22 Bible Verses about Body Of Christ, The Church
Most Relevant Verses
Thus you are the body of Christ, being the particular members of it.
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.
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.
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:
he himself is the head of the church, which is his body. he is the prince, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might be chief.
for he has subjected all things to him, and constituted him supreme head of the church,
for the husband presides over his wife, as Christ presides over the church: and he it is that preserves the whole body.
Jesus answered them, saying, destroy this temple, and within three days I will raise it up. to this said the Jews, forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? but by the temple he meant his body.read more.
and when he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembred that expression of his: and they believed the scripture, and what Jesus had said.
Therefore now, you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and domesticks of God's family, being built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, whereof Jesus Christ himself is the main stone of the angle: on which the whole structure rises with symmetry into a temple, consecrated by the Lord:read more.
who by his spirit has likewise made you a part of this divine mansion.
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.
for as many of you as have been baptized into christianity, have been invested as christians.
not adhering to the head, from which all the parts of the body derive its nutrition, and being firmly united together by its joints and ligaments, receives a divine increase.
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.
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.
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.
Wherefore leave off the practice of lying, and let every man speak truth to his neighbour: for we are all members of one society.
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.
may the peace of Christ, to which you are called to be but one body, influence your hearts, to be benevolent.
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. 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.
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.
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:
