www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Scripture and Patristic Writings What are your favorite Scripture verses?

Although it is difficult to narow down the choices of favorite Scripture passages, this one perhaps comes the closest for me:

"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing Pslams, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitutde in your hearts to God. AND WHATEVER YOU DO, WHETHER IN WORD OR DEED, DO IT ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM."

Colossians 3:12-17

To me, this is my ideal - the pattern or blueprint for daily living at the three altars of life: the home, the church and the marketplace. I don't always live it out, but that is the challenge of the daily cross, no?

Out of curiosity, what are some of your favorite passages of Scripture?

Gordo

For me it is 1 Thessalonians 2:12. It speaks volumes to me.

Father Anthony+

As for me, in the Old Testament, I like the metaphorical river in Ezekiel, that flows from the throne of God.
Growing up in a rural area probably influenced my choice of a favorite parable: that of the farmer who planted a field of wheat and the enemy came and sowed weeds in it.
As for the epistles, I like John and his emphasis on loving one another.

"God so loved the world..."

I especially like Paul's two Christological hymns:

Phillipians 2:5-11:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death�
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 1:15-20:

He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created:
things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,
so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

I agree with Hieromonk Elias' offering of John 3:16, as well as the opening passages of the Gospel of St. John leading to "and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, " etc.

"Oh send out Your light and Your truth;
let them lead me,
let them bring me to Your holy hill
and to Your dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise You with the lyre,
O God, my God."

Psalm 43:3-4

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3, 16)

Always the 1 Corinthians 13 about love.

My favourite psalm is Psalm 119 (here it is Psalm 118). Also I love Psalm 51, 70, 23.

I must read more from Bible. I have lacks in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.

in quo enim iudicio iudicaveritis iudicabimini et in qua mensura mensi fueritis metietur vobis.
Quid autem vides festucam in oculo fratris tui et trabem in oculo tuo non vides. (Matthew 7:2-3)

Words I try to live by each and everyday.


Brad.

Dear Friend,

It is the first 17 verses of the first chapter of the Gospel of John.

And Kathisma 16 of the Psalter.

Alex

Dear Brad,

Did you know that the Orthodox St Procopius of Ustiug, Fool for Christ, was a Latin convert to Orthodoxy?

When he reposed, they found his psalter beside him . . . in Latin . . .

Dominus Tecum!

Alexius Romanus

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!" (John 1:1)

To me, the beginning of a compelling exposition of Who Jesus is that could buckle an atheist's knees down!

Amado

MANY ROOMS IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE.

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:2-3

Be not solicitous therefore, saying: What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed?

32 For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.

33 Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you St Matthew 6:31-33

The spirit of the Lord is upon me. Wherefore he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the contrite of heart,

To preach deliverance to the captives and sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of reward. St Luke 4:18-19

The wicked shall be turned into hell, all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:18

But now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a scrip: and he that hath not, let him sell his coat and buy a sword. St Luke 22:36

When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.

27 After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. St John 19:26,27

And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. St Luke 1:28

And she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. St Luke 1:42

The Prophesy of Isaias

Chapter 53

A prophecy of the passion of Christ.

1 Who a hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

2 And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground: there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him:

3 Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned aside into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth.

8 He was taken away from distress, and from judgment: who shall declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the living: for the wickedness of my people have I struck him.

9 And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for his death: because he hath done no iniquity, neither was there deceit in his mouth.

10 And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity: if he shall lay down his life for sin, he shall see a longlived seed, and the will of the Lord shall be prosperous in his hand.

11 Because his soul hath laboured, he shall see and be filled: by his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul unto death, and was reputed with the wicked: and he hath borne the sins of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors.

If I don't stop this will turn into a book.

For me it is the beginning Psalm 47 (48) that is always on my mind: "The Lord is great and worthy to be praised."