Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible





Well, for the office of a bishop a man must be above reproach; he must be only married once, he must be temperate, master of himself, unruffled, hospitable, a skilled teacher, not a drunkard or violent, but lenient and conciliatory, not a lover of money, able to manage his own household properly and keep his children submissive and perfectly respectful read more.
(if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how is he to look after the church of God?); he must not be a new convert, in case he gets conceited and incurs the doom passed on the devil; also, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, in case he incurs slander and is trapped by the devil.

I left you behind in Crete in order to finish putting things right and to appoint presbyters in every town as I told you, men who are above reproach, only once married, with children who believe and who are not liable to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate. [For a bishop must be above reproach ??he is a steward of God's house ??he must not be presumptuous or hot-tempered or a drunkard or violent or addicted to pilfering; read more.
he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, a just man, a religious man, and abstemious; he must hold by the sure truths of doctrine so as to be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and refute objections raised by any.] For there are plenty of insubordinate creatures who impose on people with their empty arguments, particularly those who have come over from Judaism; they must be silenced, for they are undermining whole families by teaching objectionable doctrine for the base end of making money.




Deacons are only to be married once, and they must manage their children and households properly. Verse ConceptsLove, In RelationshipsMonogamyAuthority Of DisciplesMarriage ControlledWifeFamily FirstMoney ManagementA Good Husband

Have we no right to travel with a Christian wife, like the rest of the apostles, like the brothers of the Lord, like Cephas himself? Verse ConceptsPeter, The ApostleBachelorsCompanionshipChrist's Earthly FamilyMarriage AllowedThe Apostles In ActionChristians Being Called Brothers

On entering the house of Peter, Jesus noticed his mother-in-law was down with fever, Verse ConceptsdiseasesDiseases, Kinds OfPeter, The DiscipleFeverMother In LawsEntering HousesSicknessGrandmothersgrandmas


I left you behind in Crete in order to finish putting things right and to appoint presbyters in every town as I told you, men who are above reproach, only once married, with children who believe and who are not liable to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate. [For a bishop must be above reproach ??he is a steward of God's house ??he must not be presumptuous or hot-tempered or a drunkard or violent or addicted to pilfering;



in point of ardour a persecutor of the church, immaculate by the standard of legal righteousness. Verse ConceptseagernessRestored In Jesus ChristPerfection, HumanZealFulfilling The LawPlea Of InnocenceThe Church UniversalPersecutionzealots




so as to set you consecrated and unblemished and irreproachable in his presence ??23 that is, if you adhere to the foundations and stability of the faith, instead of moving away from the hope you have learned in the gospel, that gospel which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I Paul was made a minister. Verse ConceptsFreedom, Through Jesus ChristFreedom, Abuse Of ChristianFaultsBlamelessness, Presented To GodBlemishHoliness Of The SaintsHoliness, Believers' Growth InRestored In Jesus ChristPerfection, HumanSalvation, Nature OfAlienation, OvercomingUnblemishmentThe Effect Of Christ's DeathPeace Made Through ChristGlorificationReconciliationaccusations


So the disciples put aside money, as each of them was able to afford it, for a contribution to be sent to the brothers in Judaea. This they carried out, sending their contribution to the presbyters by Barnabas and Saul.

But certain individuals came down from Jerusalem and taught the brothers that "unless you get circumcised after the custom of Moses you cannot be saved." As a sharp dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas, along with some others of their number, should go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem about this question. The church sped them on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Syria informing the brothers, to the great joy of all, that the Gentiles were turning to God. read more.
On arriving at Jerusalem they were received by the church, the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported how God had been with them and what he had done. But some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisaic party got up and said, "Gentiles must be circumcised and told to observe the law of Moses." The apostles and the presbyters met to investigate this question, and a keen controversy sprang up; but Peter rose and said to them, "Brothers, you are well aware that from the earliest days God chose that of you all I should be the one by whom the Gentiles were to hear the word of the gospel and believe it. The God who reads the hearts of all attested this by giving them the holy Spirit just as he gave it to us; in cleansing their hearts by faith he made not the slightest distinction between us and them. Well now, why are you trying to impose a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we ourselves could bear? No, it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we believe and are saved, in the same way as they are." So the whole meeting was quieted and listened to Barnabas and Paul recounting the signs and wonders God had performed by them among the Gentiles. When they had finished speaking, James spoke. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me. Symeon has explained how it was God's original concern to secure a People from among the Gentiles to bear his Name. This agrees with the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent, its ruins I will rebuild and erect it anew, that the rest of men may seek for the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, saith the Lord, who makes this known from of old. Hence, in my opinion, we ought not to put fresh difficulties in the way of those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but write them injunctions to abstain from whatever is contaminated by idols, from sexual vice, from the flesh of animals that have been strangled, and from tasting blood; for Moses has had his preachers from the earliest ages in every town, where he is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath." Then the apostles and the presbyters, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their number and send them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The men selected were Judas (called Bar-Sabbas) and Silas, prominent members of the brotherhood. They conveyed the following letter. "The apostles and the presbyters of the brotherhood to the brothers who belong to the Gentiles throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: greeting. Having learned that some of our number, quite unauthorized by us, have unsettled you with their teaching and upset your souls, we have decided unanimously to select some of our number and send them to you along with our beloved Paul and Barnabas who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We therefore send Judas and Silas with the following message, which they will also give to you orally. The holy Spirit and we have decided not to impose any extra burden on you, apart from these essential requirements: abstain from food that has been offered to idols, from tasting blood, from the flesh of animals that have been strangled, and from sexual vice. Keep clear of all this and you will prosper. Goodbye." When the messengers were despatched, they went down to Antioch and after gathering the whole body they handed them the letter. On reading it the people rejoiced at the encouragement it brought; and as Judas and Silas were themselves prophets, they encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a counsel. Then after some time had passed the brothers let them go with a greeting of peace to those who had sent them. -- Paul and Barnabas, however, stayed on in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord along with a number of others.



As they travelled on from town to town, they handed over to the people the resolutions which the apostles and the presbyters in Jerusalem had decided were to be obeyed; and the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers day by day.


Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you guardians; shepherd the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his own blood. I know that when I am gone, fierce wolves will get in among you, and they will not spare the flock; yes. and men of your own number will arise with perversions of the truth to draw the disciples after them. read more.
So be on the alert, remember how for three whole years I never ceased night and day to watch over each one of you with tears. And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace; he is able to upbuild you and give you your inheritance among all the consecrated.

Next day we accompanied Paul to James; all the presbyters were present, Verse Conceptselders, in the churchGoing To ChurchThe Elderlyelders

Presbyters who are efficient presidents are to be considered worthy of ample remuneration, particularly those who have the task of preaching and teaching: Scripture says, You must not muzzle an ox when he is treading the grain, and A workman deserves his wages. Never let any charge be brought against a presbyter, unless it is certified by two or three witnesses.

I left you behind in Crete in order to finish putting things right and to appoint presbyters in every town as I told you, men who are above reproach, only once married, with children who believe and who are not liable to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate. [For a bishop must be above reproach ??he is a steward of God's house ??he must not be presumptuous or hot-tempered or a drunkard or violent or addicted to pilfering; read more.
he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, a just man, a religious man, and abstemious; he must hold by the sure truths of doctrine so as to be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and refute objections raised by any.]

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It was for this that the men of old won their record. Verse ConceptsApprovalPeople Commended By God

Is anyone ill? let him summon the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; the prayer of faith will restore the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; even the sins he has committed will be forgiven him.

Now I make this appeal to your presbyters (for I am a presbyter myself, I was a witness of what Christ suffered and I am to share the glory that will be revealed), be shepherds to your flock of God; take charge of them willingly instead of being pressed to it, not to make a base profit from it but freely, not by way of lording it over your charges but proving a pattern to the flock. read more.
Then you will receive the unfading crown of glory, when the chief Shepherd makes his appearance. You younger men must also submit to the presbyters. Indeed you must all put on the apron of humility to serve one another, for the haughty God opposes, but to the humble he gives grace.

The presbyter, to the elect Lady and her children whom I love in the Truth (and not only I but all who know the Truth) Verse ConceptsElection, Description OfLove Exists Between PeopleKnowing God's TruthLove And RelationshipsLove And FamilyLoving Children

The presbyter, to the beloved Gaius whom I love in the Truth. Verse ConceptsAffection, GoodThose Who Loved
























Deacons are only to be married once, and they must manage their children and households properly. Verse ConceptsLove, In RelationshipsMonogamyAuthority Of DisciplesMarriage ControlledWifeFamily FirstMoney ManagementA Good Husband






He replied, "Have you never read that He who created them male and female from the beginning said, Hence a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the pair shall be one flesh?

Now some Pharisees came up and asked him if a man was allowed to divorce his wife. This was to tempt him. So he replied, "What did Moses lay down for you?" They said, "Moses permitted a man to divorce her by writing out a separation notice." read more.
Jesus said to them, "He wrote you that command on account of the hardness of your hearts. But from the beginning, when God created the world, Male and female, He created them: hence a man shall leave his father and mother, and the pair shall be one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.