So, pay close attention to your [own] lives, and to all [members] of the flock [i.e., the congregation] of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [i.e., elders, shepherds or pastors]. Provide [spiritual] food for the church of the Lord which He purchased by [shedding] His own blood.

[Because] I know that after I am gone [from here] there will be vicious wolves [i.e., ravaging false teachers] who will come in among you, and they will not spare the flock [i.e., the congregation].

I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a minister of the congregation of Cenchreae,

which have for my life laid down their own necks. Unto which not I only give thanks: but also the congregations of the gentiles.

Likewise, greet all the congregation that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetes, which is the firstfruit among them of Achaia.

Salute one another among yourselves with a holy kiss. The congregations of Christ salute you.

Gaius mine host and the host of all the congregations, saluteth you. Erastus, the chamberlain of the city, saluteth you. And Quartus, a brother, saluteth you.

To the same God, which alone is wise, be praise through Jesus Christ for ever Amen. {To the Romans. Sent from Corinth by Phoebe, she that was the minister unto the congregation at Cenchreae}

Unto the congregation of God which is at Corinth. To them that are sanctified in Jesus Christ, saints by calling, with all that call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both of theirs and of ours.

This is the reason that I am sending Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful [spiritual] son in [the service of] the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways [i.e., my teaching and conduct] which are in [the service of] Christ. I teach these things in every congregation wherever [I go].

If ye have judgments of worldly matters, take them which are despised in the congregation, and make them judges.

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.

See that ye give none occasion of evil: neither to the Jews, nor yet to the gentiles, neither to the congregation of God.

If there be any man among you that lusteth to strife, let him know that we have no such customs, neither the congregations of God.

For, in the first place, when you meet together in church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and in part I believe it,

Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or else despise ye the congregation of God? And shame them that have not? What shall I say unto you? Shall I praise you? In this praise I you not.

The gifts of the spirit are given to every man to profit the congregation.

And God hath also ordained in the congregation, first the apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, then them that do miracles; after that, the gifts of healing, helpers, governors, diversity of tongues.

He that speaketh with tongues, profiteth himself: he that prophesieth, edifieth the congregation.

I would that ye all spake with tongues: but rather that ye prophesied. For greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, except he expound it also, that the congregation may have edifying.

Even so ye - forasmuch as ye covet spiritual gifts - seek that ye may have plenty unto the edifying of the congregation.

If you bless God with your spirit only, how can the man in the congregation who is without your gift say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving? He does not know what you are saying!

Yet had I rather, in the congregation, to speak five words with my mind to the information of others, rather than ten thousand words with the tongue.

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?

But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the congregation, and let him speak to himself, and to God.

For God is not causer of strife: but of peace, as he is in all other congregations of the saints.

Let your wives keep silence in the congregations. For it is not permitted unto them to speak: but let them be under obedience, as saith the law.

If they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for women to speak in the congregation.

For I am the least of all the apostles, which am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the congregation of God:

Of the gathering for the saints, as I have ordained in the congregations of Galatia, even so do ye.

The congregations of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, and so doeth the congregation that is in their house.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and brother Timothy. Unto the congregation of God, which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

I do you to wit, brethren, of the grace of God, which is given in the congregations of Macedonia:

We have sent with him that brother whose laud is in the gospel throughout all the congregations:

and not so only, but is also chosen of the congregations to be a fellow with us in our journey, as concerning this benevolence that is ministered by us unto the praise of the Lord, and to stir up your prompt mind.

hath caused me this to do: partly for Titus' sake - which is my fellow, and helper as concerning you - partly because of others which are our brethren, and the messengers of the congregations, and the glory of Christ.

Wherefore show unto them the proof of your love, and of the rejoicing that we have of you, that the congregations may see it.

I robbed other congregations, and took wages of them, to do you service withal.

And beside the things which outwardly happen unto me, I am cumbered daily and do care for all congregations.

For what is it wherein ye were inferiors unto other congregations? Except it be therein that I was not grievous unto you. Forgive me this wrong done unto you.

and all the brethren which are with me. Unto the congregations of Galatia.

For ye have heard of my conversation in times past in the Jews' ways, how that beyond measure I persecuted the congregation of God, and spoiled it:

and was unknown, as touching my person, unto the congregations of Jewry, which were in Christ.

And hath put all things under his feet, and hath made him above all things, the head of the congregation:

to the intent that now, unto the rulers and powers in heaven, might be known by the congregation the manifold wisdom of God,

be praise in the congregation by Jesus Christ, throughout all generations from time to time. Amen.

For the husband is the wife's head, even as Christ is the head of the congregation, and the same is the saviour of the body.

Therefore as the congregation is in subjection to Christ, likewise let the wives be in subjection to their husbands in all things.

Husbands: love your wives, even as Christ loved the congregation, and gave himself for it,

to make it unto himself a glorious congregation without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blame.

For no man ever yet, hated his own flesh; but nourisheth, and cherisheth it: even as the Lord doth the congregation.

This is a great secret, but I speak between Christ and the congregation.

and as concerning ferventness I persecuted the congregation, and as touching the righteousness which is in the law, I was unrebukable.

Ye of Philippi know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no congregation bare part with me as concerning giving and receiving but ye only.

And he is the head of the body, that is, to wit, of the congregation: he is the beginning and first begotten of the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Now joy I in my sufferings which I suffer, for you; and fulfill that which is behind of the passions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the congregation -

Salute the brethren which are of Laodicea, and salute Nymphas, and the congregation which is in his house.

And when the epistle is read of you, make that it be read in the congregation of the Laodiceans also: and that ye likewise read the epistle of Laodicea.

Paul, Silvanus and Timothy. Unto the congregation of the Thessalonians, in God the father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

For ye brethren became followers of the congregations of God which in Jewry are in Christ Jesus: for ye have suffered like things of your kinsmen, as we ourselves have suffered of the Jews,

Paul, Silvanus and Timothy. Unto the congregation of the Thessalonians, which are in God our father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

so that we ourselves rejoice of you in the congregations of God, over your patience and faith in all your persecutions, and tribulations that ye suffer:

For if a man cannot rule his own house, how shall he care for the congregation of God?

But and if I tarry long, that then thou mayst yet have knowledge how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the congregation of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.

And if any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them minister unto them, and let not the congregation be charged: that it may have sufficient for them that are widows indeed.

You should rebuke in front of everyone [in the church] those elders who continue to sin, so that the rest [of the congregation] will be afraid [of sinning].

and to the beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the congregation of thy house.

saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the congregation will I sing thy praise.

not forsaking our own congregation as some are in the habit of [doing], but exhorting [others], and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,

For if a man comes into your meeting place wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in,

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:

not lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be arrogant or overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a pattern of integrity for your congregation].

[This is being written by] the elder to the lady chosen [by God], and to her children [Note: The terms "lady" and "children" here refer to a congregation and the Christians who belong to it. See I Peter 5:13; II John 13], whom I love in the truth. [Note: Perhaps this phrase means "whom I truly love"]. And I am not the only one [to love you], but all those [other congregations] who know the truth [of God], also love you.

I was very happy when I learned that some of your children [i.e., members of the congregation] are living in [harmony with the] truth, just as we have been commanded to do by the Father.

which bare witness of thy love before all the congregation. Which brethren, when thou bringest forwards on their journey - as it beseemeth God - thou shalt do well:

I wrote unto the congregation: but Diotrephes which loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not,

wherefore if I come I will declare his deeds which he doeth, jesting on us with malicious words, neither is therewith content. Not only he himself receiveth not the brethren: but also he forbiddeth them that would, and thrusteth them out of the congregation.

John, to the seven congregations in Asia. Grace be with you and peace, from him which is and which was, and which is to come: and from the seven spirits which are present before his throne,

saying, "Write down in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicia" [Note: These seven congregations were all located in western Asia Minor].

and the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the messengers of the seven congregations: And the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven congregations.

Unto the messenger of the congregation of Ephesus write, 'These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, and walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

So, remember where you have fallen from and repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives] and do the things you did at first [i.e., when you were first converted], or else I will come and remove your lampstand from its place [i.e., I will not permit the congregation to survive], unless you repent.

Let him that hath ears hear, what the spirit saith unto the congregations. To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.'

"And unto the angel of the congregation of Smyrna write, 'These things saith he that is first, and the last, which was dead and is alive:

I know thy works and tribulation and poverty, but thou art rich. And I know the blasphemy of them which call themselves Jews and are not, but are the congregation of Satan.

Let him that hath ears hear, what the spirit saith to the congregations: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.'

"And to the messenger of the congregation in Pergamum write, 'This saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges.

Let him that hath ears hear what the spirit sayth unto the congregations: To him that overcometh will I give to eat Manna that is hid, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.'

"And unto the messenger of the congregation of Thyatira write, 'This saith the son of God, which hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, whose feet are like brass:

And I will kill her children with death. And all the congregations shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts. And I will give unto everyone of you according to your works.

Let him that hath ears hear what the spirit says to the congregations.'

And write unto the messenger of the congregation of Sardis, 'This saith he that hath the spirit of God, and the seven stars. I know thy works, thou hast a name that you livest, and thou are dead.

Let him that hath ears hear what the spirit saith unto the congregations.'

"And write unto the tidings-bringer of the congregation of Philadelphia, 'This saith he that is holy and true, which hath the key of David; which openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth.

Behold, I make them of the congregation of Satan - which call themselves Jews and are not, but do lie -Behold, I will make them that they shall come and worship before thy feet: and shall know that I love thee.

Let him that hath ears, hear what the spirit saith unto the congregations.'

"And unto the messenger of the congregation which is in Laodicea write, 'This saith - amen - the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creatures of God.

Let him that hath ears, hear what the spirit saith unto the congregations.'"

"I, Jesus, sent mine angel, to testify unto you these things in the congregations. I am the root and the generation of David, and the bright morning star."