Paraenesis

Paraenesis refers to a literary style focused on moral or practical exhortation. It addresses an audience directly and encourages specific patterns of behavior, attitudes, or commitments. Paraenetic material often appears as lists of instructions, warnings, or appeals rather than extended reasoning. Its purpose is not to introduce new ideas but to reinforce shared values and expected conduct. Paraenesis is common in philosophical, ethical, and religious texts, where it functions to guide communities by reminding them how they are expected to live.