Brotherly love, brotherly affection, or brotherly kindness?
Some Bibles would put a phrase like ‘brotherly affection’ or ‘brotherly kindness’ here, but we use ‘brotherly love’. Why?
The Greek source uses the word philadelphian. The first part, phila–, refers to the love a person may have for a close friend (the related Greek word phileo means friend). Usually philea is viewed as a lesser form of love (or affection). But is that true?
Not really. Remember that AbraHam was called God’s friend (phileo). The second part, –adelphos, means brothers. So, philadelphian refers to a close brotherly love or friendship.
The context of Peter’s words at 2 Peter 1:7 appears to show that brotherly love is one step away from achieving agape (a love that is selfless and pure). So for the all of the above reasons, we use the words ‘brotherly love’ here rather than mere ‘affection’ or ‘kindness’.