Practicing Christianity, Living the Faith:
Some Passages from the Letters of St. Paul

The Letter to the Romans

It is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the Law who will be justified. Romans 2:13

We boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope. Romans 5:3-4

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what the will of God is – what is good, acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Let your love be without hypocrisy. Romans 12:9

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Romans 12:12

Extend hospitality to strangers. Romans 12:13

Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. Romans 12:14

Live in harmony with one another. Romans 12:15

Do not be arrogant, but associate with those who are humble. Romans 12:15

Do not claim to be wiser than you are. Romans 12:16

Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. Romans 12:17

If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Do not be overcome by evil; but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Let us no longer pass judgment on one another. Romans 14:21

We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak. Romans 15:1 I

want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil. Romans 15:19

The First Letter to the Corinthians

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16

When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. 1 Corinthians 4:12

Bragging is not a good thing. 1 Corinthians 5:6

Shun sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:18

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other person. 1 Corinthians 10:24

Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and have all faith, enough to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions and hand over my body to be burnt but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful, arrogant or rude. Love is not irritable or resentful. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Make love your aim. 1 Corinthians 14:1

Do not be deceived: bad company ruins good morals. 1 Corinthians 15:33

Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Let everything you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

The Second Letter to the Corinthians

We have renounced the shameful things that one hides. We refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:2

We walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? 2 Corinthians 13:5

The Letter to the Galatians

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20-21

The only thing that counts is faith working through love. Galatians 5:6

You were called to freedom, brethren. Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves of one another. Galatians 5:13

The whole Law is summed up in a single commandment: love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:14

Live by the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:16, 22

Bear one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Never grow weary in doing what is right. Whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:9-10

The Letter to the Ephesians

Lead a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

Let us speak the truth to our neighbors for we are all members of one another. Ephesians 4:25

Do not let the sun go down on your anger. Ephesians 4:26

Do not make room in your life for the devil. Ephesians 4:27

Put away all bitterness, anger, wrangling, slander and malice. Ephesians 4:31

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Live in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. Ephesians 5:1

Do not get drunk with wine for that is debauchery. Ephesians 5:18

Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. Ephesians 6:18

The Letter to the Philippians

Live your life in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit. Philippians 2:3

In humility, regard others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say it: rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. Philippians 4:5

Do not worry about anything, but in everything – by prayer and supplication with gratitude – make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

The Letter to the Colossians

Put to death in you whatever is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

You must rid yourself of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander and filthy language from your mouth. Colossians 3:8

Do not lie to one another. Colossians 3:9

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive each other. As the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Colossians 3:12

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands: love your wives and never treat them harshly. Colossians 3:18

Devote yourselves to prayer. Colossians 4:2

The First Letter to the Thessalonians

For this is the will of God – your sanctification: abstain from sexual immorality. 1 Thessalonians 4:3

God did not call us to impurity, but to holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7

Aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs. 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Be at peace with among yourselves. 1 Thessalonians 5:13

See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Test everything. Hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

The Second Letter to the Thessalonians

Let no one deceive you in any way. 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions you were taught by us, whether by word of mouth or by our letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

When we were with you, we gave you this command: anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11

Do not grow weary in doing what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3:13

The First Letter to Timothy

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the first. 1 Timothy 1:15

Women should dress modestly and decently in suitable clothing and not with expensive clothes, gold and pearls; be adorned with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. 1 Timothy 2:9-10

We brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:7

The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. In their eagerness to be rich, some have wandered away from the faith and brought upon themselves much pain. 1 Timothy 6:10

The Second Letter to Timothy

Avoid wrangling over words. 2 Timothy 2:14

All who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12

In these last days, distressing times will come. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, braggarts, arrogant, divisive, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of what is good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The Letter to Titus

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works. Titus 2:7

Be obedient, ready for every good work, speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle and show courtesy to everyone. Titus 3:2

Avoid stupid controversies. Titus 3:9