1 Peter 3:8

5. Toward Christian Brethren 3:8

1 Peter 3:8-9 Finally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded; not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Expanded Translation

Finally (besides these particular groups to whom I have been writing), all of you be concordant and agreeable, sympathetic and compassionate, loving your Christian brothers and sisters, tender and kind from the heart, humbleminded; not refunding evil for evil, or reviling (railing, abusive speech) for reviling, but, on the contrary, blessing (them); for unto this type of life were you called, in order that you might inherit a blessing.

_______________________

From the various groups he has treated within the church (servants, wives, husbands), he now turns to the entire Christian society.

be ye all likeminded, compassionate,

LIKEMINDEDhomophronof like mind, of the same mind, concordant of one mind (intent, purpose)Thayer. It expresses an attitude of the mind which strives for harmony. We must, as Christians, be giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). Compare 1 Corinthians 1:10. Few of us always agree on how to carry out the thousand details of everyday life, But we should ever strive to have the same basic goals, purposes and motives, that provide the very foundations of Christianity.

COMPASSIONATEsumpathes (sun, meaning with, and pascilo, to suffer, be afflicted): suffering or feeling the like with another, sympathetic. The verb form of this word is used of Christ in Hebrews 4:15 (with the feeling).

The exhortation of Romans 12:15 demonstrates what would happen when this virtue was actually practiced: Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep, When two tuning forks are set on a table, one across from the other, and one is plucked, the other vibrates also. likewise, when the heartstrings of our brethren are plucked, ours will not fail to vibrate with them.

loving as brethren,

This is all one word in the Greek, philadelphos: loving brother or sister, loving one like a brother. Notice the similar word Philadelphia in 1 Peter 1:22.

tenderhearted, humbleminded

TENDERHEARTEDeusplagchnos (from eu, good, well, kind, tender, and splagnon, meaning the inward parts): thus compassionate, tenderhearted; i.e., being tender and kind from the very heart or inside. Such a person would be easily moved by the sorrows or joys of others. See this word also in Ephesians 4:32.

HUMBLEMINDEDtapeinophron (from tapeinos, not rising far from the ground, hence, lowly, plus phran, meaning mind): humbleminded, i.e., having a modest opinion of one's self. In secular writing, this word had the bad sense of being pusillanimous or cowardly. In the Christian life, however, it is a virtue which rises when one has a true estimate of his own worth, ability, and limitations.

not rendering

RENDERINGapodidomi, a common word that sometimes means: to give back, restore, refund, retaliate.

evil for evil

Literally, evil against evil. That is, one should not retaliate with evil when evil is done to him.

reviling for reviling

Again, literally, reviling against reviling. Peter does not endorse the eye for eye or tooth for tooth teaching. In this regard we have the perfect example of Christ, as we saw in 1 Peter 2:23. On this whole subject see Matthew 5:38-42, Romans 12:17-21, 1 Thessalonians 5:15.