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Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly. Jonah 2:1

Trivia: What did God make to shade Jonah's head?

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Good Stuff in the The Bible

But isn't there some good stuff in the Bible?

Well yes there is, although surprisingly little for such a big book. Indeed, if the bad, boring, and useless passages were removed from the Bible and only the good retained, the Bible would be nothing more than a small pamphlet.

But Bible-believers are unwilling to edit the Bible. So the good verses, when not invalidated by their immediate context, are contradicted elsewhere in the Bible. There is not a single good idea in the entire Bible that is taught consistently throughout. Consequently, it is worse than useless as a moral, philosophical, political, or scientific guide.

Still, I think it's important to point out the good stuff in the Bible, and so I have highlighted the good verses and provided a "thumbs up" icon to mark them in the text.

    Exodus

  1. "Honor thy father and thy mother." 20:12
  2. "Thou shalt not kill." 20:13
  3. "Thou shalt not commit adultery." 20:14
  4. "Thou shalt not steal." 20:15
  5. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." 20:16
  6. If a man injures another man by striking him with a stone or his fist, he must pay for the injured man's loss of time and medical treatment until he is thoroughly healed. 21:18-19
  7. Be kind to strangers, widows, and fatherless children. 22:21-22
  8. Value the truth; don't lie. 23:1
  9. Don't do what everyone else does, if what they do is wrong. 23:2
  10. Be kind to your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 23:4-5
  11. Treat the poor fairly. 23:6
  12. Be honest. Don't kill the innocent. 23:7
  13. Don't mistreat strangers. 23:9
  14. Every seventh year the Israelites were to leave their fields unharvested, so that the poor would have something to eat. 23:11

    15. Leviticus

  15. "If a soul ... lie unto his neighbour ... or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it ... then ... he shall restore that which he took ... or the lost thing which he found ... and shall add the fifth part more thereto."
    What is stolen or wrongfully acquired should be returned to the owner. 6:2-5
  16. "Thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife." 18:20
  17. Leave some grapes on the vine for travelers and the poor. 19:10
  18. Don't steal or lie 19:11
  19. "Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired." 19:13
  20. "Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind." 19:14
  21. Don't gossip. 19:16
  22. Don't hate people. 19:17
  23. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." 19:18
  24. Respect your elders. 19:32
  25. Be kind to strangers. 19:33-34
  26. Treat others fairly. Don't cheat. 19:35-36
  27. To help feed the poor and strangers, farmers should not harvest the corners of their fields. 23:22
  28. The same laws apply to residents of a country and for aliens. 24:22
  29. "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."
    This verse is inscribed on the Liberty Bell and was used by abolitionists in their fight against slavery. Leviticus 25:10
  30. Do not oppress one another. 25:17
  31. "If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee." 25:35

    32. Deuteronomy

  32. Judge others fairly, Israelite and stranger, rich or poor, powerful or weak. 1:16-17
  33. "Honor thy father and thy mother." 5:16
  34. "Thou shalt not kill." 5:17
  35. Don't commit adultery. 5:18
  36. Don't steal. 5:19
  37. Don't lie. 5:20
  38. "Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." 10:19
  39. Help the poor. 15:7-8
  40. "Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy." 15:11
  41. Judges and officers should strive to be impartial and should never take a bribe. 16:18-19 If a person kills someone unintentionally then he or she can flee to a city of refuge to escape being killed by the "revenger of blood."
    I guess this is (sort of) good--about as good as it gets in the Bible anyway. But it would be better to declare such a person innocent, assuming no criminal negligence involved, rather than creating a city for the person to flee to. And the idea of a "revenger of blood" is just plain creepy. 19:15-16
  42. Look out for your neighbor's animals and protect them from harm. 22:1-4
  43. Be careful when making a roof to ensure that no one falls off the edge. 22:8
  44. Don't return runaway slaves to their masters. Let them live with you in peace and freedom. 23:15-16
  45. Do not oppress the poor, whether they be slaves, neighbors, or strangers. 24:14-15
  46. "It shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow."
    Be kind to widows, orphans, fatherless children and strangers. Share whatever you have with them. 24:17-21
  47. "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." Let the animal eat while it works. 25:4
  48. "Thou shalt have a perfect and just weight."
    Be honest when you deal with others. Don't cheat. 25:13-15
  49. Take care of those who need help. 26:12-13
  50. Don't misguide the blind or mistreat strangers, orphans, or widows. (And all the people shall say, Amen.) 27:18-19

    51. Nehemiah

  51. I [Nehemiah] I rebuked the leaders for their usury, saying, "Give the people back the land, houses, and money that you took from them." 5:6

    52. Job

  52. "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die."

    Job's wife rightly says that if Job is to keep his integrity, then he should curse God (for playing vicious games with Satan) and die. 2:9

  53. All we are is dust in the wind. 7:7-9
  54. "Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?" 13:7
  55. "Man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? ... Man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." 14:10-12
  56. Job says that humans perish at death like their own dung. Well, one might fault him for his choice of words, but the idea seems sound enough. 20:7

    57. Psalms

  57. "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." 34:13-14
  58. "Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore." 37:27
  59. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." 38:7
  60. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor." 41:1
  61. Help the poor and needy. 82:3-4
  62. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee?" People don't survive their own deaths. Dead people are not only merely dead, they are really most sincerely dead. 88:10-12
  63. "The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence." 115:17
  64. "My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war." 120:6-7

    65. Proverbs

  65. Fools despise wisdom and learning.
  66. Listen to the advice of your mother and father. 1:8
  67. Seek wisdom and understanding. 2:2
  68. Be merciful and truthful. 3:3
  69. "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." 3:13

    A special anthem was composed from these words for Darwin's funeral at Westminster Abbey.

  70. Help your neighbor, if you can. And don't wait until tomorrow if you can do it today. 3:27-28
  71. Don't devise plots against your neighbor, fight without cause, or imitate an oppressor. 3:29-31
  72. Get wisdom and understanding. 4:5-7
  73. Avoid evil. 4:14-15
  74. Speak plainly and honestly to others. 4:24
  75. Have fun with your wife. 5:18-19
  76. Wisdom is better than wealth. Nothing else compares with it. 8:11
  77. A wise son makes a happy father.
  78. Hatred causes strife, but love covers all sins. 10:12
  79. Shame follows an excess of pride. 11:2
  80. Those who are kind are happier than those who are cruel. 11:17
  81. "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind." 11:29

    A nice thought and a great movie.

  82. Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge. 12:1
  83. Be kind to animals. 12:10
  84. Fools are right in their own eyes; The wise listen to counsel. 12:15
  85. Truth lasts forever, but lies last only a moment. 12:19
  86. When people are sad, a kind word can cheer them up. 12:25
  87. A wise son listens to his father. 13:1
  88. Even in laughter there is some sadness. 14:13
  89. Don't believe anything without evidence. 14:15
  90. Fools are overconfident. 14:16
  91. Those who are easily angered often act foolishly. 14:17
  92. It is wrong to despise your neighbor. Happy are those who are merciful to the poor. 14:21
  93. A soft answer turns away wrath. 15:1
  94. A wise son makes a glad father. A foolish man destpises his mother. 15:20
  95. Wisdom and undertanding are better than silver or gold. 16:16
  96. Pride goes before a fall. 16:18
  97. It's better to be humble than proud. 16:19
  98. Don't gossip. 16:28
  99. Grey hair is a crown of glory. 16:31
  100. A friend is a friend forever. (BFF) 17:17
  101. A wise fool keeps his mouth shut. 17:28
  102. Don't answer a question before you hear it. 18:13
  103. To have a friend, you must be a friend. There are no friends closer than family. 18:24
  104. Ignorance is not a good thing. 19:2
  105. The bread of deceit is sweet at the time, but afterwards it is filled with gravel. 20:17
  106. Avoid flatterers and gossips. 20:19
  107. A false balance isn't good. (Don't cheat.) 20:23
  108. If you keep your mouth shut, you'll stay out of trouble. 21:23
  109. A good reputation is woth more than riches. 22:1
  110. Blessed are those who give food to the poor. 22:9
  111. Hear the words of the wise. 22:17
  112. Don't rob the poor or oppress the afflicted. 22:22
  113. Try to learn as much as you can. 23:12
  114. Listen to your father, and don't despise your mother when she is old. 23:22
  115. Value truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding. 23:23
  116. Don't envy evil people or hang out with them.. 24:1
  117. Don't be a false witness against your neighbor. 24:28
  118. Don't say, "I'll pay you back for what you did to me." 24:29
  119. Don't brag. You might mess up tomorrow. 27:1
  120. Let others say nice things about you. 27:2
  121. Those who love wisdom make their fathers proud.
  123. Speak out for those who cannot speak. 31:8
  124. Plead the cause of the poor and needy. 31:9

    125. Ecclesiastes

  125. Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 1:2
  126. No one remembers what happened long ago, and no one will remember what happens now or in the future. 1:11
  127. With wisdom comes grief, and increasing knowledlge increases sorrow. 1:18
  128. the same fate (death) happens to the foolish and the wise. 2:14-16
  129. The best we can do is eat, drink, and enjoy the good in our labor. 2:24
  130. "To everything there is a season...." Some nice poetry and a great Byrds song. ("Turn, Turn, Turn" -- written by Pete Seeger) 3:1-8
  131. Rejoice and do good in this life. 3:12
  132. Eat, drink, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. 3:13
  133. Someday God will show us that we are beasts. 3:18
  134. What happens to beasts happens to us. Our deaths are just like theirs. We are not above beasts. 3:19
  135. We and the beasts die and go to the same place. All we are is dust in the wind. 3:20
  136. Who knows that at death the spirit of humans go up, and the spirits of beasts go down? 3:21
  137. the best we can do is to rejoice in our our works. 3:22
  138. Two are better than one: the value of friendship 4:9-13
  139. A fool is known by a multitude of words. 5:3
  140. If you promise to pay someone something, pay it. 5:4
  141. Don't make a promise that you can't keep. 5:4
  142. If you love silver and riches, you'll never be satisfied. 5:10
  143. You can't take it with you. 5:15
  144. Eat, drink, and enjoy your good work. 5:18
  145. Don't we all go to the same place when we die? 6:6
  146. Who knows what is good in this life? Or what will happen on earth after we die? 6:12
  147. A good reputation is more valuable than precious ointment. 7:1
  148. It's better to be rebuked by wise people than to be praised by fools. 7:5
  149. It's better to patient than proud. 7:8
  150. Don't be quick to anger. 7:9
  151. Don't say, "I miss the good old days." 7:10
  152. Don't believe everything people say. 7:21
  153. Try to discover things with reason. Seek wisdom. Avoid folly, foolishness, and madness. 7:25
  154. Eat, and to drink, and be merry. 8:15
  155. The same thing happens to us all: we die. 9:2-3
  156. As long as we live, there is hope. A living dog is better than a dead lion. 9:4
  157. The living know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no reward, and their memory is forgotten. 9:5
  158. All our love, hatred, and envy die with us. Nothing survives our death. 9:6
  159. So eat your bread and drink your wine with a happy heart. 9:7
  160. Live joyfully with the wife that you love. 9:9
  161. Whatever you do in this life, do it with all your might. Because there is no work, knowledge, or wisdom in the grave. 9:10
  162. The race isn't to the swift, nor the battle for the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to those with understanding, nor good fortune to the skilled; time and chance happen to us all. 9:11
  163. For none of us knows when we will die. Like fish in a net or birds in a snare, we are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon us. 9:12
  164. Wisdom is better than strength or weapons of war. But one bad person can destroy much that is good. 9:16-18
  165. Dead flies make an ointment stinky, as small mistakes tarnish a wise reputation. 10:1
  166. The words of the wise are gracious, but fools are swallowed by their own lips. 10:12
  167. A fool is full of words. 10:14
  168. Enjoy your youth, follow your heart, and look where you're going. 11:9
  169. There is no end to the making of books. 12:12
  170. Much study is a weariness of the flesh. 12:12

    171. Isaiah

  171. "Cease to do evil; learn to do well ... relieve the oppressed ... plead for the widow." 1:16-17
  172. "Come now, let us reason together." 1:18
  173. "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." 2:4
  174. Woe to them who drink too much. 5:11
  175. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil." 5:20
  176. Woe to those who won't help the poor. 10:1-34
  177. The vile person will no longer be called liberal. 32:5
  178. For the vile person is an evil hypocrite, who lies to destroy the poor. 32:6
  179. "The liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand." 32:8
  180. "All flesh is grass."
    Since all animals, including humans, survive by eating plants or other animals that have eaten plants, it is true that "all flesh is grass." 40:6
  181. God's spirit kills grass and flowers. Humans are grass, too. 40:7
  182. I (God) will help the poor and needy. 41:17
  183. "Let the oppressed go free ... break every yoke."
    This verse appear to condemn slavery. However the bible is far from clear on this issue. 58:6
  184. Feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked. 58:7, 10

    185. Jeremiah

  185. The people of Israel and Judah finally look behind the curtain and see that there is no god and the prophets are liars. 5:12-13
  186. "Oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood." 7:6
  187. "Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."
    Don't be afraid of gods. They can't hurt you. They can't help you, either, because they don't exit. (Just like Yahweh!) 10:5
  188. Defend the helpless and oppressed; don't harm strangers, widows, orphans, or other innocent people. 22:3
  189. Pay a fair wage to your employees. 22:13
  190. "Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you." (The best advice in the book of Jeremiah!) 27:16
  191. For some strange reason, God tells the people to do something good: free their slaves. And the people do that, for a while, anyway. But then they retrieved them again. 34:8-16

    192. Ezekiel

  192. Don't oppress, rob, or kill anyone, but feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
  193. "Remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions." 45:9
  194. "Ye shall have just balances." 45:10

    195. Daniel

  195. Daniel's prayer 9:1-20
  196. The man in linen shows Daniel the truth 11:1-35

    197. Hosea

  197. "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice." 6:6

    198. Amos

  198. Do good; avoid evil.
  199. Hate evil, love the good, and establish justice.
  200. Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
  201. Don't mistreat the poor.
  202. Don't deceive customers with dishonest business practices. (Like using false balances or selling the chaff as wheat.)

    203. Micah

  203. "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." 4:3
  204. "All people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God." 4:5
  205. "O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" 6:8

    206. Zechariah

  206. "Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart." 7:9-10
  207. "These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath." 8:16-17

    208. Love truth and peace.

    Malachi

  208. "Let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth." 2:15
  209. God disapproves of adultery, lying, oppressing workers, and mistreating widows, orphans, and strangers. 3:5

    210. Matthew

  210. "Blessed are the meek." 5:5
  211. Blessed are the merciful." 5:7
  212. "Blessed are the peacemakers." 5:9
  213. "Love your enemies." Well, it's a nice thought. But it seems strange coming from someone who damns his enemies to hell. (Mark 16:16) 5:44
  214. Don't brag about the good things that you do. 6:1-3
  215. Jesus tells his disciples not to pray in public. Those who favor school prayer, National Day of Prayer, etc. should take his advice. 6:5-6
  216. "Consider the lilies of the field...." A nice analogy, good advice (unless you live in cold climates), and a great movie. 6:28
  217. "Judge not, that ye be not judged." 7:1
  218. Avoid hypocrisy. Consider your own faults rather than criticizing others. 7:3-4
  219. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." 7:12
  220. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 7:15
  221. Forgive those who repeatedly offend you. 18:21-22
  222. Jesus lists the "ten commandments," but his list has only six, and the sixth is not one of the ten. The commandments given by Jesus are secular, not religious, in nature. 19:18
  223. Pay your taxes. Keep state and church separate. 22:17-21
  224. Jesus quotes Lev 19:18: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This is by far the best verse in Leviticus, and one of the best in the entire Bible. 22:39
  225. "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in." 25:35
  226. "All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." 26:52

    227. Mark

  227. "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." 9:35
  228. When Jesus lists the Ten Commandments, he only mentions five -- the humanistic ones that make no mention of God. He also gives one that is not included in the so-called Ten Commandments: "defraud not." 10:19
  229. Pay your taxes. Keep state and church separate. 12:14-17
  230. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." 12:31
  231. From his comments on the widow's mites, it appears that Jesus favored progressive taxation. 12:41-43

    232. Luke

  232. The people asked John the Baptist what they need to do to avoid hell. He told them to give their excess food and clothes to the poor. 3:10-11
  233. Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely. 3:14
  234. Love you enemies; do good to those who hate you. 6:27
  235. The Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. 6:31-34
  236. "Love your enemies." Well, it's a nice thought. But it seems strange coming from someone who damns his enemies to hell. (Mark 16:16) 6:35
  237. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." Well I'm glad Jesus thinks we should be merciful. But the Old Testament God is a strange role model for mercy! (See 1 Sam 15:2-3 for an example of the OT God's mercy.) 6:36
  238. "Judge not ... condemn not ... forgive." 6:37
  239. Love thy neighbor as thyself. 10:27
  240. The story of the good Samaritan gets my vote for the best bible story. We should all "go and do likewise." 10:30-37
  241. "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's."
    Pay your taxes. Keep state and church separate. 20:25
  242. From his comments on the widow's mites, it appears that Jesus favored progressive taxation. 21:1-3

    243. John

  243. Jesus tells those who'd like to stone to death an adulteress that whoever among them that is without sin should "cast the first stone." Good advice -- but it directly contradicts the teachings of the Old Testament (Lev 20:20). If that wasn't a good law then why did God make it? Has he since changed his mind? Shouldn't it then be removed (along with most of the OT) from the bible? 8:7
  244. "The truth shall make you free." 8:32
  245. "Love one another." 13:34
  246. "This is my commandment, That ye love one another." If this is what it takes to be a Christian, then count me in. Unfortunately, Christians often take Jesus' commandment to mean that Christians should love other, like-minded Christians, and to hell with everybody else. 15:12, 17
  247. Pilate asked Jesus a very good question: "What is truth?" 18:38

    248. Acts

  248. It's better to give than to receive. (Jesus didn't say it, but it's a nice thought anyway.) 20:35

    249. Romans

  249. Practice what you preach. 2:21
  250. Don't think too highly of yourself. 12:3
  251. Be generous in giving, diligent when leading, and cheerful when showing mercy. 12:8
  252. Let your love be genuine. Do good; avoid evil. 12:9
  253. Be kind to others. Honor others more than yourself. 12:10
  254. Don't be lazy. 12:11
  255. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation.12:12
  256. Be hospitable to others. 12:13
  257. Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse. 12:14
  258. Rejoice with those who are happy. Weep with those who are sad. 12:15
  259. Associate with the lowly. Don't pretend to be wiser than you are. 12:16
  260. Don't repay evil with evil. Be honest with everyone. 12:17
  261. In so far as it's possible, be at peace with everyone.12:18
  262. Don't avenge yourself. 12:19
  263. If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. 12:20
  264. Don't be overcome by evil. Overcome evil with good. 12:21
  265. Pay your taxes and honor the government. 13:6-7
  266. Love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 13:8
  267. "If there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 13:9-10
  268. Be honest; avoid drunkenness. 13:13
  269. "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." 14:5
  270. Don't judge other people or cause them to fall. 14:13
  271. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." 14:19

    272. 1 Corinthians

  272. Husbands and wives should be kind to each other. 7:3
  273. Love is a good thing. 8:1
  274. Some nice thoughts about love (or charity). 13:4-6
  275. "Put away childish things." (Like believing in the bible?) 13:11
  276. Speak clearly. 14:8-9
  277. "Be not children in understanding." 14:20
  278. Do all things with love. 16:14

    279. 2 Corinthians

  279. Let there be an equality among you. If you have more than you need, give to those in need. Then when you're in need, they will help you. 8:14
  280. "Live in peace." 13:11

    281. Galatians

  281. "Remember the poor." (And help them if you can.) 2:10
  282. "By love serve one another." 5:13
  283. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 5:14
  284. "Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, ... meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 5:22
  285. Don't be conceited or envious of others. 5:26
  286. Forgive others. Someday you might make a mistake, too. 6:1
  287. "Let us not be weary in well doing." 6:9
  288. "Do good unto all men." 6:10

    289. Ephesians

  289. "Be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine." (Reject the Bible and all religious belief.) 4:14
  290. Don't lie. Speak the truth to your neighbor. 4:25
  291. "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." 4:26
  292. Don't steal, but rather work so that you will have something to give to those who are in need. 4:28
  293. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying." 4:29
  294. Be kind and forgiving to one another. 4:31-32
  295. "Walk in love." 5:2
  296. "So ought men to love their wives." 5:28
  297. Love your wife as yourself. 5:33

    298. Philippians

  298. Don't fight, be humble, and look after the needs of others. 2:3-4
  299. "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 4:8

    300. Colossians

  300. Avoid anger, wrath, and malice. 3:8
  301. Don't lie. 3:9
  302. Be merciful, kind, humble, loving, and forgiving toward one another. 3:12-14
  303. "Husbands, love your wives." 3:19
  304. "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." 4:6

    305. 1 Thessalonians

  305. "Comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." 5:14
  306. Don't return evil for evil, but be good to yourselves and all others. 5:15
  307. "Prove all things; hold fast to what is good." 5:21

    308. 1 Timothy

  308. "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies." If we follow this advice we would ignore most of the Bible -- especially the genealogies found in Gen 10, 1 Chr 1-9, Mt 1, and Lk 3. 1:4
  309. "Refuse ... old wives' fables." What about old husbands' fables? Old Bible fables? 4:7
  310. "The love of money is the root of all evil." 6:10
  311. "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be ... ready to distribute." 6:17-18

    312. 2 Timothy

  312. Be gentle and patient with all others. 2:24

    313. Titus

  313. Disregard "Jewish fables and commandments.quot; Like most of the Bible, maybe? 1:14
  314. Do good works; be gentle toward others; avoid fighting or speaking unkindly about others. 3:1-2
  315. "Avoid ... genealogies." Like Genesis 10, 1 Chronicles 1-9, Matthew 1 and Luke 3? 3:9
  316. "Maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful." 3:14

    317. Hebrews

  317. "Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." 10:24
  318. "Follow peace with all men." 12:14
  319. Let brotherly love continue. 13:1
  320. "Be content with such things as ye have. 13:5
  321. Avoid "strange doctrines." Those who do so will avoid nearly everything that the Bible teaches. 13:9

    322. James

  322. "Do not error." 1:16
  323. "Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." 1:19
  324. "Pure religion ... is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
    Cited by Associated Baptist Press in defense of the Affordable Care Act. 1:27
  325. The rich should not be treated better than the poor. 2:2-4
  326. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." 2:8
  327. Help others that are in need; don't just wish them well. This is good advice, though it's unfortunate that James restricted this help to "brothers". Did he mean by this that you only need to help fellow believers? 2:15-16
  328. James ridicules those who say salvation is by faith alone. He says the devils believe in God. Will their faith save them? 2:19
  329. "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." 3:13
  330. "If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth." 3:14
  331. "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." 3:18
  332. "Speak not evil of one another." 4:11
  333. Don't judge other people. 4:12
  334. "Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (All we are is dust in the wind.) 4:14

    335. 1 Peter

  335. "Love one another." 1:22
  336. "For all flesh is as grass."
    Life is ephemeral. Enjoy it while you can. 1:24
  337. Avoid evil, malice, hypocrisy, and envy. Don't speak badly about others. 2:1
  338. Be compassionate and courteous. Don't seek revenge when you are harmed by another. Speak kindly of others. Do good and avoid evil. 3:8-11
  339. Christians should be ready to explain why they believe what they do. This is a good verse to remember when they refuse to debate you. 3:15
  340. "Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." 4:8
  341. Be hospitable to one another without grudging. 4:9
  342. "Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters." 4:15

    343. 1 John

  343. Those who love others are "in the light"; those who hate are "in darkness". 2:9-11
  344. "We should love one another." 3:11
  345. "Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." 3:18
  346. "Love one another." 4:7
  347. "God is love." 4:8
  348. "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us." 4:12
  349. "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 16
  350. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." 4:18a
  351. "He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 4:18b

    352. 2 John

  352. "Love one another."
    Except for all those antichrists (non-Christians), that is. (See verses 7-10) 5

    353. 3 John

  353. Do good; avoid evil. 11

    354. Jude

  354. "Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied."
    Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied. Sounds like a good idea to me. 1:2
  355. "And of some have compassion, making a difference."
    Make a difference in the world by having some compassion. 1:22

    356. Ecclesiasticus / Sirach

  356. Support your father in his old age, and try not to make him unhappy. If his understanding fails, be patient with him. 3:14-15
  357. The more successful you are, the more humble you should be. 3:20
  358. Listen to what wise people say. 3:31
  359. Help the poor and needy. 4:1-10
  360. Wisdom is a good thing. 4:12-22
  361. Avoid evil. 4:23
  362. Don't be ashamed to say the truth. 4:24
  363. Don't speak against the truth, but be ashamed by the lie of ingnorance. 4:30
  364. Fight for justice, even to the death. 4:33
  365. Don't be hasty in speech. 4:34
  366. Don't terrify or oppress your own family. 4:34
  367. Don't receive when you should be giving. 4:36
  368. The tongue of the fool is his ruin. 5:15
  369. Don't gossip. 5:16
  370. Have many friends, but few advisors. 6:6
  371. Choose your friends carefully. 6:7
  372. Keep away from your enemies, and listen to your friends. 6:13
  373. A good friend is more valuable than any amount of money. 6:15
  374. Seek wisdom throughout your life. 6:18
  375. Don't lie. 7:13
  376. Let your words be few, and don't make repititious prayers. 7:15
  377. Honor your father and care for your mother. 7:29
  378. Help the poor. 7:36
  379. Comfort those who mourn. 7:38
  380. Visit the sick. 7:39

    381. Tobias

  381. Tobias fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and buried the dead. 1:20
  382. Help the poor, and never turn away from them. 4:7
  383. Be merciful. 4:8
  384. If you are wealty, willing give to help others. 4:9
  385. Pay those who do work for you. 4:15
  386. Don't do anything to others that you wouldn't want done to yourself. 4:16
  387. Don't do anything to others that you wouldn't want done to yourself. 4:16
  388. Eat with the poor and hungry, and cover the naked with your garments. 4:17
  389. Ask for the counsel of the wise. 4:19
  390. Do what is good. 4:22

    391. Wisdom

  391. Those who are judges should love justice. 1:1
  392. The spirit of wisdom is benevolent. 1:6

    393. Speak plainly, without detraction.

    Wisdom is better than strength, and a wise man is better than a strong man.

    Wisdom is glorious and lasts forever.

    Those who are in power should love wisdom.

    No evil can overcome wisdom.

    Wisdom teaches temperence, prudence, justice, and fortitude.

    The world should be ordered according to equity and justice.

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