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In the OT this term refers to: (1) birth from the same parent or parents (very frequently, e.g., in Genesis 37-50); (2) membership of the same nation (e.g. Exo_2:11), with special emphasis on the bond thus established between the various single tribes (e.g. Num_18:2, Deu_3:20), even when one of them is separated off (Deu_10:9; Deu_18:2; Deu_18:7); (3) membership of other groups lying between the family and the nation, i.e. clans and single tribes (see Deu_18:7, where the Levite’s ‘brethren’ are his fellow-Levites); (4) metaphorical applications which are too general and too various for exact delimitation.
The OT and NT alike use only one word for ‘brethren’ ( àַçִéí and ἀäåëöïß respectively), and trust to its flexibility to express every needed shade of meaning, ἀäåëöüò is of great frequency (about 40 times in Mt. and still oftener in Acts). In the Gospels the literal use predominates; in the Acts and Epistles various metaphorical uses. The literal use is especially clear in Mat_10:21; Mat_12:46; Mat_13:55; Mat_22:25, but Mt. tends more than any other Gospel to a metaphorical sense; cf. Mat_5:22-24; Mat_5:47; Mat_12:48-50; Mat_18:15; Mat_23:8; Mat_25:40; Mat_28:10, to which only Luk_8:21; Luk_17:3 provide even a partial parallel. The ‘brother’ intended is especially one’s fellow-Christian, and Mt. in this way leads over from the Gospels to the rest of the NT, much of which is, however, chronologically earlier.
ἀäåëöüò in the purely family sense (see (1) above) occurs in Act_12:2, Gal_1:19, 1Co_9:5, and perhaps 2Co_8:18; 2Co_12:18 (A. Souter in Expository Times xviii. [1906-07] 285). In its second sense it occurs in Rom_9:3 (cf. Act_22:1; Act_22:5; Act_23:1; Act_23:5-6, where St. Paul is addressing Jews). Usually, however, ‘the brethren’ (cf. ἀäåëöüôçò , ‘the brotherhood’ [1Pe_2:17; 1Pe_5:9]) means the Christian community (e.g. Act_1:15), and this is much more definitely marked off from non-Christians than in Mt. (cf. 1Co_5:11; 1Co_6:5; 1Co_7:12; the whole spirit of Gal., especially the privileged ‘household of the faith,’ gal 6:10; and the alienation from ‘the world’ in Jn. and 1 Jn.).
ἀäåëöüò was common at this time in the Creek East as meaning ‘member of a community’ (see Deissmann, Bible Studies, Eng. translation , 1901, p. 82f., Light from the Ancient East2, do., 1911, p. 107), but it would be a mistake to minimize on that account its fervent tone in the NT, or its importance as suggesting a fulfilment of such words of Jesus as Joh_13:35 concerning mutual love. This love is a command (Joh_13:34), a fundamental thing taught directly by God (1Th_4:9), a test of living or not living in God (1Jn_3:14; 1Jn_4:12). Denney in Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) (article ‘Brotherly Love’) points out that it found expression in two special ways-hospitality and care for persecuted Christians. The word ‘brethren’ is continually used in exhortation and appeal, sometimes strengthened by ἀãáðçôïß (‘beloved’), as in 1Co_15:58; or êáὶ ἐðéðüèçôïé (‘and longed for’) may further be added (Php_4:1). Again, brethren are called ðéóôüò (‘faithful’ or ‘believing’), as Col_1:2; Col_4:9, or ἅãéïò (‘holy’), as Col_1:2, Heb_3:1. Frequently ‘brother’ has a pathetic tone (1Co_8:11, Phm_1:7; Phm_1:18; Phm_1:20, 2Th_3:15, Jam_2:15). It is often a humble or a bumbling word (Gal_3:15; Gal_6:1, Php_3:13, 1Th_5:25, 2Th_3:1). In Act_9:17; Act_22:13, 1Co_16:12 (see Commentaries) it breathes a fine magnanimity. Gal_6:18 is noteworthy in that this most fiery of St. Paul’s letters is the only one which has ‘brothers’ as its closing note.
C. H. Watkins.