Bible Strands
2 Peter 1:7
and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The apostle Peter addresses early Christian communities to complete a sequential list of virtues he initiated in the preceding verse. He frames this instruction as the culminating step in a deliberate process of spiritual maturation.
The words — The text highlights εὐσέβεια (eusebeia), literally "godliness" or reverent devotion to God, and φιλαδελφία (philadelphia), literally "brotherly affection" or kinship love. These terms mark the transition from vertical reverence to horizontal communal commitment.
The thread — This movement from reverence to relational love runs through Hebrews 13:1, Romans 12:10, and 1 Thessalonians 3:12. Each passage treats internal devotion as the necessary foundation for outward, sustained care.
Why it lands — The text requires believers to translate reverence for God into consistent, practical treatment of fellow believers. It demands active cultivation of these qualities to prevent spiritual ineffectiveness.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 13:1 Continue in brotherly love.
- Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
- Colossians 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
- John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.
- Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
- 1 Peter 2:17 Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
- 1 John 3:16 By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.