What does “without natural affection” mean?
Question:
"Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful" (Romans 1:31 KJV).
What is natural affection?
Answer:
"Without natural affection" (astrogous) means "Being without the natural love between parents and their children." Seneca, a Roman philosopher, used the word in "justifying” for killing unwanted children. It is a person without the natural affection for their immediate family (Luke 11:11-13).
Question:
Is Paul teaching that love is natural? Paul points out the loss of natural love because he knows humans are meant to have love.
Answer:
There are many types of loving relationships. All originate with God, even if many people refuse to recognize it. "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ... We love, because He first loved us" (I John 4:8, 19). Family relationships should naturally develop. Mothers ought to love their children. Children ought to love their mothers and siblings. The same is true of fathers. You would expect husbands and wives to love each other; yet, we know many who struggle with this. Thus, it shouldn't be surprising that some lost the affection that should be naturally there and expected.
One of the responsibilities of older women is to instruct younger women in the proper love for their husbands and children (Titus 2:3-5). Society can destroy relationships. Christians strive to restore the world to God's design.
