An exegesis of the character and word of brethren

An Exegesis on the “Word” and “Character” of “BRETHREN”

An Exegesis on the
An Exegesis on the
“Word” and
“Word” and
“Character” of
“Character” of
“BRETHREN”!
“BRETHREN”!

Manuscript Releases Volume Nine:
Page 338
E. G. White and Harmony With the
Brethren:
“I have nothing, nothing but kindness and
love in my heart toward you. I long for
perfect harmony with my brethren, but I
must do the work that God has given me
to do, even if it separates me from my
brethren and friends.”

Manuscript Releases Volume Eleven:
Page 261
Love the Need of the Church
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not
behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil" (1 Cor. 13: 4,5).
Troubles exist between brethren in the church because
they fail to understand what constitutes true Christian
charity, brotherly affection, and Christlike love. Self-love
and self-esteem lead professed Christians to measure
themselves by themselves. They take for granted that
all their surmisings and suspicions of others are correct.
But it is because of suspicions and judging of one
another that there is discord, strife, and an unhealthy
condition of the church….

….If brethren would meet together once or twice a week,
and with humble minds, feeling their weakness and
realizing their defects, would then ask the Lord to
enlighten their understanding and fill their hearts with
His love, examining not one another, but the Scriptures,
Satan would be defeated. Many imaginary difficulties,
mere molehills that have been magnified into
mountains and have made barriers between brethren,
would vanish, and love, compassion, and respect would
take the place of jangling and accusation. When you
begin to judge your brethren, you are doing a work God
has not given you to do. You are not working with
Christ. God did not place you upon the judgment seat
to measure and pronounce sentence upon your
brethren.”

1.The word “Brethren” means:
Gk. “Adelphotes”: 1Pet.1:22
“Seeing ye have purified your
souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit unto
unfeigned love of the brethren,
see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently:”

2. The word “Brethren” means:
Gk. “Philadelphia”: A fraternal love as
brethren; fraternal affection: Rev.3:7-13
“[7] And to the angel of the church in
Philadelphia write; These things saith he that
is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of
David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
[8] I know thy works: behold, I have set
before thee an open door, and no man can
shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and
hast kept my word, and hast not denied my
name….

Rev 3:9-11
[9] Behold, I will make them of the
synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews,
and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make
them to come and worship before thy feet,
and to know that I have loved thee.
[10] Because thou hast kept the word of my
patience, I also will keep thee from the hour
of temptation, which shall come upon all the
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
[11] Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast
which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown”.

Rev 3:12-13
“[12] Him that overcometh will I make a
pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall
go no more out: and I will write upon him
the name of my God, and the name of the
city of my God, which is new Jerusalem,
which cometh down out of heaven from my
God: and I will write upon him my new
name.
[13] He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

3. The scriptures teaches love among the
brethren, that is Philadelphia in origin:
Heb 13:1-3
[1] Let brotherly love continue.
[2] Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for
thereby some have entertained angels
unawares.
[3] Remember them that are in bonds, as
bound with them; and them which suffer
adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

John 15:13-17
[13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man
lay down his life for his friends.
[14] Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I
command you.
[15] Henceforth I call you not servants; for the
servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have
called you friends; for all things that I have heard of
my Father I have made known unto you.
[16] Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,
and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth
fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he
may give it you.
[17] These things I command you, that ye love one
another.

John 13:34-35
[34] A new commandment I give
unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love
one another.
[35] By this shall all men know that
ye are my disciples, if ye have love
one to another.

Rom 12:9-10
[9] Let love be without dissimulation.
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good.
[10] Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honour preferring
one another;
1 Thess 4:9
[9] But as touching brotherly love ye need
not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves
are taught of God to love one another.

4.The scriptures also teach that YHWH desires
all men to be “Brethren” and be saved:
1 Tim 2:3-5
[3] For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Saviour;
[4] Who will have all men to be saved, and
to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
[5] For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus;

5.To be brethren, we must first be children of God:
John 1:29
[29] The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:12-13
[12] But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name:
[13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the
will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God.

Rom 8:14-16
[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit
of God, they are the sons of God.
[15] For ye have not received the spirit of
bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby
we cry, Abba, Father.
[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness
with our spirit, that we are the children
of God:

Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel
Workers : Page 47
Vital Principles of Relationship
“God has revealed many things to me
which He has bidden me give to His
people by pen and voice. Through this
message of the Holy Spirit, God's people
are given sacred instruction concerning
their duty to God and to their
fellowmen…

…A strange thing has come into our churches.
Men who are placed in positions of
responsibility that they may be wise helpers to
their fellow workers have come to suppose that
they were set as kings and rulers in the
churches, to say to one brother, Do this; to
another, Do that; and to another, Be sure to
labor in such and such a way. There have been
places where the workers have been told that if
they did not follow the instruction of these
men of responsibility, their pay from the
conference would be withheld.

…It is right for the workers to counsel together as
brethren; but that man who endeavors to lead
his fellow workers to seek his individual
counsel and advice regarding the details of
their work, and to learn their duty from him, is
in a dangerous position and needs to learn
what responsibilities are really comprehended
in his office. God has appointed no man to be
conscience for his fellowman. It is not wise to
lay so much responsibility upon an officer that
he will feel that he is forced to become a
dictator.

6. Humanity are enemies of God once their lives are
not guided by God:
Rom 6:16
[16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye
obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience
unto righteousness?
James 4:4
[4] Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that
the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world
is the enemy of God.

7. It is through the doing and dying of Jesus
Christ, when we accept it, we are made
brethren of any race and nationality:
Eph 2:13-14
[13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who
sometimes were far off are made nigh by
the blood of Christ.
[14] For he is our peace, who hath made
both one, and hath broken down the
middle wall of partition between us;

Eph 2:18-22:
[18] For through him we both have access by one
Spirit unto the Father.
[19]Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and
of the household of God;
[20] And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the chief corner stone;
[21] In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
[22] In whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit.

Eph 3:14-15,17:
[14] For this cause I bow my knees
unto the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
[15]Of whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named,
[17] That Christ may dwell in your
hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted
and grounded in love,

Eph 3:18-19:
[18] May be able to comprehend
with all saints what is the breadth,
and length, and depth, and height;
[19] And to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge, that ye
might be filled with all the fullness
of God.

8. Brethren are those who do YHWH’s will:
Matt 12:46-50:
[46] While he yet talked to the people, behold, his
mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to
speak with him.
[47] Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and
thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with
thee.
[48] But he answered and said unto him that told him,
Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
[49] And he stretched forth his hand toward his
disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my
brethren!
[50] For whosoever shall do the will of my Father
which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister,
and mother.

Matt 7:21:
[21] Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven.
John 7:17:
[17] If any man will do his will, he shall
know of the doctrine, whether it be of
God, or whether I speak of myself.

9. Brethren are called brethren because they are
sanctified by Christ:
Heb 10:10, 14:
[10] By the which will we are sanctified through
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for
all.
[14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever
them that are sanctified.
Heb 2:11:
[11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are
sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not
ashamed to call them brethren,…

10. The scriptures show that brethren are not to show
love in word only, but also in action:
James 2:14-18:
[14] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say
he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
[15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily
food,
[16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be
ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not
those things which are needful to the body; what doth it
profit?
[17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone.
[18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have
works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will
show thee my faith by my works.

“Faith alone saves, but
a faith that saves is
never alone”
John Calvin.

1 John 3:14-18:
[14] We know that we have passed from death unto
life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not
his brother abideth in death.
[15] Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and
ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in
him.
[16] Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he
laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our
lives for the brethren.
[17] But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his
brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of
compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in
him?
[18] My little children let us not love in word, neither in
tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:22-24:
[22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him,
because we keep his commandments, and do
those things that are pleasing in his sight.
[23] And this is his commandment, That we
should believe on the name of his Son Jesus
Christ, and love one another, as he gave us
commandment.
[24] And he that keepeth his commandments
dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we
know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which
he hath given us.

Manuscript Releases Volume Eighteen :
Page 197
The Sin of Evilspeaking; a Call to Sanctified
Living
“It is not God's plan that reports regarding the
work of His servants shall be passed from one to
another. My brethren, when someone comes to
you with an accusation against a fellow worker
say to him, "Have you gone to the one you are
accusing, in the way in which Christ has told
you to go? If you have not done this, I am not at
liberty to listen to what you have to say about
him."

…Hear what Christ has said regarding this matter: "If thou
bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that
thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift
before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to
thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." And He
says again, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass
against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and
him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy
brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with
thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or
three witnesses every word may be established. And if
he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church:
but if he neglects to hear the church, let him be unto
thee as an heathen man and publican."

…Those who are Bible Christians will do as
Christ has directed. If His directions were
followed, many wounds would be cured
that are now left to fester and break out
until they are incurable. To follow the
course laid down by the great Teacher,
who never errs in counsel, is the only way
to stop the false tongue, and cause
criticism and accusing to cease. The
abiding love of Christ in the soul leads to
the manifestation of His meekness and
lowliness.

198 …Oh, how much time is worse than wasted
by evilspeaking. Because of this sin, not half is
accomplished that might be accomplished.
Men and women become mischief makers for
Satan, and, going to this one and that one,
place in their minds the leaven of evil,
prejudicing them against a brother or a sister
who, they say, has done wrong. The thoughts
of those thus influenced are disturbed, their
peace is destroyed, and their confidence in
their brethren is weakened.

…Those who do this evil work are departing
from Christ to follow one who is teaching
them to love and make a lie. Whatever their
position in the service of God, they are
dishonoring Him, and Christ says to them, "I
have somewhat against thee, because thou
hast left thy first love." All their qualifications
and capabilities, however commendable
they may apparently be, will not supply the
deficiency resulting from the lack of
Christlike love.”

An exegesis of the character and word of brethren

An exegesis of the character and word of brethren

More Related Content

What's hot

Viewers also liked

Similar to An exegesis of the character and word of brethren

More from Zebach SDA Church

Recently uploaded

An exegesis of the character and word of brethren