Commandments: Precepts of Paul--Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles

Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. …

We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; …

Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. …

So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification. …

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” …

No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—

…the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—

Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.

Do everything in love.

Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: …

“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, …

Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, …

Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. …

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. …

Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel,

…without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.

…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. …

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. …

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him,

Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.

If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: …

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. …

Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,

And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,

Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.

For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;

…not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;

…and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.

Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. …

So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. …

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and cling to the traditions we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us. …

…or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—

…for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension. …

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, …

Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, …

Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. …

Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers, …

If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need. …

But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. …

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. …

Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”

Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. …

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, …

The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. …

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance. …

Slaves are to submit to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, …

Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,

…to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.

This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to emphasize these things, so that those who have believed God will take care to devote themselves to good deeds. These things are excellent and profitable for the people.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

…let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. …

Continue in brotherly love. …

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. …