Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



This is the reason that I bow my knees [in prayer] to the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its name. [Note: Here Paul resumes the prayer he began in verse 1]. [I pray] that, according to God's glorious abundance, He would empower you to become [spiritually] strong through His Holy Spirit in your inner person,

This secret plan is that the Gentiles [now] share in the inheritance along with us [Jews], and are fellow-members of the body [i.e., the church], and that they share, along with us [Jews], in the promise of the Gospel, in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus. Verse ConceptsFellowship, In The GospelChristiansInheritance, SpiritualMysteryOutsidersParticipation, In ChristPaul, Teaching OfNames And Titles For The ChristianThe Gentiles ConversionSpiritual AdoptionGod's Promise To AbrahamSharing In ChristGentilesAdoption Entitles To An InheritancepartnershipChristians Are Called Heirs

There is [only] one body [i.e., church] and one Holy Spirit, just as God also gave you one hope when He called you [See Titus 3:7]. [There is] one Lord [i.e., Jesus], one faith [i.e., one body of teaching], one immersion [i.e., in water for the forgiveness of sins], and one God and Father of all, who is over all and [works] through all and is in all [obedient believers].



Inasmuch as there is one loaf of bread that we all share, we who are many make up one body [of believers]. Verse ConceptsBread, Figurative OfUnity, God's Goal OfChurch, Unity OfShowbreadOne ChurchOne Material ThingSharingThe Bodycommunion

[In this relationship] there is to be no [distinction between] Jews or Greeks [i.e., Gentiles], slaves or free persons, men or women; for all of you are united into one [body] because of your relationship with Christ Jesus. Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtAfrican AmericansequalityBeing FairRacial EqualityServant, BondMenParticipation, In ChristRelationshipsStatusUnity, God's Goal OfWomenLibertyBigotryRacismOne ChurchSlavesNo DistinctionsFamily SolidarityInterracial MarriageGentilesJewsslaveryIdentity In ChristRacefreemovement

I have other sheep [also] which are not [presently] in this corral; I must lead them, too. They will hear my voice and become one flock [i.e., with the others], having one shepherd. [Note: This probably refers to believing Gentiles becoming God's people, along with the Jews]. Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtMission, Of Jesus ChristOutsidersUnity, God's Goal OfChurch, Unity OfChrist And His SheepDivisions, Contrary ToNames And Titles For The ChurchOne ChurchPaying Attention To GodBeing DifferentothersGod Calling Jew And Gentile


[I pray] that all of them may be one, just as you, Father, are [one] in [fellowship with] me, and I [am one] in [fellowship with] you, so that they also may be [one] in [fellowship with] us in order that the world may [see it and] believe that you sent me. And I have given them [i.e., all believers] the honor which you gave me, so that they may be one, just as we are one: I in them, and you in me, so that they may be completely one. [This is] so the world will know that you sent me and that you love them just as you love me.

For there are many parts to a single human body and all of these parts do not have the same function. In the same way, though we [Christians] are many, we are one [spiritual] body in [fellowship with] Christ, and each one of us is part of [all] the others.

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For [just] as the human body is one [unit], made up of many parts, and all the many parts make up a single body, so it is with Christ. [Note: Just as a human body is a single unit, and Christ is a single being, so the members of His body, the church, constitute one body. See verses 27-28]. For we were all immersed by means of the one Holy Spirit into one body [i.e., the church], whether [we were] Jews or Greeks [i.e., Gentiles], whether slaves or free people, and were all given the one [and the same] Holy Spirit to drink. [Note: This probably refers to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, given to all immersed believers. See John 7:37-39; Acts 2:38]. For the human body is not made up of [only] one part, but of many parts. read more.
If the foot should say, "I am not part of the body because I'm not the hand," that does not mean it is not part of the body [does it ?]. And if the ear should say, "I am not part of the body because I am not the eye," that does not mean it is not part of the body [does it ?] If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell? But the way it is, God has placed each individual part in the human body just as it pleased Him. And if all the parts were one part, how could there be a [whole] body? But the way it is, there are many parts, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I do not need you," or again, the head [cannot say] to the feet, "I do not need you." On the contrary, those parts of the body which seem to be weaker [i.e., delicate organs like the heart, lungs, kidneys, etc.] are necessary [for life]. And those parts of the body which we consider less honorable [i.e., probably female breasts, buttocks, etc.], we clothe with greater honor. [Note: The Greek word for "clothe" here refers to clothing elsewhere in the New Testament]. And our unpresentable parts [i.e., probably sex organs] need to be more presentable [i.e., by being covered up with modest clothing], whereas, our presentable parts [i.e., probably face and hands] do not need [covering up]. But God has put the body together [in such a way as] to give greater honor to that part which lacked it, so that there would not be any division in the body [Note: Paul here leaves the analogy of the physical body and makes application to the spiritual body, the church], but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. So, if one part [i.e., one Christian] suffers, then all the parts [i.e., the other Christians] should suffer with it. Or, if one part is honored, all the [other] parts should rejoice with it. Now you people are the [spiritual] body of Christ and each one of you is an individual part of it.

For all of you are children of God through your faith in Christ Jesus [as God's only Son]. For all of you who were immersed into [a relationship with] Christ have been clothed with Him [i.e., His life]. [In this relationship] there is to be no [distinction between] Jews or Greeks [i.e., Gentiles], slaves or free persons, men or women; for all of you are united into one [body] because of your relationship with Christ Jesus.


For Christ is [the source of] our peace. He made both [Jews and Gentiles] one people, and broke down the barrier wall of hostility that divided them, by abolishing in His fleshly body the [entire Jewish] law of commandments contained in decrees. [This was] so that He could create in [unity with] Himself one new person [i.e., the church] out of the two peoples [i.e., Jews and Gentiles], thereby bringing about peace [between them]. [This was also intended] to reestablish harmony between both of these peoples and God in [this] one body, through [Christ's death on] the cross. By doing this He put to death the hostility [between them]. read more.
And Christ came and preached peace to you [Gentiles], who were far away [from God], and peace to those [Jews] who were near [to Him]. For through Him we [Jews and Gentiles] both have access to the Father by means of one Holy Spirit. So then, you [Gentiles] are no longer foreigners and aliens [i.e., to God's promises. See verse 12], but you are fellow-citizens with the saints [i.e., God's holy people], and are part of God's family.

In [harmony with] Him the entire building [i.e., the church] is properly assembled, rising into a dedicated temple for the Lord. [See I Cor. 3:16-17]. Verse ConceptsSanctuaryChurch, Unity OfGrowth Of The ChurchJoined To The ChurchGrowingconstructionstructure


for the purpose of equipping the saints [i.e., God's holy people] for the work of serving [others], in order to build up the [spiritual] body of Christ [i.e., the church]. [This is to be done] until we all [eventually] arrive at unity of the faith and full knowledge of the Son of God; at complete [spiritual] maturity; at the [full] height of Christ's [spiritual] stature.



[In this state] there cannot be [such distinctions as] Greek [i.e., Gentile] and Jew; circumcised people and non-circumcised people; barbarian and Scythian [Note: These last two words refer to foreigners whose language was unintelligible and who were uncivilized heathens], or slave and free person; but Christ is all [that is important] and [He is] in all [of His people]. Verse ConceptsGentiles, In NtCircumcision, spiritualCircumcision, physicalBarbariansGreeksRacial EqualityParticipation, In ChristUncircumcisionUnity, God's Goal OfUnity, Of God's PeopleAbolish, Fulfilled By ChristBigotryRacismGod's FullnessSlavesNo DistinctionsNecessity Of CircumcisionGentilesJewsRenewalculturefree


For [just] as the human body is one [unit], made up of many parts, and all the many parts make up a single body, so it is with Christ. [Note: Just as a human body is a single unit, and Christ is a single being, so the members of His body, the church, constitute one body. See verses 27-28]. Verse ConceptsFellowship With ChristFellowship, In The GospelFellowship, In Christian ServiceBodily LimbsChrist's LimbsBody Of Christ, The ChurchIndividualismSpiritual Gifts, Given To ChurchUnion With Christ, Significance OfUnity, Of God's PeopleUnity, God's Goal OfChurch, Unity OfOne ChurchThe churchUnityMoving OnWorking TogetherGoing To ChurchThe BodyBeing SingleServing The ChurchBeing DifferentBeing Uniqueexploringhumanitymakeup








This is the reason that I bow my knees [in prayer] to the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its name. [Note: Here Paul resumes the prayer he began in verse 1]. [I pray] that, according to God's glorious abundance, He would empower you to become [spiritually] strong through His Holy Spirit in your inner person, read more.
so that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. [I pray] that you will be rooted and grounded in [your] love, so that you, along with all the saints [i.e., God's holy people], will be [spiritually] strong enough to grasp how wide and long and high and deep [Christ's love is]; and to know that His love for us surpasses [our] knowledge, so that you people will be completely filled with the fullness of God.