anJ, in the middle, to attach one's self to any person or thing. The words evil and good, in this passage, may he understood of moral good and evil ; and the exhortation be considered as a general direction to hate the one and love the other. But the great majority of commentators, out of regard to the context, take the terms in a restricted sense, making the former mean injurious, and the latter kind. The sense of the whole verse would then be, ' Let love be sincere ; strive to avoid what is inju- rious to others, and earnestly endeavour to do whatever is kind and use- ful.' As the words themselves admit of either of these interpretations, tlie choice between them depends upon the context. The latter is, on this ground, perhaps, to be preferred.
(10) Be kindly affectioned one to another with Irotherly love, in ho- nour preferring one another. ' As to brotherly love, be kindly affec- tioned one towards another.' This exhortation seems to have special reference to Christians. The word used by the apostle expresses pro- perly the strong natural affection between parents and children, but is applied also to tender affection of any kind. Here, no doubt, the idea is, that Christians should love each other with the same sincerity and tenderness as if they were the nearest relatives.
In honour preferring one another. This passage, thus translated, cannot be understood otherwise than as an exhortation to humility ; and such is the interpretation generally given to it. But the word rendered to prefer never occurs in this sense elsewhere. It means properly to go before, to lead, and then, figuratively, to set an example. And the word translated honour may mean deference, respect, and even kindness. The sense of the clause may then be, ' as to respect and kindness, going be- fore each other, or setting an example one to another.' This interpreta- tion, which is given by most of the recent commentators, is not only better suited to the meaning of the words, but also to the context. The idea is, that Christians should not only love one another, but endeavour to excel each other in all acts of mutual respect and kindness.
(11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. The love to which the apostle exhorts his readers is not inactive or cold ; on the contrary, it manifests itself in diligence, zeal, and devotion to God. The word rendered business properly means haste, zeal, activity. \ The exhortation has not the reference which our version would naturally suggest, viz. to the active performance of our several vocations ; it refers rather to religious activity. ' As to activity or diligence (i. e. what re-, ■ lates to this point), do not grow weary, or be indolent; on the contrary, be fervent in spirit.' The word spirit is by many understood of the Holy Spirit ; it most naturally refers to the mind ; compare Acts 18 : 25, where it is said of Apollos, " being fervent in spirit (i. e. zealous), he spake and taught diligently." This clause, therefore, stands in opposition to the preceding. Instead of being inactive, we should be zealous.
Serving the Lord, i. e. doing service to the Lord, influenced in our activity and zeal by a desire to serve Christ. This member of the sen