Thematic Bible: The body of Christ

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: Verse Concepts

for as there are many members in one and the same body, but all the members have not the same office: so we who are many, make all but one body in Christ, and every member subservient to one another. having then different gifts, according to the respective favour bestowed upon us; if it be prophecy, let him prophesy according to the proportion of his gift. read more.
if it be the ministry, let him attend on that ministry; and he that teacheth, on teaching; he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him be disinterested; he that presideth, let him be diligent; he that sheweth mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness.

Don't you know, that your bodies are parts of Christ's mystical body? now, how can that which is Christ's, be made the property of a very creature? it cannot be. why, don't you perceive, that where there is such an attachment, they are but as one person? for the scripture says, "they two shall be as one." but he that is attach'd to the Lord, is united to him by one and the same spirit.

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

For as the body is one, tho' it has many members, and all the members of that one body, tho' many, are one body: so also is the body of Christ. 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. the body is not one member, but many. read more.
if the foot should say, "because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body? and if the ear should say, "because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body? if the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? if the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? now God disposed every one of the members in the body as he thought fit. but if they were all one member, where would be the body? thus, tho' there are many members, yet there is but one body. and the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of thee:" nor again, the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." nay, those parts of the body, which seem to be of the least account, are much more necessary. what we think to be less honourable, is loaded with additional ornaments, and the less graceful have adventitious finery, of which the graceful have no need: but God has contrived the symmetry of the body, by bestowing an additional advantage where it seem'd to want it. that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same mutual concern for one another. so that if one member suffer, they all suffer with it: or if one be honoured, they partake of it. Thus you are the body of Christ, being the particular members of it. which God has placed in the church, first apostles, next prophets, then teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, assistants, governours, interpreters of languages. are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak divers languages? do all interpret? you are contesting about the superiority of your gifts: but I point out to you a more excellent way.

and how exceedingly great that power is, which he has employ'd upon us who believe, a power corresponding to that energy of his mighty strength; which he exerted in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at the head of his heavenly kingdom, far above all the principalities, all the powers, all the potentates, all the dominations, and whatever order can be named, not only in this age, but also in the age to come: read more.
for he has subjected all things to him, and constituted him supreme head of the church, which is his body, a work compleatly finished in all its parts.

I therefore the prisoner for the Lord, beseech you to live suitably to the offers that have been made to you: with all humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another in love; endeavouring to preserve the spiritual union by your affectionate attachment to one another. read more.
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. but to every one of us a different charge is given, according to the distribution which Christ has made; wherefore 'tis said, " when he ascended up on high, he made a number of captives, and gave gifts to men." now his having ascended, what does it mean, but that he had descended into the lower parts of the earth? he that descended, is the same too that ascended far above all heavens, to perfect all things. It is he then that made some, apostles: some, prophets: some, evangelists: and others, pastors, and teachers: thus fitly qualifying his servants for their respective offices, in order to build up the body of Christ: till being united in a perfect belief, and acknowledgment of the son of God, we grow up to that full state of maturity required by Christ: that we should be no longer children, fluctuating, and carried about with every empty doctrine, by men vers'd in sleight and the crafty arts of deceit: but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head: from which the whole body fitly framed, and compacted by the entire adherence and contribution of every part performing its respective function, increases and improves itself by the mutual concern of the parts.

let married women be submissive to their husbands, out of regard to the Lord. for the husband presides over his wife, as Christ presides over the church: and he it is that preserves the whole body. as the church then is subordinate to Christ, so let women be to their husbands upon all occasions. read more.
You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her: to sanctify and purify her by the ablution of his word, that he himself might make her appear illustrious to his own eye, a church without spot, or any thing like a defect; so as to be holy and irreprehensible. in like manner ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: "he that loves his wife, loveth himself." no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church: of which we are the several parts constituting his body. the scripture says, "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and they two shall be as one." these words contain a very mystical sense, I mean in reference to Christ and the church. wherefore let every one of you without exception, love his wife even as himself; and let the wife respect her husband.

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

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: Verse Concepts

which is his body, a work compleatly finished in all its parts. Verse Concepts

Thematic Bible: The body of Christ

Thematic Bible

Body » The body of Christ

The church » The body of Christ

Thematic Bible: The body of Christ

Thematic Bible

Body » The body of Christ

The church » The body of Christ

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