Fondness (φίλος)
Fondness conveys a friendly interest in someone or something. When used in composition with other words, it retains this aspect of friendship.
Abraham is described as a friend of God because he believed God and his faith was accounted to him as righteousness (James 2:23).
A Christian who desires friendship with the world sets himself against God (James 4:4). In 1 John 2:15, we are instructed not to love the world or the things of the world, for the love of God is not in them. The world and its things relate to the strong desires of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of biological life. These things are not out from the father but out from the world (1 John 2:16). The world is fond of its own, but it is indifferent to the grace believer because we of the Church are not out from the world (John 15:19).
The fondness for money is a root of wrong (1 Timothy 6:10). Those who determine to be rich bring upon themselves all kinds of harmful strong desires and destruction (1 Timothy 6:9). In these last days, men become more fond of themselves, fond of money, not fond of good, while having a form of godliness—their appearance is that of a godly man—they deny its inherent ability—a result of the indwelling Christ (2 Timothy 3:1–5).
When fondness is used in combination with brother, it conveys a brotherly fondness. Brotherly fondness expresses an aspect of the close relationship among grace believers and is associated with agape. Love (agape), which is a love that seeks the best for the one loved, is to be without hypocrisy. We are to cling to what is good and abhor malignant evil. In brotherly love, we are to be affectionately fond of each other (Romans 12:9–10). As we mature in our Christian life, we add brotherly kindness to godliness and love to brotherly kindness, so that we are not barren nor unfruitful (2 Peter 1:5–9). Let us also have a fondness for strangers, while maintaining a fondness for what is beneficial, as we hold fast to the faithful words taught to us (Titus 1:8).
In our lives, let us fondly honor to live a quiet life, minding our own business, working with our hands, so that we may walk properly towards those who are outside of the Church, lacking nothing (1 Thessalonians 4:12). Paul aspired (fondly honored) to evangelize where Christ had not been named (Romans 15:20). Let us fondly honor God in being well pleasing to Him wherever we reside (2 Corinthians 5:9).
It is the kindness of God that brings a person to a change of mind unto salvation. This kindness and fondness of men appeared towards us, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy through the Holy Spirit, He washed and regenerated us (Titus 3:4–5).