5 Writing Tips *Inspired*
by the Apostle Paul

By: Alexandria Grace 

Paul, to me, is one of the most fascinating individuals within the pages of the Bible. 

With a personality so contradictory and multifaceted—a voice both like that of a lion and a lamb —living as slave and freeman; a man of weakness and strength, he was simultaneously gentle and harsh. Paul had moods that seemed to shift from piping hot to freezing cold, and he appeared restless but resolved; a fireball of energy that was subdued by his submission to God. 

He is truly an awe-inspiring figure to look up to, especially as a writer. 

Though Paul lived centuries ago, the Word of God is timeless, therefore the treasure trove of Paul’s life and ministry, full of gems of wise advice, is still very much applicable in this day and age. For the literary geeks and word nerds, especially, Paul has a lot of tips and tricks to take note of within his writings that can encourage and equip writers to pen the words the King has placed in their own hearts.

Today, I’m going to unpack five amazing nuggets of gold I’ve grasped ahold of after reading Paul’s letters many times over the course of my Christian walk, and hopefully after reading, you’re just as excited and motivated as I am to pick up your pen and pour your creativity out onto paper. 

1.
paul wrote a lot. 
therefore, you should write a lot.

Paul is credited with writing 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament (Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon). That’s nearly half!

Though you don’t have to write 13 books within the span of a almost two decades, like Paul, you can write on a consistent basis to grow in your craft.

Constantly picking up your pen and recording your words on paper is the best and possibly the simplest way to get better at writing!

When you actively pursue your pen and paper, the more natural, and in most cases, even easier it will become. So write, write, and WRITE. 

2.
paul wrote to meet the needs of others. and sometimes his own. 
so do that.

Every epistle Paul wrote was written for different reasons, but one thing all his writings have in common is that they were created to meet the needs of other people, and sometimes even his own needs, to benefit the Kingdom of God.

The book of Romans was written to give strength to the believers in Rome, and Paul asked for prayer on his behalf for the sake of his ministry within the letter, too.

Ephesians was mainly penned to remind both Jewish believers and the Gentile believers that they were a part of the same family unit.

Galatians was composed to both clarify and uphold the one true Gospel, and Paul did so by defending his ministry and how the truth he spoke was practical for the daily life of every Christian.

There are so many examples, but these are just a few to remind you that your words could hold the answers to the questions a person might have.

Your writing could offer clarity to confusion and bring faith to the those who are losing their own, hope to the one who is feeling hopeless, and love to those who desperately need it most.

Your writing could meet the needs of others while also meeting your needs, too. 

3.
paul wrote in circumstances both good and bad. moreso bad.
follow his example.

Paul wrote his epistles in numerous places and in a number of different circumstances, most of which weren’t pretty or comfortable.

Books like Philippians and Colossians, among others, were written from prison.

Paul wrote Romans in Corinth, Greece, penning that particular letter out of a desire to visit Rome one day.

Sometimes, like Paul, you’re not always where you want to be and are in situations that make you feel like you’re locked behind bars.

But just like Paul, you shouldn’t let the chains of this life strip you of your freedom in Christ.

In any situation, whether good or bad, you should pick up your pen and fight the good fight, writing your stories or poems or blog posts for the glory of God.

Don’t let your circumstances, whether great or poor, stop you from pursuing your pen and paper. 

4.
greetings and farewells.
paul gave credit where credit was due.
make sure you do the same.

In all of his epistles, Paul gave credit where it belonged. In the beginnings and ends of his letters, Paul always made it known that God was deserving of all the glory. He continually gave thanks to Christ and prayed when opening and finishing his writings, dedicating his words to the One who put them in his heart and mind. Paul knew where his giftings and talents came from, and he always gave them back to God for Him to use fully and completely.

Along with giving God the praise, Paul also took the time in many of his epistles to specifically mention friends, colleagues and even mentors who were used as Christ’s vessels that encouraged and equipped him to serve and submit (read Romans 16 if you’d like a visual).

Like Paul, you should be gracing credit where it’s due. Thanking God, uplifting His name in your work, is vital, and if there are people God has used to help you pursue your call to writing, appreciating them should be second most important to thanking God and giving Him the glory. 

5.
paul wrote with his mind and his heart. 
do that too.

One of the the most intriguing things about Paul is that he didn’t hide his personality when he wrote.

In fact, it seems he did the complete opposite; Paul appears to have let himself and his thoughts, opinions, and ideas bleed through his work.

Paul was so grounded in God’s firm rock of truth that he wasn’t swayed by the world when expressing himself.

Paul’s feelings were in submission to facts; his heart was in submission to God’s mind just as his mind was in submission to God’s heart.

You might be afraid to let yourself show through your writing, whether that be because of fear of revealing who you truly are to others or fear of jeopardizing God’s unchanging character with your changing one, but whatever the reason, rest assured that when you give your words back to God, when you base your writing off of His Word, your imperfections are what give way to His perfection. 

Grace be with you all,

Alexandria Grace. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alexandria Grace is a dreamer, a doer, and a daughter of the King. She is a writer who knows her pen is a powerful weapon, and desires to encourage and equip women, young and old, through her writing in the truth that they’re both princesses and warriors. In her free time, she enjoys drinking excessive amounts of tea, getting lost in a good book and watching Disney movies.

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