The "One-Anothers" of Scripture
by Pastor Ryan Keeney
For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother…by this we know love, that he [Jesus] laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
1 John 3:11-12, 16
We desire to have a culture of “one-anothering throughout our church. Where we don’t have a church with biblical counseling but a church of biblical counseling when one–anothering is normative in our church life.”1 This happens in the life of The Paradox primarily through City Groups, which is a place where people learn how to follow Jesus and love one another because of how He has loved us.
To juxtapose what loving one another as Jesus has loved us versus not loving one another I’ve created anti “one-anothers” and listed them and the actual one–anothers below. I pray we are a people who lay down our lives for one another.
The Anti “One–Anothers” Of Scripture
Hate one another
Fight with one another
Domineer one another
Disregard one another
Shame one another
Harshly judge one another
Reject one another
Deceive one another
Avoid one another
Be impatient with one another
Be prejudiced towards one another
Refuse one another
Heap burdens on one another
Neglect to talk about Jesus with one another
In arrogance consider yourself better than others
Lie to one another
Cast off one another when it is no longer convenient or helps you
Hold grudges against one another
Conceal truth from one another
Make your hate increase and overflow for each other
Discourage one another
Tear down one another
Hinder one another from love and good deeds
Slander one another
Grumble against one other
Conceal your sins from one another
Do not pray for one another
Offer hostility to one another
Clothes yourselves with pride toward one another
The “One–Anothers” of Scripture
Here is the list of the “one-anothers” of Scripture. They are a portrait of discipleship, counseling, and life together in rich meaningful friendships.
The Gospels
1. Be at peace with each other (Mark 9:50)
2. Wash one another’s feet (Jn 13:14)
3. Love one another (Jn 13:34-35; Jn 15:12, 17)
Paul’s Letters
4. Love one another (Romans 13:8)
5. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Rom 12:10)
6. Honor one another above yourselves (Rom 12:10)
7. Live in harmony with one another (Rom 12:16)
8. Stop passing judgment on one another (Rom 14:13)
9. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you (Rom 15:7)
10. Instruct one another (Rom 15:4)
11. Greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom 16:16; I Cor 16:20, II Cor 13:12; I Thess 5:26)
12. When you come together to eat, wait for each other (I Cor 11:33)
13. Have equal concern for each other (I Cor 12:25)
14. Serve one another in love (II Cor 13:12)
15. Carry each other’s burdens (Gal 6:2)
16. If you keep on biting and devouring each other…
you will be destroyed by each other” (Gal 5:15)
17. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Gal 5:26)
18. Be patient, bearing with one another in love (Eph 4:2)
19. Be kind and compassionate to one another (Eph 4:32)
20. Forgiving each other (Eph 4:32)
21. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph 5:19)
22. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph 5:21)
23. In humility consider others better than yourselves (Phil 2:3)
24. Do not lie to each other (Col 3:9)
25. Bear with each other (Col 3:13)
26. Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another (Col 3:13)
27. Teach…[one another] (Col 3:16)
28. Admonish one another (Col 3:16)
29. Make your love increase and over’ow for each other (I Thess 3:12)
30. Encourage one another (I Thes 4:18, 5:11; Heb 10:25)
31. Build each other up (I Thes 5:11)
32. Encourage one another daily (Heb 3:13)
33. Spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb 10:24)
Other Letters
34. Do not slander one another” (Js 4:11)
35. Don’t grumble against each other (Js 5:9)
36. Confess your sins to each other (Js 5:16)
37. Pray for each other (Js 5:16)
38. Love one another deeply, from the heart (I Pet 1:22, 4:8)
39. Live in harmony with one another (I Pet 3:8)
40. Greet one another with a kiss of love (I Pet 5:14)
41. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (I Peter 4:9)
42. Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve other (I Peter 4:10)
43. Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (I Peter 5:15)
44. Love one another (I John 3:11, 23, 4:7, 11, 12; II John)
Rober E. Kelleman, Equipping Counselors for Your Church