81 Bible Verses about Church

that the Gentiles should be co-heirs, and of the same body, and sharers with them of his promise in Christ by the Gospel:

There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye have been called to one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

And now no longer am I in this world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father! preserve them for thy name's sake whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

And let the peace of God set up its throne in your hearts, whereunto also ye have been called in one body; and be ye thankful.

For we, though many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf.

So, tenderly affected towards you, we could with pleasure have imparted to you not the gospel of God only, but our own lives also, because ye were beloved by us.

We know that we are passed out of [a state of] death into life, because we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

Having purified your souls by obedience to the truth through the Spirit unto fraternal affection undissembled, love each other intensely out of a pure heart:

WHEREFORE, my brethren, beloved, and very dear to me, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, O beloved.

having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love ye show to all the saints;

So that we may with confidence say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

For whom he foreknew, he predestinated also to a conformity with the image of his Son, that he might be the first-begotten among many brethren.

And I fell down before his feet to worship him: and he said unto me, See thou dost not so: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.

Wherefore he ought in all things to be made like to his brethren, in order to become a merciful and faithful high-priest in those things which relate to God, to make a propitiation for the sins of the people:

But be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your leader, the Messiah; and ye all are brethren.

And the king answering shall say to them, Verily I tell you, for as much as ye have done it to one of these my brethren, the very least of them, ye have done it unto me.

And not for them do I make request only, but also for those who shall believe in me through their word;

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son, how incessantly I make mention of you,

have not ceased offering up my praises for you, making mention of you in my prayers,

For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy,

Two men went up to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a tax-farmer.

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, "Behold, I lay in Sion a cornerstone, elect, precious, and the believer on him shall never be confounded."

Every man therefore who is hearing from me these words, and puts them in practice, I will compare him to the intelligent man, who erected his house upon a rock:

built up on the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus the Messiah.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh the measure of afflictions for Christ which remains to be endured for his body, which is the church,

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed as shepherds the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.

Husbands, love your own wives, as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh the measure of afflictions for Christ which remains to be endured for his body, which is the church,

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed as shepherds the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.

Husbands, love your own wives, as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

that ye may be blameless and harmless, the children of God, inoffensive, in the midst of an untoward and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as luminaries in the world;

For ye were formerly darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light;

Ye are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid that is situated on an eminence.

Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, by night and by day, I have never ceased with tears to admonish every individual.

And indeed though I wrote unto you, I did it not [merely] for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause who had suffered the injury, but that our diligent attention for you might be more abundantly manifested to you in the presence of God.

and beside all these things from without, that accumulated burden which cometh on me daily, the care of all the churches.

For I am afraid that when I come I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found of you such as ye would not: lest haply there be contentions, jealousies, animosities, quarrels, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

I am afraid for you, lest haply I have bestowed on you labour in vain.

Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, by night and by day, I have never ceased with tears to admonish every individual.

And indeed though I wrote unto you, I did it not [merely] for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause who had suffered the injury, but that our diligent attention for you might be more abundantly manifested to you in the presence of God.

and beside all these things from without, that accumulated burden which cometh on me daily, the care of all the churches.

For I am afraid that when I come I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found of you such as ye would not: lest haply there be contentions, jealousies, animosities, quarrels, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

I am afraid for you, lest haply I have bestowed on you labour in vain.

And it came to pass, as they were conversing together, and talking the matter over, even Jesus himself drew near, and walked on with them.

but if we walk in the light, as he is himself in the light, we have communion with each other, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

And they persevered stedfastly in the doctrine of the apostles, and in communion, and in breaking bread, and in prayers.

AND it came to pass, as he was in a certain place praying, when he had done, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray say, Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done as in heaven so upon earth. Give us our necessary food, day by day: read more.
and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one who is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation; but deliver us from the wicked one. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and he shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine is come to me off a journey, and I have nothing to set before him. And he from within answering, shall say, Give me no farther trouble: my door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed; I am unable to rise and give thee. I tell you, though even he would not rise and give him because he is his friend; yet because of his importunity, roused up, he will give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one who asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. For what father of you, if his son ask a loaf, will he give him a stone? or if a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he ask also an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If ye then, evil as ye are, know how to give good gifts to your children; how much more shall your Father, who is in heaven, give his Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

Then went one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, and said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? Then they placed before him thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought an opportunity to deliver him up to them.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, that he might betray him unto them. When they heard it, they rejoiced, and promised to give him a sum in silver. And he watched how opportunely he might deliver him up.

Then entered Satan into Judas called Iscariot, though he was of the number of the twelve. And he went and conversed with the chief priests and the captains, by what means he could betray him unto them. And they were glad, and agreed with him to give him a sum of money. read more.
And he gave them his promise, and sought the favourable opportunity to betray him to them, in the absence of the multitude.

They answered and said unto him, Thou wast wholly born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh the measure of afflictions for Christ which remains to be endured for his body, which is the church,

and not firmly attached to the head, from which the whole body, by joints and ligaments, harmoniously adjusted and closely compacted, increaseth with increase from God.

for the perfecting the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ:

so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one reciprocally members of each other.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

But I say unto you, That Elias is already come, and they knew him not, but have done by him whatsoever they chose: even so also must the Son of man suffer by them.

He that overcometh, this man shall be clothed in white robes; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

I advise thee to buy of me gold purified by the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white robes, that thou mayest be completely clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thine eyes with a collyrium, that thou mayest see.

And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon these thrones I saw twenty-four presbyters seated, clothed in white robes; and they had on their heads golden crowns.

After these things I looked, and beheld a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation, and tribe, and people, and tongue, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches in their hands

Fear nothing from the things which thou shalt suffer: lo! the devil will cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have a ten day's tribulation: be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Then shall they deliver you up to affliction, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

But be on your guard against men: for they will deliver you up to the sanhedrim, and scourge you in their synagogues.

But before all these things, they will lay hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and to prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Remember the word which I spake unto you, The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also; if they have observed my words, they will observe your's also.

For I am afraid that when I come I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found of you such as ye would not: lest haply there be contentions, jealousies, animosities, quarrels, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by those of the family of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

For ye are still carnal: for since there are among you envy, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as [other] men?

But brother goes to law with brother, and this before the unbelievers.

I beseech Euodias, and I beseech Syntiche to be of one mind in the Lord.

Nevertheless as God has bestowed the gift on every man as the Lord hath called every man, so let him walk, and so I give command in all the churches.

And if any man be hungry, let him eat at home; that ye meet not together for condemnation. And the other matters I will regulate when I come.

If then the whole church assemble together in the same place, and all speak different tongues, and there come in illiterate persons, or infidels, will they not say ye are mad?

Let all things be done with propriety, and orderly.

For this purpose I left thee behind me at Crete, that thou mightest direct the regulations which remained to be executed, and that thou shouldest appoint presbyters in every city, as I charged thee to do:

Nevertheless as God has bestowed the gift on every man as the Lord hath called every man, so let him walk, and so I give command in all the churches.

And if any man be hungry, let him eat at home; that ye meet not together for condemnation. And the other matters I will regulate when I come.

Then the apostles and presbyters were assembled to consider of this matter.

For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no other burden except these things which are of absolute necessity;

for if a man knoweth not how to order his own family, how shall he take proper care of the church of God?

Nevertheless as God has bestowed the gift on every man as the Lord hath called every man, so let him walk, and so I give command in all the churches.

And if any man be hungry, let him eat at home; that ye meet not together for condemnation. And the other matters I will regulate when I come.

Then the apostles and presbyters were assembled to consider of this matter.

For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no other burden except these things which are of absolute necessity;

for if a man knoweth not how to order his own family, how shall he take proper care of the church of God?

But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own property the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf seizes upon them, and disperseth the sheep.

And beholding the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were fainting, and lying here and there, as sheep that had no shepherd.

Then saith Jesus unto them, Ye all will be offended at me this night: for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."

An heretical person after a first and second admonition reject;

of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over unto Satan, that they may be corrected, so as to blaspheme no more.

NOW I Paul myself exhort you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who, when present, am indeed lowly among you, but being absent, am bold towards you.

to deliver such a one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

I have told you before, and I repeat it, as when I was present the second time, and now absent, I write to those who have sinned already, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare you:

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

And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him who is athirst come: and whosoever is desirous, let him take of the water of life freely.

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, to present you a chaste virgin to Christ.

Let us rejoice and exult, and give him glory: because the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his bride hath made herself ready.

For the tabernacle was prepared; the first part, in which was both the candlestick, and the table, and the shew-bread, which is called the holy.

But Christ becoming the high-priest of future good things, through a better and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation;

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first begotten from the dead, that he might be in all things pre-eminent.

and hath put all things under his feet, and hath appointed him head over all to the church,

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ:

For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and is himself the saviour of the body.

and not firmly attached to the head, from which the whole body, by joints and ligaments, harmoniously adjusted and closely compacted, increaseth with increase from God.

Do ye not know, that as many as have been baptised into Christ Jesus have been baptised into his death?

For by one Spirit we all have been baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free men; and we have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ, have been invested with Christ.

buried with him in baptism, in which also ye have been raised up together with him by faith, the energy of God, who raised him from the dead.

The antitype to which baptism now saveth us (not the mere removal of filth from the flesh, but the engagement of a good conscience to God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

in whom the whole building exactly cemented together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord:

Is any man sick among you? let him send for the presbyters of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

Let the elders who preside properly be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who are laborious in preaching and teaching.

which also they did, sending it off to the presbyters by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

THE presbyters among you I exhort, who am a co-presbyter and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory which shall be revealed:

For this purpose I left thee behind me at Crete, that thou mightest direct the regulations which remained to be executed, and that thou shouldest appoint presbyters in every city, as I charged thee to do:

Go therefore, make disciples among all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned.

Jesus replied, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you into the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

So he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then they entreated him to tarry there some days.

praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added the saved ones daily to the church.

If then the whole church assemble together in the same place, and all speak different tongues, and there come in illiterate persons, or infidels, will they not say ye are mad?

And I tell thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

But if he disregard them, inform the church: and if he disregard the church, let him be to thee as a heathen, or a publican.

For in the first place, when ye assemble in the church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

Then as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessing, brake, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

And as they were eating, Jesus taking a loaf, when he had blessed, brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

The cup of blessing 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 of the Lord what also I delivered to you, That the Lord Jesus, in the night in which he was betrayed, took a loaf:

Obey your presidents, and be subject to them: for they are vigilant for your souls, as being to render an account, that they may do it with joy, and not groaning: for that would be disadvantageous for you.

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and honourably treat those that are such:

Now we entreat you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and preside over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to account of them very highly in love for their work's sake. And live in peace among yourselves.

Let the elders who preside properly be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who are laborious in preaching and teaching.

Remember your presidents, who have spoken to you the word of God: the ultimate issue of whose conduct attentively observing, be imitators of their fidelity.

whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins soever ye retain, they are retained.

And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever things ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

So as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them for their observance the ordinances decreed by the apostles and presbyters that were at Jerusalem.

Obey your presidents, and be subject to them: for they are vigilant for your souls, as being to render an account, that they may do it with joy, and not groaning: for that would be disadvantageous for you.

built up on the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

And I tell thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

but should I be delayed, that thou mayest know how it behoveth thee to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the pedestal of truth.

Then Herod with his guards treated him with contempt, and in derision clothed him in a splendid robe, and sent him back to Pilate.

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he had done these things on the sabbath-day.

and rising up, dragged him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill, on which their city was built, in order to cast him down headlong:

AND Jesus after these things travelled about in Galilee: for he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

I know that ye are Abraham's seed; yet ye seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

According to the grace of God given unto me, as a skilful architect, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every one take heed how he buildeth upon it.

in whom the whole building exactly cemented together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord:

And I tell thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

ye also, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, well pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

And they departed from Perga, and came to Antioch in Pisidia, and entering into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, they sat down.

And going on from thence, he came into their synagogue;

And they entered into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath going into the synagogue, he taught.

And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up; and he went, according to his usual custom, into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and rose up to read.

not deserting the assembling of ourselves together, as is the custom with some, but exhorting to it; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

But if children, then heirs; heirs indeed of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be we suffer with him, that we may also together with him be glorified.

And it shall be in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people; there shall they be called the sons of the living God."

Salute Rufus elect in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my son beloved and faithful in Christ, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ Jesus, as I teach every where in every church.

For this I know, that after my departure there will come among you grievous wolves, not sparing the flock:

Fear not, little flock! for your Father takes delight in giving you the kingdom.

For this I know, that after my departure there will come among you grievous wolves, not sparing the flock:

Fear not, little flock! for your Father takes delight in giving you the kingdom.

PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

but should I be delayed, that thou mayest know how it behoveth thee to conduct thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the pedestal of truth.

He saith unto them, But who do ye say that I am? Then Simon Peter answering said, Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God. And Jesus replying, said to him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed this to thee, but my Father, who is in heaven. read more.
And I tell thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

built up on the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom the whole building exactly cemented together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord: by whom also ye have been built up together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ:

IF there be then any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any communion of spirit, if any bowels and compassions,

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy,

And in the multitude of those that believed there was one heart and soul: and not one person said, that any part of his substance was his peculiar property; but all things were in common among them.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing with grace in your heart unto the Lord.

Having then different gifts according to the grace which is given unto us, if it be prophecy, speak according to the analogy of faith;

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

Therefore let him who speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret also.

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body nicely joined together, and firmly connected by every joint of exact proportion, according to the energy exerted in the measure of every several part, causeth the increase of the body unto the edification of itself in love.

NOW it came to pass at Iconium, that they went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and spake in such a manner, as that a vast multitude both of the Jews and Greek proselytes believed.

Then were the churches established truly in the faith, and increased in number daily.

And some of them believed, and associated themselves with Paul and Silas; and of the religious Greeks a vast multitude, and of the wives of the first people not a few.

But Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house: and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptised.

NOW it came to pass at Iconium, that they went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and spake in such a manner, as that a vast multitude both of the Jews and Greek proselytes believed.

Then were the churches established truly in the faith, and increased in number daily.

And some of them believed, and associated themselves with Paul and Silas; and of the religious Greeks a vast multitude, and of the wives of the first people not a few.

But Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house: and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptised.

For I am afraid that when I come I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found of you such as ye would not: lest haply there be contentions, jealousies, animosities, quarrels, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: and lest when I come to you again, my God should bow me down, and I should lament over many who have sinned before, and have not repented of the impurities, and whoredom, and lasciviousness which they have committed.

For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by those of the family of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I observe, that one and another of you saith, I am indeed of Paul; but I of Apollos; but I of Cephas; but I am of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptised into the name of Paul?

For ye are still carnal: for since there are among you envy, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as [other] men? For when one saith, I am indeed of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

For in the first place, when ye assemble in the church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be heresies among you, that they who are the tried ones, may be made manifest among you.

and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church at thy house:

I have struggled hard in the honourable contest, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith:

But I have thought it necessary to send unto you Epaphroditus, my brother, and fellow-labourer, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and the minister who supplied my want.

Thou therefore endure hardships, as a brave soldier of Jesus Christ.

For a bishop ought to be irreproachable, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not irritable, not addicted to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy of filthy lucre;

PAUL and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

IT is a true saying, If a man seeks the office of a bishop, he desireth a laudable employment.

feed the flock of God which is among you, exercising your pastoral office not of necessity, but of choice, not for base gain, but with alacrity of mind;