The term "enjoins" in a biblical context refers to the act of directing, commanding, or instructing someone to do something, often with a sense of moral or divine authority. In the Scriptures, God, through His prophets, apostles, and the teachings of Jesus Christ, enjoins His people to follow His commandments, live righteously, and uphold His statutes.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, God frequently enjoins the Israelites to obey His laws and commandments as a covenantal obligation. For instance, in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 , God enjoins the Israelites to keep His words in their hearts and diligently teach them to their children: "These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

The prophets also played a significant role in enjoining the people to return to God and adhere to His ways. Through the prophet Micah, God enjoins His people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8): "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ enjoins His followers to live according to the principles of the Kingdom of God. The Sermon on the Mount is a prime example where Jesus enjoins His disciples to live a life of righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees (Matthew 5:20): "For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

The apostolic writings further enjoin believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, frequently enjoins the early Christians to exhibit virtues such as love, humility, and unity. In Ephesians 4:1-3 , Paul writes: "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

Moral and Ethical Implications

The concept of enjoining in the Bible carries significant moral and ethical implications. It underscores the importance of obedience to divine authority and the pursuit of holiness. The enjoinments found in Scripture are not merely suggestions but are seen as divine imperatives that guide believers in their relationship with God and with one another.

The Bible enjoins believers to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and to love their neighbors as themselves (Matthew 22:37-39). This dual commandment encapsulates the essence of the Law and the Prophets and serves as the foundation for Christian ethical conduct.

Conclusion

While the Bible contains numerous enjoinments, they collectively serve to direct believers toward a life that reflects God's character and purposes. Through obedience to these divine instructions, believers are called to manifest the transformative power of the Gospel in their lives and communities.

He Enjoins the General Observance of the Lord's Day, and the Day ...
... Book IV. Chapter XVIII."He enjoins the General Observance of the Lord's
Day, and the Day of Preparation. He ordained, too, that ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xviii he enjoins the general.htm

As God in his Word Enjoins Common Prayer, So Public Temples are ...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 30 As God in his word enjoins common prayer,
so public temples are the places destined? As God ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 30 as god in.htm

God Enjoins no Impossibility, Because all Things are Possible and ...
... A Treatise on nature and grace, against pelagius; Chapter 83 [LXIX.]"God Enjoins
No Impossibility, Because All Things are Possible and Easy to Love. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 83 lxix god enjoins no.htm

First, the Practical Duties which the Christian Religion Enjoins,
... OF THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION. X. Proposition X. First, the practical duties
which the Christian religion enjoins,. are all such as ...
/.../x proposition x first the.htm

Argument. --He Next Teaches us that the Authority of the Faith ...
... Argument."He Next Teaches Us that the Authority of the Faith Enjoins, After the
Father and the Son, to Believe Also on the Holy Spirit, Whose Operations He ...
/.../chapter xxix argument he next teaches.htm

Thirdly, the Peculiar Manner and Circumstances with which the ...
... REVELATION. XII. Proposition XII. Thirdly, the peculiar manner and circumstances
with which the Christian religion enjoins the duties,. and ...
/.../xii proposition xii thirdly the.htm

Repentance Applicable to all the Kinds of Sin to be Practised not ...
... eloquence. Let us, however, in proportion to our narrow abilities, inculcate
one point,"that what God enjoins is good and best. ...
/.../tertullian/on repentance/chapter iv repentance applicable to all.htm

The Utility of Fear. Objections Answered.
... But the law given to us enjoins us to shun what are in reality bad things"adultery,
uncleanness, p??derasty, ignorance, wickedness, soul-disease, death (not ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vii the utility of fear.htm

A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God
... The Christian religion, considered in its primitive simplicity,. X. Proposition
X. First, the practical duties which the Christian religion enjoins,. XI. ...
/.../clarke/a discourse concerning the being and attributes of god/

Of the Respect Due to "Human Authority;" and of the Charges of " ...
... Psychic. And how is it that he enjoins duties which belong to our God,
and enjoins them to be offered to none other than our God? ...
/.../on fasting in opposition to the psychics/chapter xi of the respect due.htm

Enjoins (1 Occurrence)
...Enjoins (1 Occurrence). Acts 17:30 God therefore, having overlooked the times of
ignorance, now enjoins men that they shall all everywhere repent, (DBY). ...
/e/enjoins.htm - 6k

Laodiceans (2 Occurrences)
... But here it is sufficient to refer to the fact that Paul enjoins the Colossians
to procure and to read "the epistle from Laodicea." How could a command of this ...
/l/laodiceans.htm - 28k

Goods (231 Occurrences)
... With respect to the latter, it enjoins upon the Christian, as a steward of God,
the possession and administration of property for the progress of the kingdom ...
/g/goods.htm - 43k

Fullness (31 Occurrences)
... fulfilling) of the law"; that is, love is not a partial fulfillment, by obedience
to this or that commandment, but a complete filling up of what the law enjoins...
/f/fullness.htm - 22k

Enjoining (1 Occurrence)

/e/enjoining.htm - 6k

Community (77 Occurrences)
... With respect to the latter, it enjoins upon the Christian, as a steward of God,
the possession and administration of property for the progress of the kingdom ...
/c/community.htm - 32k

Stephanas (3 Occurrences)
... It is in consideration of such Christian service that Paul enjoins upon the Corinthians
to show the house of Stephanas that respect and deference due to ...
/s/stephanas.htm - 10k

Sinlessness
... They must have failed to put before us the profound ethical paradox of a person
who, on the one hand, enjoins penitence and (with a tenderness infinitely deep ...
/s/sinlessness.htm - 10k

Epicureans (1 Occurrence)
... Like the former, Epicurus enjoins the withdrawal of life from the complexities and
perplexities of civilization, to the bare necessities of Nature, but he ...
/e/epicureans.htm - 20k

Lutheran
... The command prescribes (b) exercitium actus, ie it enjoins a continued exercise
of this function of the messengers of Christ for all time. ...
/l/lutheran.htm - 35k

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