Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible





Yea, and a bishop must be faultless, the husband of one wife, sober, discreet, honestly appareled, harborous, apt to teach, not drunken, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre: but gentle, abhorring fighting, abhorring covetousness, and one that ruleth his own house honestly, having children under obedience, with all honesty. read more.
For if a man cannot rule his own house, how shall he care for the congregation of God? He may not be a young scholar, lest he swell and fall into the judgment of the evil speaker. He must also be well reported of among them which are without forth, lest he fall into rebuke, and into the snare of the evil speaker.

For this cause left I thee in Crete: that thou shouldest perform that which was lacking and shouldest ordain elders in every city as I appointed thee. If any be faultless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, which are not slandered of riot, neither are disobedient. For a bishop must be faultless, as it becometh the minister of God; not stubborn, not angry, no drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre: read more.
but harborous, one that loveth goodness, sober minded, righteous, holy, temperate, and such as cleaveth unto the true word of doctrine, that he may be able to exhort with wholesome learning, and to improve them that say against it. For there are many disobedient and talkers of vanity, and deceivers of minds, namely they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, which pervert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, because of filthy lucre.



Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well, and their own households.

Either, have we not power to lead about a sister to wife as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

And then Jesus went to Peter's house, and saw his wife's mother lying, sick of a fever.

"'They shall take no wife that is an whore, or polluted, or put from her husband: for a priest is holy unto his God. Sanctify him therefore, for he offereth up the bread of God: he shall therefore be holy unto thee, for I the LORD which sanctify you, am holy. If a priest's daughter fall to play the whore, she polluteth her father: therefore she shall be burnt with fire. read more.
He that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured and whose hand was filled to put on the vestments, shall not uncover his head nor rent his clothes, neither shall go to any dead body nor make himself unclean: no not on his father or mother, neither shall go out of the sanctuary, that he pollute not the holy place of his God, for the crown of the anointing oil of God, is upon him. I am the LORD. "'He shall take a maiden unto his wife: but no widow nor divorced nor polluted whore. But he shall take a maiden of his own people to wife, that he defile not his seed upon his people. For I am the LORD which sanctify him.'"

For this cause left I thee in Crete: that thou shouldest perform that which was lacking and shouldest ordain elders in every city as I appointed thee. If any be faultless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, which are not slandered of riot, neither are disobedient. For a bishop must be faultless, as it becometh the minister of God; not stubborn, not angry, no drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre:


But even as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every person, so let him walk: and so ordain I in all congregations.

If any man hunger, let him eat at home, that ye come not together unto condemnation. Other things will I set in order when I come.

If therefore when all the congregation is come together, and all speak with tongues, there come in they that are unlearned, or they which believe not: will they not say that ye are out of your wits?






which thing they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.



And when there was risen dissension and disputing not a little unto Paul and Barnabas, against them: they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should ascend to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.




If any man hunger, let him eat at home, that ye come not together unto condemnation. Other things will I set in order when I come.



Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send succour unto the brethren which dwelt in Jewry, which thing they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Then came certain from Jewry and taught the brethren, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved." And when there was risen dissension and disputing not a little unto Paul and Barnabas, against them: they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should ascend to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And after they were brought on their way by the congregation, they passed over Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy unto all the brethren. read more.
And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the congregation and of the apostles and elders. And they declared what things God had done by them. Then arose there up certain of the sect of the Pharisees, which did believe: saying that it was needful to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together to reason of this matter. And when there was much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, "Ye men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago, God chose among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, and gave unto them the holy ghost, even as he did unto us; And he put no difference between them and us, but with faith purified their hearts. Now therefore, why tempt ye God, that ye would put a yoke on the disciples necks which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, as they do." Then all the multitude was peaced and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul which told what signs and wonders God had showed among the gentiles by them. And when they held their peace, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren hearken unto me; Simeon told how God at the beginning did visit the gentiles, and received of them people unto his name. And to this agreeth the words of the prophets, as it is written, 'After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down, and that which is fallen in decay of it will I build again and I will set it up, that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and also the Gentiles upon whom my name is named saith the Lord, which doth all these things.' Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them which from among the gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them, that they abstain themselves from filthiness of images, from fornication, from strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time in every city hath them that preach him, and he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath day." Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas, called also Barsabbas, and Silas, which were chief men among the brethren: and gave them letters in their hands after this manner, "The apostles, elders, and brethren send greetings unto the brethren which are of the gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which departed from us, have troubled you with words, and cumbered your minds saying ye must be circumcised and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. It seemed therefore to us a good thing, when we were come together with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul: men that have jeopardized their lives, for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, which shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the holy ghost and to us, to put no grievous thing to you more than these necessary things, that is to say: that ye abstain from things offered to images, from blood, from strangled and fornication. From which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. So fare ye well." When they were departed, they came to Antioch and gathered the multitude together and delivered the epistle. When they had read it, they rejoiced of that consolation. And Judas and Silas being prophets, exhorted the brethren with much preaching, and strengthened them. And after they had tarried there a certain space, they were let go in peace of the brethren unto the apostles. Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas to abide there still. Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch teaching, and preaching the word of the Lord with other many.



As they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the congregations established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Wherefore from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the congregation.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, whereof the holy ghost hath made you overseers: to rule the congregation of God, which he hath purchased with his blood. For I am sure of this: that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, which will not spare the flock. Moreover, of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them. read more.
Therefore awake and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one of you, both night and day with tears. And now dear brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build further, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

And on the morrow, Paul went in with us unto James. And all the elders came together.

The elders that rule well are worthy of double honour, most specially they which labour in the word and in teaching. For the scripture saith, "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." And, "the laborer is worthy of his reward." Against an elder receive none accusation: but under two or three witnesses.

For this cause left I thee in Crete: that thou shouldest perform that which was lacking and shouldest ordain elders in every city as I appointed thee. If any be faultless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, which are not slandered of riot, neither are disobedient. For a bishop must be faultless, as it becometh the minister of God; not stubborn, not angry, no drunkard, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre: read more.
but harborous, one that loveth goodness, sober minded, righteous, holy, temperate, and such as cleaveth unto the true word of doctrine, that he may be able to exhort with wholesome learning, and to improve them that say against it.

By it the elders were well reported of.

If any be diseased among you, let him call for the elders of the congregation, and let them pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

The elders which are among you I exhort, which am also an elder and a witness of the afflictions of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be opened: see that ye feed Christ's flock, which is among you, taking the oversight of them: not as though ye were compelled thereto, but willingly; Not for the desire of filthy lucre, but of a good mind. Not as though ye were lords over the parishes: but that ye be an example to the flock. read more.
And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive an incorruptible crown of glory. Likewise, ye younger submit yourselves unto the elder. Submit yourselves every man, one to another. Knit yourselves together in lowliness of mind. For God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.

The elder, to the elect lady and her children which I love in the truth: And not I only, but also all that have known the truth,

The elder unto the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.




which thing they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.



And when there was risen dissension and disputing not a little unto Paul and Barnabas, against them: they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should ascend to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.




To Titus, his natural son in the common faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ our saviour. For this cause left I thee in Crete: that thou shouldest perform that which was lacking and shouldest ordain elders in every city as I appointed thee.