1 Peter 3:8 8Finally, everyone be united in thinking, sympathetic, brotherly love, compassionate, humble,
Finally marks a summary in Peter’s exhortation to the members of the household. After writing to slaves, wives, and husbands, he addresses the whole Christian community. Of vital importance in the following verses are the relationships believers have with one another. Verse 8 gives five qualities that believers should seek to have, each given as an adjective qualifying the plural everyone. All the rest of the church should follow in the pattern of Jesus given at the end of chapter 2.
First, they needed to have the same kind of thinking on things (homophrones, “one thought”). Like Paul wrote in Philippians 2:2-6, everyone must have the same mindset as Jesus who gave up his life willingly and suffered even though he was innocent and without sin. He took the sins of others upon himself. This does not mean people could not have unique ideas, but that in essentials, they were united, thinking alike, and moving forward together with a common mission.
The next four qualities give examples of united thinking that could profoundly affect relationships. Sympathetic(sympathies) means “to suffer with” someone by identifying with the joys and sorrows of the person (Romans 12:15). This adjective fits well with the suffering of Jesus, who became one like us and took our sins upon himself even though he was innocent. Brotherly love (philadelphoi) is an affectionate, friendly, and relational type of love that is developed in community through mutual self-giving. Although the root has “brother,” it is inclusive of both males and females. Believers should be compassionate (eusplangchnoi) to one another. This word describes the tender feelings deep within one’s gut that one has for others.
And finally, humility is what will make all this possible and brings all the other attributes together. The form of the word used here combines two words, “being lowly and humble” like a servant (tapei-) and “thinking” (phrones). Humility is often demonstrated by submission. Humility puts the needs of others ahead of our own needs and wants, just as Jesus did by going to the cross. Every person is free to choose and yet responsible for that choice to live like Jesus.