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And so I say to you, you
are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the
gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. [MT 16:18]
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses
to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a
Gentile or a tax collector. [MT 18:17]
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He
said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He
said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to him a
second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He
said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He
said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third
time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was
distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love
me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you
know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my
sheep." [JN 21:15-17]
And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who
heard of these things. [ACTS 5:11]
Now Saul was consenting to his execution. On that day, there
broke out a severe persecution of the church in Jerusalem, and all
were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,
except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church; entering
house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them
over for imprisonment. [ACTS 8:1-3]
The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at
peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,
and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.
[ACTS 9:31]
The news about them reached the ears of the church in
Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. [Taken from ACTS 11:22]
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a
whole year they met with the church and taught a large number of
people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called
Christians. [ACTS 11:25-26]
About that time King Herod laid hands upon some members of the
church to harm them. He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword, and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews he proceeded to arrest Peter
also...He had him taken into custody and put in prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church
was fervently being made to God on his behalf. [ACTS 12:1-5]
Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen
who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [ACTS
13:1]
They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with
prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had
put their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached
Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to
Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the church together and
reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the
door of faith to the Gentiles. [ACTS 14:23-27]
They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed
through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the
Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the
church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, and they
reported what God had done with them. [ACTS 15:3-4]
Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole
church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to
Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who
was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
[ACTS 15:22-26]
Although they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not
consent, but as he said farewell he promised, "I shall come
back to you again, God willing." Then he set sail from
Ephesus. Upon landing at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the
church and then went down to Antioch. After staying there some
time, he left and traveled in orderly sequence through the
Galatian country and Phrygia, bringing strength to all the
disciples. [ACTS 18:20-23]
From Miletus he had the presbyters of the church at Ephesus
summoned. When they came to him, he addressed them, "You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia.
I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews,
and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes.
I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus.
But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know,
except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me.
Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God's grace.
But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again.
And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,
for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.
Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit
has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood."
[ACTS 20:17-28]
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister [i.e.
servant, attendant] of
the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord in a
manner worthy of the holy ones, and help her in whatever she may
need from you, for she has been a benefactor to many and to me as
well. [Taken from ROM 16:1-2]
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus,
who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I am grateful
but also all the churches of the Gentiles; greet also the church
at their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the
firstfruits in Asia for Christ. Greet one another with a holy
kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. [ROM 16:3-5,16]
Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you.
Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.
[ROM 16:23]
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of
God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God that is in
Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called
to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. [1COR 1:1-2]
Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do
not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus
through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, be imitators of me. For
this reason I am sending you Timothy, who is my beloved and
faithful son in the Lord; he will remind you of my ways in Christ
(Jesus), just as I teach them everywhere in every church. [1COR 4:15-17]
How can any one of you with a case against another dare to
bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the holy ones?
Do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? If the
world is to be judged by you, are you unqualified for the lowest
law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? Then why
not everyday matters? If, therefore, you have courts for everyday
matters, do you seat as judges people of no standing in the
church? I say this to shame you. Can it be that there is not one
among you wise enough to be able to settle a case between
brothers? [1COR 6:1-5]
Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church
of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking
my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. [1COR
10:32-33]
First of all, I hear that when you meet as a church there are
divisions among you, and to a degree I believe it; there have to
be factions among you in order that (also) those who are approved
among you may become known. When you meet in one place, then, it
is not to eat the Lord's supper, for in eating, each one goes
ahead with his own supper, and one goes hungry while another gets
drunk. Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink? Or do
you show contempt for the church of God and make those who have
nothing feel ashamed? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you?
In this matter I do not praise you. [1COR 11:18-22]
Some people God has designated in the church to be, first,
apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds;
then, gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties
of tongues. [1COR 12:28]
Whoever speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but whoever
prophesies builds up the church. Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more
to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in
tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be built up.
[1COR 14:4-5]
So with yourselves: since you strive eagerly for spirits, seek
to have an abundance of them for building up the church. [1COR
14:12]
I give thanks to God that I speak in tongues more than any of
you, but in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind,
so as to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a
tongue. [1COR 14:18-19]
So if the whole church meets in one place and everyone speaks
in tongues, and then uninstructed people or unbelievers should
come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if
everyone is prophesying, and an unbeliever or uninstructed person
should come in, he will be convinced by everyone and judged by
everyone, and the secrets of his heart will be disclosed, and so
he will fall down and worship God, declaring, "God is really
in your midst." [1COR 14:23-25]
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three,
and each in turn, and one should interpret. But if there is no
interpreter, the person should keep silent in the church and speak
to himself and to God. [1COR 14:27-28]
As in all the churches of the holy ones, women should keep
silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but
should be subordinate, as even the law says. But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their
husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in the
church. [Taken from 1COR 14:33-35]
For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [1COR 15:9]
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and
Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with
all the holy ones throughout Achaia: grace to you and peace from
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [2COR 1:1-2]
For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I
persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy
it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries
among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral
traditions. But when (God), who from my mother's womb had set me
apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his
Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles... Then I
went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown
personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only
kept hearing that "the one who once was persecuting us is now
preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." [Taken from
GAL 1:13-16,21-23]
May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know
what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of
glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the
surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord
with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the
heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and
dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but
also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his
body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. [EPH
1:18-23]
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was
given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light (for all) what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known
through the church to the principalities and authorities in the
heavens. [EPH 3:8-10]
Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask
or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all
generations, forever and ever. Amen. [EPH 3:20-21]
For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of
the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be
subordinate to their husbands in everything. [EPH 5:23-24]
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and
handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the
bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the
church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish. So (also) husbands
should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife
loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes
and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are
members of his body. "For this reason a man shall leave (his)
father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two
shall become one flesh." This is a great mystery, but I speak
in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of
you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect
her husband. [EPH 5:25-33]
Circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the
tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, in observance of
the law a Pharisee, in zeal I persecuted the church, in righteousness based on the
law I was blameless. [PHIL 3:5-6]
You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the
gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me
in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. [PHIL
4:15]
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all
creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on
earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions
or principalities or powers; all things were created through him
and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold
together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he
himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was
pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross (through him), whether
those on earth or those in heaven. [COL 1:15-20]
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I
am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on
behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister
in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring to
completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages
and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his
holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope
for glory. [COL 1:24-27]
Give greetings to the brothers in Laodicea and to Nympha and to
the church in her house. And when this letter is read before you,
have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and you
yourselves read the one from Laodicea. And tell Archippus,
"See that you fulfill the ministry that you received in the
Lord." The greeting is in my own hand, Paul's. Remember my
chains. Grace be with you. [COL 4:15-18]
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians
in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and
peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering
you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith
and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,
before our God and Father, knowing, brothers loved by God, how you
were chosen. [1THES 1:1-4]
He must manage his own household well, keeping his children
under control with perfect dignity; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how
can he take care of the church of God? [1TM 3:4-5]
But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in
the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and foundation of truth. [1TM 3:15]
If any woman believer has widowed relatives, she must assist
them; the church is not to be burdened, so that it will be able to
help those who are truly widows. [1TM 5:16]
Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to
Philemon, our beloved and our co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to
Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church at your house.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ. [PHLM 1:1-3]
Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of
the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with
oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the
sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed
any sins, he will be forgiven. [JMS 5:14-15]
Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers,
especially for strangers; they have testified to your love before
the church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue
their journey. For they have set out for the sake of the Name and are accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore, we ought to
support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth. I
wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to dominate, does
not acknowledge us. Therefore, if I come, I will draw attention
to what he is doing, spreading evil nonsense about us. And not
content with that, he will not receive the brothers, hindering
those who wish to do so and expelling them from the church.
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does what
is good is of God; whoever does what is evil has never seen God.
[3JN 1:5-11]
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write this: 'The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in
the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this: "I know
your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot
tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves
apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and
you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have
lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come
to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you
repent. But you have this in your favor: you hate the works of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate."' Whoever has ears ought to
hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I
will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the
garden of God." [Taken from RV 2:1-7]
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna, write this: 'The first and the last, who once died but came to life, says
this: "I know your tribulation and poverty, but you are rich.
I know the slander of those who claim to be Jews and are not,
but rather are members of the assembly of Satan. Do not be afraid
of anything that you are going to suffer. Indeed, the devil will
throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you
will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful until death, and
I will give you the crown of life."' Whoever has ears
ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor
shall not be harmed by the second death." [Taken from RV 2:8-11]
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum, write this: 'The one with the sharp two-edged sword says this: "I
know that you live where Satan's throne is, and yet you hold fast
to my name and have not denied your faith in me, not even in the
days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was martyred among you,
where Satan lives. Yet I have a few things against you. You have
some people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who
instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the Israelites:
to eat food sacrificed to idols and to play the harlot. Likewise,
you also have some people who hold to the teaching of (the)
Nicolaitans. Therefore, repent. Otherwise, I will come to you
quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my
mouth."' Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some of the
hidden manna; I shall also give a white amulet upon which is
inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who
receives it." [Taken from RV 2:12-17]
"To the angel of the church in Thyatira, write this: 'The Son of God, whose eyes are like a fiery flame and
whose feet are like polished brass, says this: "I know your
works, your love, faith, service, and endurance, and that your
last works are greater than the first. Yet I hold this against
you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a
prophetess, who teaches and misleads my servants to play the
harlot and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time
to repent, but she refuses to repent of her harlotry. So I will
cast her on a sickbed and plunge those who commit adultery with
her into intense suffering unless they repent of her works. I will
also put her children to death. Thus shall all the churches come
to know that I am the searcher of hearts and minds and that I will
give each of you what your works deserve. But I say to the rest of
you in Thyatira, who do not uphold this teaching and know nothing
of the so-called deep secrets of Satan: on you I will place no
further burden, except that you must hold fast to what you have
until I come. To the victor, who keeps to my ways
until the end, I will give authority over the nations. He
will rule them with an iron rod. Like clay vessels will they be
smashed, just as I received authority from my Father. And to him I
will give the morning star."' Whoever has ears ought
to hear what the Spirit says to the churches." [Taken from RV
2:18-29]
"To the angel of the church in Sardis, write this: 'The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says
this: "I know your works, that you have the reputation of
being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is
left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works
complete in the sight of my God. Remember then how you accepted
and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will
come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will
come upon you. However, you have a few people in Sardis who have
not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in
white, because they are worthy. The victor will thus
be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the
book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my
Father and of his angels."' Whoever has ears ought to
hear what the Spirit says to the churches." [Taken from RV 3:1-6]
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write this: 'The holy one, the true, who holds the key of David, who
opens and no one shall close, who closes and no one shall open,
says this: "I know your works (behold, I have left an
open door before you, which no one can close). You have limited
strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my
name. Behold, I will make those of the assembly of Satan who claim
to be Jews and are not, but are lying, behold I will make them
come and fall prostrate at your feet, and they will realize that I
love you. Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will
keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the
whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming
quickly. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your
crown." "The victor I will make into a pillar in the
temple of my God, and he will never leave it again. On him I will
inscribe the name of my God and the name of the city of my God,
the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, as
well as my new name." Whoever has ears ought to hear
what the Spirit says to the churches." [Taken from RV 3:7-13]
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write this: 'The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of
God's creation, says this: "I know your works; I know that
you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or
hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will
spit you out of my mouth. For you say, 'I am rich and affluent and
have no need of anything,' and yet do not realize that you are
wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy
from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white
garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be
exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may
see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest,
therefore, and repent." "Behold, I stand at the door
and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, (then) I
will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. I will
give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself
first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne.
'" Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the
churches." [Taken from RV 3:14-22]
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