2 Peter 1:7

Brotherly kindness. Gr. Philadelphia, “love of the brethren.” In classical Greek the word implies affection for one’s blood relatives, but in the NT Philadelphia embraces all members of the church (see on Rom. 12:10). In a church surrounded by paganism there would be great need of genuine brotherly love. The need of the modern church is no less great in this respect.

Charity. Gr. agape, “love” (see on Matt. 5:43; 1 Cor. 13:1). This is the true Christian affection that seeks only the good of the one loved. Agape is an affection based on knowledge and reason, an affection that is willing to sacrifice self for the best good of the loved one. This is what God feels for Christ and for men, and what He wishes men to feel for one another. This is the capstone, the crown, of all the preceding qualities listed by Peter. It is the greatest of all virtues (1 Cor. 13:13); it is that which must govern all we do (Eph. 16:14). All the virtues meet in this greatest emotion; and all others fail and are less than nothing without it (1 Cor. 13:1-3). It is that which does no ill to his neighbor (Rom. 13:10); its absence cannot be compensated for by sacrifice, not even of life itself (1 Cor. 13:3).