Art Toombs Ministries
Online Bible Commentary
Continue Brotherly Love
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--since you yourselves are in the body also. (NKJV}
The early Eastern Church (Dionysius and Clement, both of Alexandria), from the second century, claimed Paul was the writer of Hebrews. The Western Church later agreed.
Luke translated the letter to the Hebrews into Greek, according to Clement in the second century. Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment and was his amanuensis during Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11).
It is likely that Luke was also Paul’s amanuensis for this letter. My conclusion is that this was Paul’s last writing, written in late 67-early 68 A.D.
In this letter, Paul is writing to Hebrews who have converted to Christianity from Judaism. Family and friends are likely pressuring them to return to Judaism, so Paul is writing to these Hebrew Christians to encourage them to remain steadfast in their faith and not to return to Judaism.
The book of Hebrews is divided into two main topics Through Hebrews 10:18 the topic is the superiority of Christ to Judaism. The rest of the book is devoted to exhortations to obedient living, a fitting conclusion to Paul’s writings.
Initially, in this second topic, Paul gave examples of great men and women of faith who were honored for their obedient living. Now, he is exhorting Christians to obedient living.
In this passage, Paul exhorts the Hebrew Christians to three actions. The third exhortation is to remember the prisoners, which is Paul’s current condition. This could be another indication that Paul is the writer.
Paul begins by writing “Let brotherly love continue” (v. 1). The literal translation of the Greek for verse one is: “The brotherly love let remain.”
The word translated “brotherly love” is the word “philadelphia”. The city of Philadelphia is called the city of brotherly love.
According to Strong’s Bible Concordance, “philadelphia” is from the Greek word “phileo”, which means to love as a friend. It is a love chiefly of the heart. It refers to the love of natural siblings, and to the love among believers.
In contrast, “agape” love is a wider love, embracing especially the judgment and deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty, and propriety. It is a love of affection or benevolence. It is a love that is chiefly of the head, or will.
“Agape” is to love in the social or moral sense. It is unconditional love, and the word for love that is most used in the New Testament.
So, Paul is calling for us to exhibit friendship love to our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is important to know because it explains the meaning of this passage.
The principles in this passage can be applied to all people we encounter, and they should. But in this passage, it refers to our relations just with other Christians.
Next, Paul writes “Do not forget to entertain strangers” (v. 2a). We are exhorted to show hospitality to strangers.
First century Christians were being persecuted at every turn. Because of their faith, they were denied jobs and blackballed by society, which consisted mostly of Jews.
Because of this, many were homeless, and needed to be housed by their brothers and sisters in Christ. This was a call to Christians to offer their homes to other believers in need.
When we offer our homes to other Christians, we not only help them, but it can also be a blessing for us and our families. I know from personal experience that we can remember, and be blessed by, their testimonies.
Paul continues with “for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels (v. 2b). Some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
For example, Abraham was hospitable to three strangers, two angels and the preincarnate Christ Himself. He was blessed with the news from the Lord that he would have a son, Jacob, the following year (Gen. 18:1-15).
The Lord also confided in him the judgment that He would bring upon Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sin of homosexuality (Gen. 18:16-33). It is always possible that when we are hospitable we may be showing hospitality to angels without even knowing it.
The third, and final, exhortation in this passage is to “Remember the prisoners” (v. 3a). Many first century Christians were imprisoned for their faith.
Paul continues with “as if chained with them” (v. 3b). We are called to remember them as if we were together with them in prison.
Christians are always subject to being imprisoned for their faith. Today, many Christians around the world are imprisoned because of their faith. We are to remember them through our visits, gifts, support, and, most of all, through our prayers.
Paul concludes this passage with “those who are mistreated--since you yourselves are in the body also” (v. 3c). Also, we are called to continue to remember those who are mistreated because we are also Christians who are subject to mistreatment.
Christians have always been mistreated because of their faith. It could happen to any of us at any time.
It is happening more and more frequently in the United States, We are to help all Christians that are mistreated, just as if it was we who are suffering. Some day it may very well be us.
As Christians, we are to continue to exhibit friendship love to fellow Christians, our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to love everybody, but not everybody is our friend. Some intend to do us harm.
Therefore, we should especially focus our love on our fellow Christians. We should always be there for them.
We should open our homes to them. We should help them if they are mistreated, or even imprisoned, for their faith. We should continue to offer them brotherly love.