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John
New Testament "One Another"
& "Each Other" Commands
John Egleston
The 55 sentences listed on the attached page English New Testament are plural -- as in Eliza-
were culled from the New International
bethan "ye" or Southern "y'all." You can usually
Version with a search for "one another"
discover such plurals from their context if a
and "each other."
"yourselves" (instead of "yourself") or other clue
Keep in mind that this is a subset of the bibli-
isn't present.
cal injunctions and principles for Christians' rela-
New Testament letters and sermons usually
tionships. These are important commands, but
had groups of Christian disciples for their in-
not a comprehensive or necessarily balanced cata-
tended audiences. Thus the commands listed
log.
below are concentrated in the Epistles, with a few
Also remember that many "you"s in our
from Jesus' Gospel discourses.
As you read these commands (in their contexts, if possible), what similarities do you notice?
What reasons or other motivations are offered for obedience?
Love must be more than an emotion for Jesus and his apostles to make sense when they command it.
What characterizes the love they have in mind for Christians to practice?
Which commanded choices and actions put Christians on the receiving end of such love? on the giving
end?
Use the margins to note how each command helps flesh out the common theme of love. Which
commands seem different from love -- or go beyond it? How many are prohibitions ("don't"s)?
In which commands do you and/or your fellowship already excel? Which need more work?
Are there any that were totally new to you? Any that don't yet make sense to you?
What are you going to do about what you've so far seen here?
P
Mk. 9:50 "....Have salt in
P
Gal. 5:13 ....But do not use
Let us not give up meeting to-
yourselves, and be at peace with
your freedom to indulge the
gether, as some are in the habit
each other."
sinful nature; rather, serve one
of doing, but let us encourage
P
Jn. 13:14 "Now that I, your
another in love.
one another S and all the
Lord and Teacher, have washed
5:26 Let us not become con-
more as you see the Day ap-
your feet, you also should wash
ceited, provoking and envying
proaching.
one another's feet."
each other.
13:1 Keep on loving each other
13:34 "A new command I give
6:2 Carry each other's burdens,
as brothers and sisters.
you: Love one another. As I
and in this way you will fulfill
P
Jam. 4:11 Brothers and sis-
have loved you, so you must
the law of Christ.
ters, do not slander one an-
love one another."
P
Eph. 4:2 Be completely hum-
other....
15:12 "My command is this:
ble and gentle; be patient, bear-
5:9 Don't grumble against each
Love each other as I have loved
ing with one another in love.
other, brothers and sisters, or
you."
4:32 Be kind and compassion-
you will be judged....
15:17 "This is my command:
ate to one another, forgiving
5:16 Therefore confess your
Love each other."
each other, just as in Christ God
sins to each other and pray for
P
Rom. 12:10 Be devoted to
forgave you.
each other so that you may be
one another with mutual affec-
5:19 Speak to one another with
healed....
tion. Honor one another above
psalms, hymns and spiritual
P
1 Jn. 3:11 This is the message
yourselves.
songs....
you heard from the beginning:
12:16 Live in harmony with
5:21 Submit to one another out
We should love one another.
one another.
of reverence for Christ.
3:23 And this is his command:
13:8 Let no debt remain out-
P
Col. 3:9 Do not lie to each
to believe in the name of his
standing, except the continuing
other, since you have taken off
Son, Jesus Christ, and to love
debt to love one another, for
your old self with its practices
one another as he commanded
whoever loves others has ful-
3:13 Bear with each other and
us.
filled the law.
forgive whatever grievances you
4:7 Dear friends, let us love one
14:13 Therefore let us stop
may have against one another....
another, for love comes from
passing judgment on one an-
3:16 Let the word of Christ
God....
other....
dwell in you richly as you teach
4:11 Dear friends, since God so
15:7 Accept one another, then,
and admonish one another with
loved us, we also ought to love
just as Christ accepted you, in
all wisdom, and as you sing
one another.
order to bring praise to God.
psalms, hymns and spiritual
P
2 Jn. 1:5 ....I ask that we love
16:16 Greet one another with a
songs with gratitude in your
one another.
holy kiss....
hearts to God.
P
1 Pet. 1:22 Now that you
P
1 Cor. 1:10 I appeal to you,
P
1 Thes. 4:9 Now about your
have purified yourselves by
brothers and sisters, in the
mutual love we do not need to
obeying the truth so that you
name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
write to you, for you yourselves
have sincere mutual affection,
that all of you agree with one
have been taught by God to love
love one another deeply, from
another so that there may be no
each other.
the heart.
divisions among you and that
4:18 Therefore encourage each
3:8 Finally, all of you, live in
you may be perfectly united in
other with these words.
harmony with one another; be
mind and thought.
5:11 Therefore encourage one
sympathetic, love one another,
11:33 So then, my brothers and
another and build each other
be compassionate and humble.
sisters, when you come together
up, just as in fact you are doing.
4:8 Above all, love each other
to eat, wait for each other.
5:13 ....Live in peace with each
deeply, because love covers over
12:24-25 ....But God has com-
other.
a multitude of sins.
bined the members of the body
5:15 Make sure that nobody
4:9 Offer hospitality to one an-
and has given greater honor to
pays back wrong for wrong, but
other without grumbling.
the parts that lacked it, so that
always try to be kind to each
5:5 ....All of you, clothe your-
there should be no division in
other and to everyone else.
selves with humility toward one
the body, but that its parts
P
Heb. 3:13 But encourage one
another, because, "God opposes
should have equal concern for
another daily, as long as it is
the proud but gives grace to the
each other.
called Today, so that none of
humble."
16:20 ....Greet one another
you may be hardened by sin's
5:14 Greet one another with a
with a holy kiss.
deceitfulness.
kiss of love....
P
2 Cor. 13:12 Greet one an-
10:24-25 And let us consider
Taken from the
HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL
other with a holy kiss.
how we may spur one another
VERSION ©1973, 1978, 1984, 1995, 1996 by the
on toward love and good deeds.
International Bible Society, with permission from
Zondervan Bible Publishers.