The Greek words of command are paragggelia a noun meaning "order, an instruction, a charge or a command" and paraggellein a verb meaning "to charge, to instruct, to give or to pass on an order."

These words are used in five different ways in the scriptures. First, they are military words, a command issued to soldiers. Second, they are legal words used of summoning a man to court to give account for the things he has done. Third, they are words used of ethical instruction a teacher gives to his disciples. Fourth, they are words of technique describing the law and the rules of any technique. Finally, they are medical words used to describe the instructions a man must obey to recover his health.

These words are used of the commandments of Jesus and of Paul. They are so often and consistently used that they describe the Christian and his lifestyle. The Christian is a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3-4) and is in submission to his King doing what He has ordered. The Christian must regard himself as one on trial being answerable for all he does (2 Cor. 5:10). The Christian is a disciple of Christ directing his life by the teachings of Jesus and learning the art of Christian living (2 Pet. 1:5-7). As Christians we not only have the obligation to learn Christ (Eph. 4:20), but to live as Christ lived (1 Cor. 11:1). The Christian is the patient of the Great Physician seeking the healing of his sin sick soul.

Bill Feist.