 Peter 1:22
2 Peter 1:7

2. Closely related to “love of the brother” (philadelphia) is hospitality (philozenia), or, literally, “love of the stranger.” What do the following passages instruct us about hospitality? What seems to be the relationship between brotherly love and love toward strangers?

Romans 12:13
1 Timothy 3:2
Titus 1:8
Hebrews 13:2
1 Peter 4:9

3. “Liberality/Generosity” (aplotēs) is closely related to “brotherly love” in the Scriptures. What are some examples of liberality/generosity in the Bible? Who is generous? In what way?

Matthew 20:15
Luke 21:1-4
Acts 10:2
2 Corinthians 8:2
James 1:5

4. What types of actions should exhibit the quality of liberality?

Romans 12:8
2 Corinthians 8:20
1 Timothy 6:18

5. In what does liberality result?
Luke 12:33
2 Corinthians 9:11
2 Corinthians 9:13