Brotherly Kindness

God's choice of the word kindness reveals a compound word clearly defined within scripture. When studying a compound word, it helps to first consider the root word definition. Kindness contains the root word kind. A cursory look might reveal this study as quite simplistic, but a good Bible student exposes the spiritual depths of any particular truth. He first considers other uses of the word kind and then examines the words containing the same root word. For example, the Bible refers to something reproducing “after his kind.” The context of this phrase reveals that it refers to those belonging to the same family. Likewise, the compound word kindred incorporates the same root word kind and means to be within the same family. This truth is further confirmed by our subject passage referring to “brotherly kindness” (2 Peter 1:7). These truths indicate that a man demonstrates kindness as he treats other people as though they are a treasured part of his own family.