Lexical Summary philostorgos: Devoted, loving dearly, tenderly affectionate Original Word: φιλόστοργος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance kindly affectioned. From philos and storge (cherishing one's kindred, especially parents or children); fond of natural relatives, i.e. Fraternal towards fellow Christian -- kindly affectioned. see GREEK philos HELPS Word-studies 5387 philóstorgos (from 5384 /phílos, "lover, friend" and storgē, "natural or family love") – properly, a lover of family (used only in Ro 12:10). 5387 /philóstorgos ("devoted love, shown by family-members") is that special affection shared between members of God's family – people born-again (divinely adopted) and serving the same (heavenly) Father! NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom philos and storgé (family affection) Definition tenderly loving NASB Translation devoted (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5387: φιλόστοργοςφιλόστοργος, φιλοστοργον (φίλος, and στοργή the mutual love of parents and children; also of husbands and wives), loving affection, prone to love, loving tenderly; used chiefly of the reciprocal tenderness of parents and children: τῇ φιλαδελφία (dative of respect) εἰς ἀλλήλους (R. V. in love of the brethren tenderly affectioned one to another), Romans 12:10. (Xenophon, Plutarch, Lucian, Aelian, others) Cf. Fritzsche, Commentary on Romans, vol. iii., p. 69. Topical Lexicon Philostorgos—Devoted Family AffectionBiblical Context Romans 12:10 supplies the sole New Testament occurrence: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another” (Berean Standard Bible). Placed among the practical exhortations that follow Paul’s call to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2), the term marks the first corporate instruction after the catalog of spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8). It signals that whatever gifting the Spirit bestows, the engine of Christian community is an affection ordinarily reserved for blood relatives but now commanded among those joined by the blood of Christ. Layered Vocabulary of Love in the New Testament The Spirit-inspired writers employ several complementary words for love: Philostorgos thus deepens philadelphia. It calls believers not merely to courteous goodwill but to the instinctive, protective attachment that binds a household together. Historical and Cultural Background In Greco-Roman ethics storgē described the natural bond within the oikos—parents toward children, siblings toward each other, masters toward faithful servants. Outside that sphere it was rarely expected. Paul’s use is therefore counter-cultural: he transfers the sentiment from the private family circle to the diverse, sometimes socially fragmented, assembly of saints in Rome. The church becomes a new household where ethnic, economic, and gender divides (cf. Romans 10:12; Galatians 3:28) are healed by shared adoption (Romans 8:15). Theological Significance 1. Adoption in Christ: Because believers jointly cry, “Abba, Father,” the Spirit cultivates family affection among them (Romans 8:15-17). Harmony with the Wider Canon • Hebrews 13:1: “Continue in brotherly love.” Philostorgos furnishes the emotional fuel for this command. Witness in Early Church History Pagan observers such as Tertullian’s antagonists remarked, “See how they love one another,” testifying that early Christian charity surpassed tribal limits. In the second century, the Didache’s insistence on daily corporate prayer and hospitality to travelers shows philostorgos maturing into structured ministry. Pastoral and Ministry Application 1. Congregational Life: Small groups, inter-generational mentoring, and shared benevolence funds nurture family devotion. Contemporary Relevance Modern individualism can erode Christian community. Recovering philostorgos calls believers to resist consumer-church mentalities, commit to local assemblies, and bear one another’s burdens as kin (Galatians 6:2). In an age of fractured families, the church’s lived devotion becomes a compelling apologetic, displaying the gospel’s power to create a new, eternal household of God. Forms and Transliterations φιλοστοργοι φιλόστοργοι philostorgoi philóstorgoiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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