Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible





A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, sober, prudent, grave, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain, moderate, not quarrelsome, not covetous, governing his own family well, having his children in subjection with all gravity; read more.
(for if any one know not how to govern his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) not one newly converted, least being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. He ought also to have an honorable testimony from those that are without, least he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou mightest set in order what remained, and ordain elders in every city as I directed thee: to wit, if any one be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of debauchery, or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not passionate, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain: read more.
but hospitable, benevolent, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word, according as he hath been taught, that he may be able both to instruct in sound doctrine, and to convince gainsayers. For there are many disorderly persons, vain-talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision; whose mouths must be stopped: who subvert whole families, teaching what they ought not, for shameful gain:



If thou lay these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, as one brought up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which thou hast attained. Verse Conceptsdoctrine, Purpose ofdefence, humanOrthodoxy, In NtTeachingClergyThe FaithSound Doctrineimprovementdoctrine


But do thou speak the things which become sound doctrine: Verse ConceptsTeachingTheologySound Doctrinebehaviordoctrine



And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea. Which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Now some that came down from Judea, taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised according to the law of Moses, ye cannot be saved. A dissension therefore arising, and Paul and Barnabas having no small dispute with them, it was resolved that Paul and Barnabas, and some others, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question. They therefore, being brought forward on their way by the church, passed through Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles: and they gave great joy to all the brethren. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they told them all that God had done by them. But there rose up, said they, some of the sect of the pharisees that believed, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise them, and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses. So the apostles and elders were assembled together to consider about this matter. And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe. And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us: and made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner as they. And all the multitude kept silence, and gave attention to Barnabas and Paul, relating what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had done speaking, James rose up and said, Brethren, hearken unto me. ---Simeon hath related, how God at first condescended to take out of the Gentiles a people to his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, "After this will I return, and rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will repair its ruins, and set it up again. That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the nations, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord who doth all these things." Now all his works are known unto God from the beginning of the world: wherefore my advice is, not to trouble those who from among the Gentiles are converted to God; but to write to them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. For Moses hath had from ancient times those that preach him in every city, and is still read in the synagogues every sabbath-day. Then it seemed good to the apostles, and elders, and the whole church, to send men chose from among themselves to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas sirnamed Barsabas, and Silas; leading men among the brethren: and they wrote by their hand, as follows, The apostles and elders and brethren here to the Gentile brethren which are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting. Forasmuch as we have heard, that some who went out from us, have troubled you by their discourses, unsettling your minds, saying, ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commission; it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved brethren Barnabas and Paul, who have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent with them Judas and Silas, to tell you the same things also by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the holy Spirit, and so to us, to lay no more burthen upon you than these necessary things. That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from fornication: from which ye will do well to keep yourselves. Farewel. Being thus dispatched they came to Antioch, and when they had assembled the brethren, they delivered the epistle. And when they had read it, they rejoiced at the consolation it brought. And Judas and Silas being prophets also themselves, exhorted and established: the brethren by many discourses. And after some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to the apostles. But it seemed good to Silas to continue there: Paul also and Barnabas stayed at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others likewise, the word of the Lord.



And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. And so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

But he sent from Miletus to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. Verse ConceptsAttending Churchelders, in the churchOfficersChurch GovernmentChurch, Examples Ofeldersgoodbyes

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the holy Spirit hath appointed you bishops, to feed the church of God, which He purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among yourselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. read more.
Watch therefore, remembering that for the space of three years I ceased not by night and by day to warn every one with tears. And now, my brethren, I recommend you to God, and to the word of his grace: who is able to edify you, and to give you an inheritance among all that are sanctified.

And the next day Paul went in with us to James: and all the elders were present. Verse Conceptselders, in the churchGoing To ChurchThe Elderlyelders

Let the elders, who preside well, be counted worthy of double honor, especially those that labour in preaching and teaching. For the scripture saith, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn:" and, "The workman is worthy of his hire." Receive not an accusation against an elder, unless from two or three witnesses.

For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou mightest set in order what remained, and ordain elders in every city as I directed thee: to wit, if any one be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of debauchery, or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not passionate, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain: read more.
but hospitable, benevolent, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word, according as he hath been taught, that he may be able both to instruct in sound doctrine, and to convince gainsayers.

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for by it the ancients obtained an honorable testimony. Verse ConceptsApprovalPeople Commended By God

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

The elders that are among you I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory which shall be revealed; feed the flock of God that is among you, taking the episcopal charge of it, not by constraint, but willingly; not for shameful lucre, but with a ready mind: nor as lording it over the people, but being examples to the flock. read more.
And when the sovereign Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive an unfading crown of glory. Likewise ye younger, be subject to the elder; and all of you behaving with due submission one to another, be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, but sheweth favor to the humble.

The elder unto the excellent Lady, and her children, whom I love in truth: and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; Verse ConceptsElection, Description OfLove Exists Between PeopleKnowing God's TruthLove And RelationshipsLove And FamilyLoving Children

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









If thou lay these things before the brethren, thou wilt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, as one brought up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, to which thou hast attained. Verse Conceptsdoctrine, Purpose ofdefence, humanOrthodoxy, In NtTeachingClergyThe FaithSound Doctrineimprovementdoctrine


But do thou speak the things which become sound doctrine: Verse ConceptsTeachingTheologySound Doctrinebehaviordoctrine