The term “brotherly love” came to prominence with the Christian Gospel. Prior to this, the Greeks and Romans practised infanticide, rape and violence as a matter of form.

Jesus introduced brotherly love as a new Christian commandment, by which they would know His disciples Jn 13:34-35.

It is a premium mark of the godly.   It is not the same as herd mentality or group bonding.

Some ungodly people like or even love the godly, but not because they are godly but because they are loveable, nice people, or they may be a relative, or such like.

On the other hand, brotherly love between the brethren is not because they like their company but because they see something of the grace or character of Christ in each other, either in their behaviour or conversation.

The apostle John spoke about this Christian fellowship between the brethren 1Jn 1:3,6-7.  It is based on their fellowship with the Father, so that they have something spiritual to talk about.

If one never converses with other people it is very difficult to determine whether they have Christian character and conversation.

There are some people who are so morose and private that they just do not want to know other people or, worse, that they have such prejudices that they do not want to know the godly. This is quite a dangerous character to have as it suggests that they have still to taste the grace of Christ in such a way as to wish to share it with others Ps 66:16.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.”

Psalm 34:8

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24 May 2023: The content of Christian fellowship.