81 Bible Verses about Church

"that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel."

Being one body, acted by one spirit, since you all have but one expectation in view; there is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.

and now I shall be no more in the world, but they will be in the world, when I am come to thee. holy father keep them by that authority, with which thou hast invested me, that they may be one, as we are.

may the peace of Christ, to which you are called to be but one body, influence your hearts, to be benevolent.

for the bread being one, as many as we are, we are one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Our affection therefore to you being so great, we were as ready to give our lives for you, as we were to communicate the divine gospel to you, so much did you engage our love.

as for us, we know, that we have passed from a state of death to that of life, because we love our brethren: he that does not love his brother, is in a destructive state.

You that have purified your souls by the holy spirit, in obeying the gospel, which obliges you to an undisguised benevolence, let your hearts be mutually affected with the most disinterested ardour;

Wherefore, my dearly beloved brethren, my joy and my crown, whom I long to see, continue firm in your christian profession, my beloved.

having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the affection you have to all christians;

so that we may boldly say, " the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

for whom he before approv'd, he predispos'd to follow the example of his son, who was to conduct them all as their elder brother;

then I fell at his seet to worship him: but he said to me, "forbear: I am the servant of God, as you and your brethren are, that bear testimony to Jesus: worship God: for to give testimony to Jesus, is the very design of prophecy."

whence it was necessary he should be in all things like his brethren; that he might be a merciful high priest, and faithfully discharge the divine office of expiating the sins of the people.

But don't you assume that title, for you have but one doctor, who is the Christ; as for you, you are all brethren alike.

and the king will reply, I declare unto you, your having done this for one of the least of these my brethren, is the same thing as doing it for me.

neither pray I for these alone, but for those also who shall believe on me through their preaching.

for God is my witness, to whom I am entirely devoted, in preaching the gospel of his son, that I constantly make mention of you, in my prayers, requesting,

I continually give thanks upon your account, making mention of you in my prayers;

for this cause I bow my knees unto the father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and I never pray without praying for you all with joy, for your liberality to the gospel,

two men went to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a Publican.

wherefore it is said in the scripture, I lay in Sion the principal stone of the angle, a choice one of great value: he that

therefore, whoever heareth these instructions of mine, and puts them in practice, I will compare him to the prudent man, who built his house upon a rock:

being built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, whereof Jesus Christ himself is the main stone of the angle:

for no one can lay any other foundation, than what is laid, which is, that Jesus is the Messias.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and am filling up the measure of those remaining afflictions, which in my turn I am to suffer in this life, in the cause of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the church:

be therefore upon your guard to secure your selves, and the whole flock over which the holy spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.

You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and am filling up the measure of those remaining afflictions, which in my turn I am to suffer in this life, in the cause of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the church:

be therefore upon your guard to secure your selves, and the whole flock over which the holy spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.

You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her:

that you may be without reproach, the inoffensive spotless children of God in the midst of a depraved and perverse generation (among whom you should shine as stars in the world,

you were heretofore altogether in the dark, but now being enlightned by the Lord, behave as children of light:

ye are the light of the world. a city that is situated on an hill, cannot be hid;

be then upon the watch, and remember, that for three years I have not ceased by night, or by day to warn every soul of you, even with tears.

wherefore, my writing to you so severely did not proceed from any prejudice to him, that had done the wrong, or from favour to him that suffered wrong, but to show my conscientious regard to your welfare.

besides these troubles from without, that which crouds upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

yet I fear when I do come I shall not find you such as I would, and that you will find me such as you least desire: I am afraid there are among you debates, envyings, animosities, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, arrogance, tumults:

you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all in vain.

be then upon the watch, and remember, that for three years I have not ceased by night, or by day to warn every soul of you, even with tears.

wherefore, my writing to you so severely did not proceed from any prejudice to him, that had done the wrong, or from favour to him that suffered wrong, but to show my conscientious regard to your welfare.

besides these troubles from without, that which crouds upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

yet I fear when I do come I shall not find you such as I would, and that you will find me such as you least desire: I am afraid there are among you debates, envyings, animosities, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, arrogance, tumults:

you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all in vain.

now while they were conferring and debating together, Jesus himself join'd them and walk'd along with them.

but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have society one with another, and the blood of his son Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.

they continued stedfastly in the apostolical doctrine of a community, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

One day Jesus had been praying in a certain place, and as soon as he had done, one of his disciples said to him, instruct us about prayer, as John the baptist instructed his disciples. he said therefore to them, when ye pray, say, "our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. thy kingdom come. thy will be done, on earth, as in heaven. give us every day our portion of bread. read more.
and forgive us our sins: since we forgive every one that has offended us. and leave us not under temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Then he said to them, suppose any of you should go to his friend at midnight; and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves: for a friend of mine, a traveller, is come to my house, and I have nothing to entertain him with. and he within should give this answer, don't trouble me now: the door is made fast, and my family are all in bed: I can't get up to supply you. I tell you, tho' he will not rise, to supply him, out of friendship: yet out of regard to his importunity, he will rise, and lend him whatever he has occasion for. I tell you likewise, ask, and it shall be given: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and the door shall be opened. for every one that asketh, receives: he that seeketh, finds: and he that knocks has admittance. what father among you would give his son a stone, when he asketh for bread? or if for a fish, instead of a fish would he give him a serpent? or instead of an egg will he offer him a scorpion? if ye then, wicked as ye are, know how to give what is proper to your children: how much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him?

Then one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot by name, went to the chief priests, and said, what will ye give me, and I will deliver him to you? and they promised him thirty pieces of silver. from which time he watched a favourable opportunity to deliver him.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests, in order to betray him to them. they were glad to hear him, and promis'd to give him money. upon which he contriv'd the most favourable occasion to betray him.

now satan had inspired Judas surnam'd Iscariot, one of the twelve, what to do. accordingly he went and conferr'd with the chief priests and officers of the temple, about the method of seizing him. they were pleas'd with his proposal, and agreed to give him a certain sum. read more.
Judas accepted the bargain, and sought an opportunity to secure him, without alarming the people.

they answered, you were a vicious fellow from your very birth, and do you pretend to preach to us? and then they excommunicated him.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and am filling up the measure of those remaining afflictions, which in my turn I am to suffer in this life, in the cause of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the church:

not adhering to the head, from which all the parts of the body derive its nutrition, and being firmly united together by its joints and ligaments, receives a divine increase.

thus fitly qualifying his servants for their respective offices, in order to build up the body of Christ:

so we who are many, make all but one body in Christ, and every member subservient to one another.

Thus you are the body of Christ, being the particular members of it.

but I tell you, that Elias is already come, tho' they knew him not, but treated him in an arbitrary manner; with such usage as the son of man shall likewise suffer at their hands.

he that overcometh, the same shall be cloathed in white raiment; I will not efface his name out of the book of life, but I will own him before my father, and before his angels.

I counsel thee to purchase of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayst be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayst be cloathed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and an ointment for thine eyes to make you see clear.

round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty Elders sitting, cloathed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

After this I beheld, and there was a great multitude, which no man could number, of every nation, tribe, people, and language, who stood before the throne, and before the lamb cloathed in white robes, having palms in their hands.

fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

then shall they deliver you up to torments, and to death: and ye shall be hated by all nations upon my account.

be upon your guard with such men, for they will deliver you up to their tribunals, and scourge you in their synagogues.

but before all these events, they will seize upon you and persecute you, drag you to the synagogues and to prisons, being accused before kings and governours, for professing my name.

remember what I told you, "the servant is not greater than his master." if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have been spies upon my discourse, they will be so upon yours.

yet I fear when I do come I shall not find you such as I would, and that you will find me such as you least desire: I am afraid there are among you debates, envyings, animosities, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, arrogance, tumults:

for I have been inform'd, my brethren, by some of Chloe's family, that there are contentions among you.

for you are still subject to your passions. since envy, and strife, and divisions are among you, are you not actuated by the vices of the animal part?

but when a contest arises, you must refer the decision to infidels?

I conjure Euodias, and I conjure Syntyche to be perfectly united in the Lord.

Whatever condition God has allotted to any man, let him go on in the same state he was in when he became a christian: this I give as a standing rule to all churches.

and if any one is press'd with hunger, let him eat at home; that ye may not otherwise meet with punishment. as for other matters, I will set them in order when I come.

when therefore the whole church is assembled, and all speak different languages, if such as are either unlearned, or are unbelievers should come in, will they not say you are all mad?

let all things be done with decency, and without disorder.

I left you in Crete, to regulate what was amiss, and to ordain pastors in every city, as I had appointed you,

Whatever condition God has allotted to any man, let him go on in the same state he was in when he became a christian: this I give as a standing rule to all churches.

and if any one is press'd with hunger, let him eat at home; that ye may not otherwise meet with punishment. as for other matters, I will set them in order when I come.

The apostles therefore, and the presbyters assembled to deliberate upon this affair.

for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions;

for if a man is incapable of governing his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?

Whatever condition God has allotted to any man, let him go on in the same state he was in when he became a christian: this I give as a standing rule to all churches.

and if any one is press'd with hunger, let him eat at home; that ye may not otherwise meet with punishment. as for other matters, I will set them in order when I come.

The apostles therefore, and the presbyters assembled to deliberate upon this affair.

for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions;

for if a man is incapable of governing his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?

but the hireling, who is not the pastor, nor has the property of the sheep, seeing the wolf come, leaves the sheep, and flies away: so the wolf seizes some, and disperses the flock.

but when he saw how the multitude were fatigued and dispers'd like so many sheep without their Pastors, he was moved with compassion, and said to his disciples,

then said Jesus to them, I shall be the occasion of your revolting all from me this night: for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered."

A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition, avoid:

Hymeneus and Alexander are of that number, whom I have deliver'd to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

I who am a person of a mean presence, when among you, but exert myself upon your account, when absent; I Paul intreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, not to let me exert that authority,

to deliver him up to satan, to suffer corporal punishment, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I told you once before, and now being absent I write to forewarn you and all that have sinned, that when I shall arrive, I will not spare them;

and I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descend from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

the spirit and the bride say, come. let him that heareth, say, come. let him that is a-thirst, come: and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

for I am jealous over you with religious jealousy: since I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

let us rejoyce, and triumph, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the lamb is come, and his spouse is already adorn'd.

for the disposition of the tabernacle was such, that in the first part named the sanctuary, were placed the candlestick, the table, and the shew-bread;

but Christ, the high priest of a better dispensation that was to come, having appeared, is enter'd into the holy of holys by a nobler and more perfect tabernacle, not the effect of human art, but of a higher nature;

he himself is the head of the church, which is his body. he is the prince, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might be chief.

for he has subjected all things to him, and constituted him supreme head of the church,

but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head:

for the husband presides over his wife, as Christ presides over the church: and he it is that preserves the whole body.

not adhering to the head, from which all the parts of the body derive its nutrition, and being firmly united together by its joints and ligaments, receives a divine increase.

don't you know that when we were all baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we were plunged into a state figurative of his death.

for by one spirit we have all been baptized, to be form'd into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and have been all made to drink of one spirit.

for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians.

which were buried (as Christ was) in your baptism, by virtue of which you rise (as he did) to a new life, through a belief of that divine power, which raised him from the dead.

thus baptism, which corresponds to the deluge, does now save us, not as it is a cleansing from external filth, but as it is an engagement to lead a divine life, from the belief of the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

on which the whole structure rises with symmetry into a temple, consecrated by the Lord:

Is any of you sick? let him send for the pastors of the church, to pray for him, and after giving him the unction, in the name of the Lord,

Let the presbyters that govern well receive a double salary, especially those who are employ'd in preaching and instructing.

and sent it by the hands of Saul and Barnabas to the presbyters at Jerusalem.

I address myself to you pastors, as being a pastor myself, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and as one who is to partake of the glory, that shall hereafter be made manifest;

I left you in Crete, to regulate what was amiss, and to ordain pastors in every city, as I had appointed you,

go and instruct all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost:

he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that disbelieves, shall be condemned.

Jesus answered, I tell thee, except a man be renewed by the spiritual baptism, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Peter replied, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy spirit.

so he directed they should be baptized in the name of the Lord. after which they desired him to stay some time with them.

praising God, and showing benevolence to all the people. and the Lord encreased the church daily with new converts.

when therefore the whole church is assembled, and all speak different languages, if such as are either unlearned, or are unbelievers should come in, will they not say you are all mad?

and I tell thee likewise, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will hereafter build my church: and death shall not prevail against it.

if he does not relent, tell it to the church: but if he is not moved by the church, show him no more regard than you would to a pagan or a publican.

for first, I hear, that when you come together in the church, you fall into parties; and I believe it is true of some of you.

While they were yet eating, Jesus took bread, and having given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, take, eat; this represents my body.

When they had been eating, Jesus took bread, and having given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to them, and said, take it, this represents my body.

the cup of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

For I received it from the Lord, and I inform'd you of it: that the Lord Jesus, the night in which he was betrayed, took bread:

Confide in your guides, and be respectful: that they who are vigilant, as being accountable for your souls, may discharge themselves with cheerfulness, and not with anxiety, which would be to your prejudice.

receive him then in the Lord with all alacrity, and let such be the objects of your esteem:

We entreat you, brethren, to respect those, who labour in the ministry, who by divine appointment preside over you, and instruct you. maintain an intire affection for them, upon account of their office, and don't form any brigues against them.

Let the presbyters that govern well receive a double salary, especially those who are employ'd in preaching and instructing.

Remember those who have the rule over you, who have preach'd to you the word of God: imitate their faith; consider their conduct, and the exit they made.

whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye leave unpardoned, they are lest unpardoned."

and I will give you the keys of the gospel-kingdom: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

I declare unto you, "whatever things ye disallow on earth, are disallow'd by heaven: and whatever ye authorize on earth, are authoriz'd by heaven."

as they pass'd through the cities, they recommended it to the faithful to observe the decisions, made by the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem.

Confide in your guides, and be respectful: that they who are vigilant, as being accountable for your souls, may discharge themselves with cheerfulness, and not with anxiety, which would be to your prejudice.

being built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, whereof Jesus Christ himself is the main stone of the angle:

and I tell thee likewise, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will hereafter build my church: and death shall not prevail against it.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians, who believe in God the father, and in our Lord Jesus Christ. grace and peace be with you from God our father, and from Jesus Christ our Lord.

you may know how to conduct yourself in the house of God, that is, in the church of the true God.

then Herod and his retinue treated him with contempt, and in derision sent him back magnificently dress'd to Pilate.

upon which occasion the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he did such things on the sabbath-day.

and breaking up the assembly, they drove him out of the city, to the precipice of the hill, upon which it was built, in order to throw him headlong down.

After this Jesus resided in Galilee: for he would not be in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. now the

I know you are Abraham's offspring; but ye seek to kill me, because my doctrine doth not penetrate into you.

according to the free gift of God bestowed upon me, I, as a skilful architect, have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. but let every man take heed how he builds thereupon.

on which the whole structure rises with symmetry into a temple, consecrated by the Lord:

and I tell thee likewise, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will hereafter build my church: and death shall not prevail against it.

you your selves are as so many living stones, you are the edifice, the spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, agreeable to God by Jesus Christ.

From Perga they went to Antioch in Pisidia, and going to the synagogue on the sabbath-day, they took their places,

At his departure thence, he went into their synagogue.

As soon as they were come to Capernaum, he entred into the synagogue, and it being the sabbath, instructed them.

being come to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; according to his custom, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and standing up to read,

as some do; but encourage one another: even so much the more, as you see the day approaching.