³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a](A) 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b](B) 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”^(C)

⁵ Love^(A) the Lord your God with all your heart^(B) and with all your soul and with all your strength.^(C)

Fear the Lord

¹² And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you^(A) but to fear^(B) the Lord your God, to walk^(C) in obedience to him, to love him,^(D) to serve the Lord^(E) your God with all your heart^(F) and with all your soul,^{(G) 13} and to observe the Lord’s commands^(H) and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?^(I)

³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[a](A)

¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you^(A) out of the world. That is why the world hates you.^(B)

² Do not conform^(A) to the pattern of this world,^(B) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(C) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(D)—his good, pleasing^(E) and perfect will.

¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,^(A) but always strive to do what is good for each other^(B) and for everyone else.

¹⁶ Rejoice always,^{(C) 17} pray continually,^{(D) 18} give thanks in all circumstances;^(E) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.^{(F) 20} Do not treat prophecies^(G) with contempt ²¹ but test them all;^(H) hold on to what is good,^{(I) 22} reject every kind of evil.

²³ May God himself, the God of peace,^(J) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(K) and body be kept blameless^(L) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(M)

Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,^(A) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.^{(B) 2} As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,^(C) but rather for the will of God.

⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,^(A) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,^(B) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.^(C)