In the context of the Bible, the term "principle" refers to fundamental truths or doctrines that guide behavior and belief. These principles are derived from the teachings and commandments found in Scripture and serve as the foundation for Christian living and moral decision-making.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible is replete with principles that are meant to guide believers in their daily lives. These principles are not merely rules but are rooted in the character of God and His design for humanity. For instance, the principle of love is central to the Christian faith. Jesus emphasized this in Matthew 22:37-39 : "Jesus declared, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Moral and Ethical Principles

The Bible provides numerous moral and ethical principles that are timeless and applicable to all areas of life. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) are a classic example, offering principles that govern human relationships with God and with one another. These commandments include principles of honesty, integrity, and respect for life and property.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul often expounds on principles that should govern Christian conduct. In Romans 12:2 , he writes, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." This verse highlights the principle of transformation and renewal, urging believers to align their lives with God's will rather than worldly standards.

Principles of Faith and Doctrine

Principles also underpin the core doctrines of the Christian faith. The principle of salvation by grace through faith is a cornerstone of Christian theology. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." This principle emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not earned by human effort.

Another key principle is the sovereignty of God, which affirms that God is in control of all things. Proverbs 19:21 reflects this principle: "Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail." This principle reassures believers of God's ultimate authority and purpose in the world.

Practical Application

The principles found in Scripture are not merely theoretical but are intended for practical application in the life of a believer. James 1:22 exhorts, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves." This principle calls for active obedience to God's Word, encouraging believers to live out their faith in tangible ways.

The principle of stewardship is another practical application, where believers are called to manage their resources wisely. In 1 Peter 4:10 , it is written, "As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another." This principle encourages the responsible use of one's talents and resources for the benefit of others and the glory of God.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not explicitly use the term "principle" frequently, the concept is woven throughout its teachings. These principles serve as a guide for believers, helping them to navigate the complexities of life with wisdom and faithfulness. By adhering to biblical principles, Christians are equipped to live lives that honor God and reflect His character to the world.1. (n.) A source, or origin; a fundamental truth, proposition or law.

2. (n.) Beginning; commencement.

3. (n.) An original faculty or endowment.

4. (n.) A fundamental truth; a comprehensive law or doctrine, from which others are derived, or on which others are founded; a general truth; an elementary proposition; a maxim; an axiom; a postulate.

5. (n.) A settled rule of action; a governing law of conduct; an opinion or belief which exercises a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of conduct consistently directing one's actions; as, a person of no principle.

6. (n.) Any original inherent constituent which characterizes a substance, or gives it its essential properties, and which can usually be separated by analysis; -- applied especially to drugs, plant extracts, etc.

7. (v. t.) To equip with principles; to establish, or fix, in certain principles; to impress with any tenet, or rule of conduct, good or ill.

1349. dike -- right (as self-evident), justice (the principle, a ...
... right (as self-evident), justice (the principle, a decision or its execution). Part
of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: dike Phonetic Spelling: (dee'-kay ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1349.htm - 7k

3551. nomos -- that which is assigned, hence usage, law
... 3551 ("law") then can refer to "the ," or "" as a general principle (or ).
The particular sense(s) of 3551 () is determined by the . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3551.htm - 7k

4747. stoicheion -- one of a row, hence a letter (of the alphabet) ...
... on) Short Definition: a heavenly body, an element Definition: (a) plur: the heavenly
bodies, (b) a rudiment, an element, a rudimentary principle, an elementary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4747.htm - 8k

746. arche -- beginning, origin
... rulers (6). magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule. From archomai;
(properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/746.htm - 7k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... [The meaning of the definite article in this construction is "the principle of faith
at work in you," "the operating-principle of faith in them," etc. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

709. aristao -- to breakfast, hence to take a meal
... dine. From ariston; to take the principle meal -- dine. see GREEK ariston. (aristesate)
-- 1 Occurrence. (aristese) -- 1 Occurrence. (eristesan) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/709.htm - 7k

754. architelones -- a chief tax collector
... chief among the publicans. From arche and telones; a principle tax-gatherer --
chief among the publicans. see GREEK arche. see GREEK telones. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/754.htm - 6k

2213. zetema -- an inquiry
... 2213 ("a controversial question") focuses on at stake (the ). [2214 (a noun) however
focuses on a particular "brand" (type of) principle working out .]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2213.htm - 7k

5590. psuche -- breath, the soul
... From psucho; breath, ie (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal
sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from pneuma ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5590.htm - 8k

4265. problepo -- to foresee
... following is a fuller rendering of the Greek text of Heb 11:39,40: "And all these
[OT believers], having gained divine approval through the (principle of) faith ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4265.htm - 7k

4156. moetsah -- counsel, plan, principle, device
... 4155, 4156. moetsah. 4157 . counsel, plan, principle, device. Transliteration:
moetsah Phonetic Spelling: (mo-ay-tsaw') Short Definition: devices. ...
/hebrew/4156.htm - 6k

The Principle of the Reckoning.
... Book XIV. 8. The Principle of the Reckoning. But you will here inquire whether
all men can be called servants of the king, or some ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/8 the principle of the.htm

Six-Principle Baptists.
... SIX-PRINCIPLE BAPTISTS. This appellation is given to those who hold the
imposition of hands, subsequent to baptism, and generally ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/six-principle baptists.htm

Whether Grace is the Principle of Merit through Charity More ...
... Article Four Whether Grace is the Principle of Merit through Charity more
Principally than through Other Virtues. Whether Grace is ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article four whether grace is 3.htm

Of the Principle Act of Charity, which is to Love (Eight Articles)
... OF THE PRINCIPLE ACT OF CHARITY, WHICH IS TO LOVE (EIGHT ARTICLES). We must
now consider the act of charity, and (1) the principal ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the principle act of.htm

Whether the Intellectual Principle is United to the Body as Its ...
... OF THE UNION OF BODY AND SOUL (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the intellectual
principle is united to the body as its form? Objection 1 ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the intellectual principle is.htm

This Principle of Nature
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 45 This principle of nature. This principle of nature,
when you remove the rust it hath contracted by corruption ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/45 this principle of nature.htm

The Principle of Life in the Creature.
... THE CREATION. V. The Principle of Life in the Creature. ... From the unfathomable depths
of all an inward, hidden principle works upward and outward. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/v the principle of life.htm

Whether Grace is the Principle of Merit through Charity Rather ...
... OF MERIT (TEN ARTICLES) Whether grace is the principle of merit through charity
rather than the other virtues? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether grace is the principle.htm

The Dual Principle Falls to the Ground; Plurality of Gods, of ...
... Book I. Wherein is described the god of Marcion. Chapter V."The Dual Principle Falls
to the Ground; Plurality of Gods, of Whatever Number, More Consistent. ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter v the dual principle falls.htm

Ninth Tractate. The Intellectual-Principle, the Ideas, and the ...
... THE INTELLECTUAL-PRINCIPLE, THE IDEAS, AND THE AUTHENTIC EXISTENCE. ... The question
thus becomes, "What principle is the giver of wisdom to the soul? ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/ninth tractate the intellectual-principle the.htm

Principle (32 Occurrences)
... a directing influence on the life and behavior; a rule (usually, a right rule) of
conduct consistently directing one's actions; as, a person of no principle. ...
/p/principle.htm - 16k

Commandment (209 Occurrences)
... 2. Principle instead of Law: Whey the law realizes itself as love for God and
man in men's hearts, it ceases to bear the aspect of a command. ...
/c/commandment.htm - 47k

Charity (29 Occurrences)
... 2. A New Ideal: It is a significant evidence of the sense of a new ideal and principle
of life that permeated the Christian consciousness of the earliest ...
/c/charity.htm - 23k

Breathing (25 Occurrences)
... one may say that of the two neshamah is employed preferably of breath regarded
physiologically: "vital breath," hence, the vital principle, "Soul (animal) life ...
/b/breathing.htm - 17k

Breathe (17 Occurrences)
... one may say that of the two neshamah is employed preferably of breath regarded
physiologically: "vital breath," hence, the vital principle, "Soul (animal) life ...
/b/breathe.htm - 15k

Breath (95 Occurrences)
... one may say that of the two neshamah is employed preferably of breath regarded
physiologically: "vital breath," hence, the vital principle, "Soul (animal) life ...
/b/breath.htm - 38k

Nature (80 Occurrences)
... and of a "natural body" (1 Corinthians 15:44 twice), the Greek word being psuchikos,
"of the soul" (psuche), the animal, natural, principle, as contrasted with ...
/n/nature.htm - 35k

Allegory (6 Occurrences)
... This whole false hermeneutical principle and its application originated doubtless
in an unhistorical conception of what the Scriptures are and how they ...
/a/allegory.htm - 14k

Soul (554 Occurrences)
... As anima, "soul," the life inherent in the body, the animating principle in the
blood is denoted (compare Deuteronomy 12:23, 24, `Only be sure that thou eat ...
/s/soul.htm - 47k

Logos
... of the Greeks were occupied with the world of Nature, and the first attempts at
philosophy take the shape of a search for some unitary principle to explain the ...
/l/logos.htm - 38k

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