1 Peter 3:8

3:8-13 Though Christians cannot always be exactly of the same mind, yet they should have compassion one of another, and love as brethren. If any man desires to live comfortably on earth, or to possess eternal life in heaven, he must bridle his tongue from wicked, abusive, or deceitful words. He must forsake and keep far from evil actions, do all the good he can, and seek peace with all men. For God, all-wise and every where present, watches over the righteous, and takes care of them. None could or should harm those who copied the example of Christ, who is perfect goodness, and did good to others as his followers.

1 Peter 3:8-9 . Finally — This section of the epistle reaches to 1 Peter 4:11 . The apostle seems to have added the rest afterward. Be ye all of one mind — Ομοφρονες , unanimous; guarding against all unnecessary occasion of contention: see on Romans 12:16 : have compassion, &c. — Greek, συμπαθεις , sympathizing with each other; rejoicing and sorrowing together: love all believers as brethren: be pitiful — Toward the afflicted. The original word, ευσπλαγχνοι , is, literally, of good bowels. The meaning is, Be moved with compassion on beholding the weaknesses and distresses of others, and do all you can to assist and relieve them. Be courteous — To all men. Courtesy is such a behaviour toward equals and inferiors as shows respect mixed with love. Not rendering evil for evil — See on Matthew 5:39 ; or railing for railing — One reproachful speech for another; but contrariwise, blessing — Even to those that curse you, according to Christ’s precept; wishing and praying for their welfare, and endeavouring to promote it. Knowing that ye are thereunto called — Namely, to be of this benevolent and beneficent forgiving temper: that ye should inherit a blessing, immense and eternal. Therefore their railing cannot hurt you; and by blessing them, you imitate God, who blesses you.

Of one mind (ὁμόφρονες) Rev., like-minded. Only here in New Testament. Compare Romans 12:16; Romans 15:5; Philippians 2:2, etc. Indicating unity of thought and feeling. From ὁμός, one and the same, and φρήν, the mind. Having compassion one of another (συμπαθεῖς) Only here in New Testament, though the kindred verb is found Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 10:34. The rendering is needlessly diffuse. Rev., much better, compassionate; sympathetic, in margin. Interchange of fellow-feeling in joy or sorrow. Our popular usage errs in limiting sympathy to sorrow. Love as brethren (φιλάδελφοι) Rev., more strictly, loving as brethren. Only here in New Testament. Pitiful (εὔσπλαγχνοι) Only here and Ephesians 4:32. Rev., better, tender-hearted. From εὖ, well, and σπλάγχνα, the nobler entrails, which are regarded as the seat of the affections, and hence equivalent to our popular use of heart. The original sense has given rise to the unfortunate translation bowels in the A. V., which occurs in its literal meaning only at Acts 1:18. Courteous The A. V. has here followed the reading of the Tex. Rec., φιλόφρονες. But the best texts read ταπεινόφρονες, humble-minded. So Rev. This occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, though the kindred noun ταπεινοφροσύνη, humility, is found often. See on ταπεινός, lowly, notes on Matthew 11:29.

1 Peter 3:8 . Πάντες , all ) Before this, from ch. 1 Peter 2:18 , he has been describing particular duties.— ὀμόφρονες , unanimous ) in mind. The three parts of 1 Peter 3:8-9 , by the figure Chiasmus,[28] in inverted order answer to the psalm which is repeated in 1 Peter 3:10-11 , by three clauses (members).[29]— ΣΥΜΑΠΑΘΕῖς , having the same feelings with, sympathising ) in prosperity and adversity. Raphelius proves from Polybius the wide sense in which the word is used: Θάρσος ἐμβαλεῖν καὶ συμπαθεῖς ποιῆσαι τοὺς παρακαλουμένους , to inspire confidence, and make those who are exhorted entertain the same feelings with himself .— φιλάδελφοι , having brotherly love ) towards the saints.— εὔσπλαγχνοι , pitiful ) towards the afflicted. [28] See Append. on CHIASMUS. [29] Therefore the expression τὸ δὲ τέλος refers not to the conclusion of the whole Epistle, but to the exhortation to maintain a conversation such as is right, 1 Peter 3:11 .—V. g.

Be ye all of one mind; either, be of one mind in the things of faith, and then this implies the consent of the understanding, and the next, that of the affections; or, be united both in faith and affection: see Romans 12:16 2 Corinthians 13:11 Philippians 4:2 . Having compassion one of another: mutually affected with each other’s good or evil, Romans 12:15 Hebrews 10:34 13:3 . This he joins with the other as the consequent of it; they that are united in faith and love are of the same body; and where one member suffers, the rest suffer, 1 Corinthians 12:26 . Love as brethren; viz. in Christ: see 1 Peter 3:17 . Be pitiful; ready to show mercy, of a merciful disposition, Ephesians 4:32 Colossians 3:12 . Be courteous; kind, affable, humane, of a sweet conversation, in opposition to sourness and moroseness: the same word is used, Acts 27:3 .

8. General summary of relative duty, after having detailed particular duties from 1Pe 2:18. of one mind—as to the faith. having compassion one of another—Greek, "sympathizing" in the joy and sorrow of others. love as brethren—Greek, "loving the brethren." pitiful—towards the afflicted. courteous—genuine Christian politeness; not the tinsel of the world's politeness; stamped with unfeigned love on one side, and humility on the other. But the oldest manuscripts read, "humble-minded." It is slightly different from "humble," in that it marks a conscious effort to be truly humble.

8 . Finally, be ye all of one mind ] From the two special relations which were the groundwork of social life, the Apostle passes to wider and more general precepts. The adjective for “of one mind” (not found elsewhere in the New Testament) implies, like the corresponding verb in Romans 12:16 ; Romans 15:5 , and elsewhere, unity of aim and purpose. That for “having compassion one of another” (this also used only by St Peter in the New Testament) exactly answers, as describing the temper that rejoices with those that rejoice and weeps with them that weep, to our word sympathizing . love as brethren ] Here also we have an adjective peculiar to St Peter. The corresponding substantive has met us in ch. 1 Peter 1:22 . It may mean either what the English version gives, or “lovers of the brethren.” On the whole the latter meaning seems preferable. pitiful ] The history of the word, literally meaning “good-hearted,” affords an interesting illustration of the influence of Christian thought. It was used by Greek writers, especially Greek medical writers, such as Hippocrates (p. 89 c), to describe what we should call the sanguine or courageous temperament.

By St Peter and St Paul ( Ephesians 4:32 ), it is used, as the context in each case shews, for the emotional temper which shews itself in pity and affection. be courteous ] The MSS. present two readings, one of which, “courteous” or better, perhaps, friendly , is a fair rendering, and the other a word not found elsewhere, but meaning “lowly” or “humble,” and corresponding to the noun “humility” in Acts 20:19 ; Php 2:3 ; 1 Peter 5:5 .

Verse 8. - Finally . St. Peter is bringing to a close the exhortations to submission, which depend on the imperative in 1 Peter 2:13 . He turns from particular classes and relations to the whole Christian community, and describes what they ought to be in five Greek words, the first three of which are found nowhere else in the Greek Scriptures. Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; literally, sympathizing ; feeling with others, rejoicing with them that do rejoice, and weeping with them that weep. Love as brethren. An adjective ( φιλάδελφι ) in the Greek; the corresponding substantive occurs in 1 Peter 1:22 . Be pitiful . This word ( εὔσπλαγχνος ) has undergone a remarkable change of meaning. In Hippocrates, quoted by Huther, it is used literally of one whose viscera are healthy; it is also sometimes used figuratively, as equivalent to εὐκάρδιος ἀνδρεῖος ; "goodhearted" with the heathen would mean "brave;" with Christian writers "tender," "pitiful." Be courteous. This represents a reading ( φιλόφρονες ) which has very little support. The true reading is ταπεινόφρονες , humble-minded. 1 Peter 3:8

(8) Finally, be ye all. —A return from the special to the general. St. Peter has not, however, forgotten the purpose with which the former rules were given; his thought is still how to produce a right impression on the unbelieving world, although some of these injunctions touch only internal relations between members of the Church. “By this shall all men ” says our Lord, “know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” ( John 13:35 ); and, again, “That they all may be one . . . that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” ( John 17:21 ). Accordingly, this verse, like 1Peter 3:1 ; 1Peter 3:7 , is attached to 1Peter 2:13 , and should be translated, Finally, being all. Of one mind.—Or, unanimous. Though the Greek word does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament, the duty is enjoined often, e.g., Romans 12:16; 2Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 2:2. It involves an agreement not only in doctrine but in practical aims, the affections of all being in the same direction. This unanimity requires expression to be conscious, and therefore it strikes at the root of the reserve by which Christian people do not open out their hearts to each other in the matter of religion. Such unity of mind is no product of indifference, which Leighton describes as “not a knitting together, but a freezing together, as cold congregates all bodies how heterogeneous soever, sticks, stones, and water.” Having compassion one of another.—Literally, sympathetic.