One spring evening in 2021, a small group of us believers gathered in the quaint, little town of Mount Airy, Maryland, for a time of fellowship. We did this multiple times a week and oftentimes outside the town’s abandoned First National Bank, specifically the parklet on the backside of the historic building that made the would-be idle property useful.
When I say we — this small group of said believers — I mean that we weren’t religiously associated with one church, associated by Sunday services alone. We simply gathered to cultivate and enjoy like-mindedness in Christ Jesus. But that pure and simple takeaway didn’t occur to me until recently when I found a piece of paper that listed 59 scriptures under the umbrella of a very intentional theme.
A wise man introduced The 59 One Anothers Of The New Testament on the piece of printer paper that one spring evening nearly three years ago. While it’s by no means the be-all, end-all for Christian living, it certainly models an honorable standard for how we ought to treat one another.
It’s on my heart this year to create more content magnifying the Christ life, God’s nature and Kingdom living. I feel with the skillset I’ve developed as an auto racing journalist — by quest to find the truth and deeper meaning in my reporting and thereby present those findings in story form — it’s only right I begin thinking and creating this way, pointing toward The Way.
Some context on the phrase one another: It originates from the Greek word allelon, which means one another, each other, mutually, reciprocally. The phrase is used 100 times in the New Testament. Approximately 59 of those usages account for how we ought to treat one another.
I’ve pulled from a variety of translations, namely the Amplified, ESV, King James, NASB, New King James, and NIV. Personally I think this is a healthy practice, to look at different renderings of scriptures. I’ve also added some commentary on select verses.
Have thoughts, comments, or want to chat? Email me at [email protected]!
Love One Another
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.” (John 13:34 AMP)
- Jesus nullified the jargon and mental gymnastics of religion by willing a new standard — the one and only gold standard — into existence: To love one another. This is the commandment of commandments.
“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.” (John 13:35 AMP)
- The Greek defines this love as agape, God’s love toward His son and humanity.
- We know the love of God through the life of Jesus. Therefore the love of Jesus is made known to others through the life of the believer. Agape love is the lifeblood of Christian living because this love is ultimately an attitude — an attitude that’s predetermined to seek the welfare of all, especially the household of believers.
- Agape love doesn’t only appears when reciprocated or only when seeking reciprocation. It’s not, if you seek my benefit, I’ll then start seeking your benefit. No, it’s, I’m seeking your benefit, period, no matter what. In essence this attitude refuses to change.
“This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 AMP)
- What’s most sobering is that love’s not an impulse from the feelings. If anything, true love begins when feelings run out. Love’s not hinged on conditions. Feelings come and feelings go. This isn’t to be mistaken with people-pleasing because love is very intentional. I like to classify people-pleasing as impulses from the feelings that lust for man’s approval. Lust in the Greek means unsatisfiable desire. So in turn, I like to think of love as the reflex of knowing the approval of the Father.
This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another. (John 15:17 AMP)
- An important note to add is that it’s not unloving to distance one’s self from someone blatant manipulative motives and it’s certainly not loving to tolerate toxicity in relationships. The catch is to not take hostility personal and realize deceit is really just a person who’s lost consciousness of God. See the Do Nots toward the end of this list for greater context.
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.” (Romans 13:8 NASB)
“Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write you, for you have been [personally] taught by God to love one another [that is, to have an unselfish concern for others and to do things for their benefit].” (1 Thessalonians 4:9 AMP)
“For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another.” (1 John 3:11 AMP)
“This is His commandment, that we believe [with personal faith and confident trust] in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and [that we unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, just as He commanded us.” (1 John 3:23 AMP)
“Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience].” (1 John 4:7 AMP)
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1 John 4:11 KJV)
“No one has seen God at any time. But if we love one another [with unselfish concern], God abides in us, and His love [the love that is His essence abides in us and] is completed and perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12 AMP)
“Now I ask you, lady, not as if I were writing to you a new commandment, but [simply reminding you of] the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.” (II John 5 AMP)
Love One Another Deeply
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (1 Peter 1:22 NIV)
- I feel this one deserves to standalone from simply Love One Another.
Overflow In Love
“And may the Lord cause you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may strengthen and establish your hearts without blame in holiness in the sight of our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints (God’s people).” (1 Thessalonians 3:12 AMP)
Have Unfailing Love
“Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].” (1 Peter 4:8 AMP)
Encourage One Another Other
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18 ESV)
- Technically, in the King James Version, the Greek word for encouragement isn’t used once. But in this sense, encouragement is to comfort, the Greek word being parakaleo, which means “to call to one’s side” or “call to one’s aid” to produce a particular purpose.
“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB)
“But continually encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today” [and there is an opportunity], so that none of you will be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [its cleverness, delusive glamour, and sophistication].” (Hebrews 3:13 AMP)
“… let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds …” (Hebrews 10:24 AMP)
Greet One Another
“Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.” (Romans 16:16 NKJV)
“All the believers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (1 Corinthians 16:20 AMP)
“Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (2 Corinthians 13:12 AMP)
“Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:14 NKJV)
Serve One Another
“So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14 NASB)
- Don’t get grossed out! Nor religious. This needs explaining. Jesus’s words here aren’t a cut-and-dry command, but rather the modeling of a servant’s heart: “For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you. Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.” Washing one another’s feet was considered one of the lowliest duties of that time. By this example, no favor nor task is beneath the believer.
“For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another.” (Galatians 5:13 AMP)
“Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].” (1 Peter 4:10 AMP)
Instruct One Another
“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14 ESV)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16 ESV)
Bearing With One Another
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3 NASB)
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Colossians 3:13 AMP)
Be Forgiving
“Be kind and helpful to one another, tenderhearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32 AMP)
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Colossians 3:13 AMP)
Be Devoted
“Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family] …” (Romans 12:10 AMP)
Honor One Another
“Give preference to one another in honor …” (Romans 12:10 AMP)
- Paul expounds on such honor, which is “never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.” (Romans 12:10-13 AMP)
Live In Harmony
“Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.” (Romans 12:16 AMP)
Be At Peace
“Salt is good and useful; but if salt has lost its saltiness (purpose), how will you make it salty? Have salt within yourselves continually, and be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50 AMP)
Accept One Another
“Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 NASB)
Eat Together
“So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat [the Lord’s Supper], wait for one another [and see to it that no one is left out].” (1 Corinthians 11:33 AMP)
Have The Same Concern
“But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:24-25 NASB)
Carry Each Other’s Burdens
“Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].” (Galatians 6:2 AMP)
Be Kind & Helpful
“Be kind and helpful to one another, tenderhearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32 AMP)
Speak Heaven’s Language
“Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord …” (Ephesians 5:19 AMP)
Submit To One Another
“… giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20 ESV)
Regard Others As More Important
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3 AMP)
Build One Other Up
“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB)
Confess Your Sins
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” (James 5:16 AMP)
Pray For Each Other
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” (James 5:16 AMP)
Having Compassion
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9 NKJV)
Offer Hospitality
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9 NIV)
Clothe Yourselves With Humility
“Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for God is opposed to the proud [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], but He gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 AMP)
The Do Nots
Don’t Criticize
“Then let us not criticize one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block or a source of temptation in another believer’s way.” (Romans 14:13 AMP)
- The difference between correction and baseless criticism is that one edifies with love in mind while the other is not edifying because of the absence of love: “But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5-7 AMP)
Don’t Destroy
“If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5:15 NIV)
Don’t Become Conceited
“We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:26 AMP)
- Walking in the Spirit, as prefaced in the verse before — “If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]” — is the key to living in oneness with the Father and His people.
Don’t Lie
“Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices …” (Colossians 3:9 AMP)
- “… and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self — a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] barbarian or Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].” (Colossians 3:10-11 AMP)
