Displaying Natural Affection

In Romans 1:31 KJV, Paul is describing the extreme wickedness of the Gentiles. Among other deficiencies, he said they were “without natural affection.” This phrase comes from the Greek word astorgos (Strong’s 794), which literally means, “to cherish affectionately.” Negatively speaking, it means “to not cherish affectionately.”

This term is again found in 2 Timothy 3:3 NKJV and is translated “unloving” and “inhuman” in 2 Timothy 3:3 RSV.

The word well describes the temperament of many people in our society today. They do not display affection — not even the affection which is naturally expected of a parent toward a child.

In speaking through Isaiah, God said, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15).

Beloved, let us lovingly seek to display "natural affection" toward all, and especially toward those of our own family (Genesis 45:1-15; Genesis 46:28-29; Genesis 50:1; 2 Kings 13:14; Acts 20:35-38).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets