Romans 12:10

‘In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another, in honour preferring one another,'

With regard to love of our fellow-Christians it is to be a love of ‘tender affection'. This is a word used of strong family affection. As Christians we are members of a family. And we are to show it. Some members may be less loveable than others, but we are to make no distinctions. The same love must be demonstrated towards all, even the unlovely. And one way in which we will do this is by ‘in honour preferring one another'. Our concern will be that others receive the plaudits that they deserve, and get the opportunity of earning them. Compare Philippians 2:3, ‘in lowliness of mind, each accounting the other as better than himself'. There is to be no self-seeking, but a desire for the elevating of others.

‘In honour preferring one another.' The problem with this translation is that it does not quite accord with the Greek in that the word translated ‘preferring' really means, ‘going before, leading' and then ‘setting an example'. Thus we might translate as ‘in honour, setting an example to one another'. In other words by our honourable behaviour being a good example to all.