81 Bible Verses about Church

that the heathen through union with Christ Jesus are fellow-heirs with the Jews, are members with them of the same body, and sharers with them of the promise through the good news,

There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope resulting from the call you have received; there is but one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over us all, who pervades us all, and who is within us all.

And now I am no longer to be in the world, but they are to stay on in the world, while I am going to be with you. Holy Father, keep them by the power which you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.

Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts, for you were called to this state as members of one body. And practice being thankful.

Because there is only one loaf, so we, though many, are only one body, for we all partake of one loaf.

Because we were yearning for you so tenderly, we were willing, not only to share with you God's good news, but to lay down our very lives too for you, all because you were so dearly loved by us.

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love our brothers. Whoever does not continue to love continues still in death.

Since you have purified your souls by obeying the truth, in sincere love for the brotherhood you must love one another heartily and fervently,

So, my dearly loved brothers, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, by the help of the Lord keep on standing firm, dearly loved friends.

because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all God's people,

So we can confidently say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can men do to me?"

For those on whom He set His heart beforehand He marked off as His own to be made like His Son, that He might be the eldest of many brothers;

Then I fell before his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must take care not to do that. I am only a fellow-slave of yours and of your brothers who hold to the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony borne by Jesus is the inspiring spirit of prophecy."

Therefore He had to be made like His brothers, so that He could be a sympathetic High Priest, as well as a faithful one, in things relating to God, in order to atone for the people's sins.

But as for you, you must not seek for others to call you 'Teacher,' for you have but one who is 'Teacher,' and you are all brothers.

And the King will answer them, 'I solemnly say to you, every time you did a good deed to one of these most insignificant brothers of mine, you did a good deed to me.'

"I make this petition, not for them only, but for all who ever come to believe in me through their message,

Indeed, my witness is God, whom I serve in my spirit by telling the good news about His Son, that I never fail to mention you every time I pray,

never cease to thank God for you when I mention you in my prayers,

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

and always do it with joy in every entreaty I make for all of you,

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax-collector.

It must be so, because the Scriptures say: "Here now I lay in Zion a chosen stone, a costly cornerstone, And not a single one who puts his trust in Him will ever be put to shame."

"So everyone who listens to my words and practices their teaching, will be like a prudent man who built his house on a rocky foundation.

for you are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself the cornerstone.

for no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is laid, that is, Jesus Christ Himself.

I am now glad to be suffering for you, and in my own person I am filling in what is lacking in Christ's sufferings for His body, that is, the church.

Take care of yourselves and of the whole flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, so as to continue to be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.

You married men must love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her,

I am now glad to be suffering for you, and in my own person I am filling in what is lacking in Christ's sufferings for His body, that is, the church.

Take care of yourselves and of the whole flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, so as to continue to be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.

You married men must love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her,

so that you may prove to be blameless and spotless, faultless children of God in a crooked and perverted age, in which you shine as light-bearers in the world as you continue

For at one time you were darkness itself, but now in union with the Lord you are light itself. You must live like children of light,

You are the light of the world. A city that is built upon a hill cannot be hidden.

So ever be on your guard and always remember that for three years, night and day, I never ceased warning you one by one, and that with tears.

So, although I did write to you, it was not for the offender's sake, nor for the offended party's sake, but in the sight of God for the sake of having your enthusiasm for me made perfectly clear to you. This is why I am so comforted.

Besides all other things, there is my concern for all the churches.

I repeat it, I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, rivalries, slanders, gossiping, haughty pride, and disorders,

I am beginning to fear that I have bestowed my labors on you for nothing.

So ever be on your guard and always remember that for three years, night and day, I never ceased warning you one by one, and that with tears.

So, although I did write to you, it was not for the offender's sake, nor for the offended party's sake, but in the sight of God for the sake of having your enthusiasm for me made perfectly clear to you. This is why I am so comforted.

Besides all other things, there is my concern for all the churches.

I repeat it, I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, rivalries, slanders, gossiping, haughty pride, and disorders,

I am beginning to fear that I have bestowed my labors on you for nothing.

And as they were talking, and discussing these things, Jesus Himself came up near to them and continued to walk with them,

But if we continue to live in the light, just as He is in the light, we have unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son continues to cleanse us from every sin.

And they devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship with one another, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Once He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." So He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: 'Father, Your name be revered; Your kingdom come; continue giving us day by day our daily bread, read more.
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"

Then one of the Twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests, and said, "What will you give me to turn Him over to you?" Then they paid him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he kept looking for a good opportunity to turn Him over to them.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests to betray Him to them. They were delighted to hear it, and promised to pay him for it. So he kept looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them.

But Satan entered into Judas, who is called Iscariot, who belonged to the circle of the Twelve. So he went off and discussed with the high priests and captains of the temple how he could betray Him to them. They were delighted and made a bargain to pay him for it. read more.
He in turn accepted their offer and began to seek a favorable opportunity to betray Him to them without exciting an uprising.

Then they retorted, "You were born in total depravity, and yet you are trying to teach us!" And so they turned him out of the synagogue.

I am now glad to be suffering for you, and in my own person I am filling in what is lacking in Christ's sufferings for His body, that is, the church.

Such a person is not continuing in connection with the Head, from which the whole body, when supplied and united through its joints and sinews, grows with a growth that God produces.

for the immediate equipment of God's people for the work of service, for the ultimate building up of the body of Christ,

so we, though many, are united in one body through union with Christ, and we are individually parts of one another.

So you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it.

But I say to you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but treated him as they pleased. Just so the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."

Whoever conquers will be clothed this way -- in white clothes -- and I will never blot his name out of the book of life, but I will own him as mine in the presence of my Father and His angels.

I advise you to buy of me gold that has been refined in the fire, so that you may become rich, and white clothes to put on, to hide your shameful nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes, to make you see.

Around the throne there were twenty-four thrones, with twenty-four elders seated on them, clothed in white and with crowns of gold on their heads.

After this I looked, and there was a vast throng that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Do not be so afraid of what you are to suffer. See! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison to be tested there and for ten days to suffer pressing troubles. Each one of you must prove to be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown of life.

At that time they will turn you over to torture, and will murder you, and you will be hated by all the heathen, because you bear my name.

Be on your guard against men, for they will turn you over to the courts and will flog you in their synagogues,

But before all this takes place, people will arrest you and persecute you, and turn you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.

Remember what I once told you: No slave is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you too. If they have observed my teaching, they will observe yours too.

I repeat it, I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, rivalries, slanders, gossiping, haughty pride, and disorders,

For I have been informed about you, my brothers, by Chloe's people, that there are wranglings among you.

for you are still unspiritual. For when there are still jealousy and wrangling among you, are you not still unspiritual and living by a human standard?

but one brother has to go to law with another, and that before unbelieving judges?

I beg Euodia and I beg Syntyche to live in harmony by the help of the Lord.

Only, everybody must continue to live in the station which the Lord assigned to him, in that in which God called him. These are my orders in all the churches.

If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that your meetings may not bring on you judgment. I will settle in detail the matters that remain, when I come.

Hence, if the whole church has met and everybody speaks in ecstasy, and illiterate people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are crazy?

Everything must always be done in a proper and orderly way.

I left you in Crete for this express purpose, to set in order the things that are lacking, and to appoint elders in each town, as I directed you --

Only, everybody must continue to live in the station which the Lord assigned to him, in that in which God called him. These are my orders in all the churches.

If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that your meetings may not bring on you judgment. I will settle in detail the matters that remain, when I come.

Now the apostles and elders met to consider this matter.

For the Holy Spirit and we have decided not to lay upon you any burden but these essential requirements,

(if a man does not know how to manage his own house, how can he take care of a church of God?).

Only, everybody must continue to live in the station which the Lord assigned to him, in that in which God called him. These are my orders in all the churches.

If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that your meetings may not bring on you judgment. I will settle in detail the matters that remain, when I come.

Now the apostles and elders met to consider this matter.

For the Holy Spirit and we have decided not to lay upon you any burden but these essential requirements,

(if a man does not know how to manage his own house, how can he take care of a church of God?).

The hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf carries off some of the sheep and scatters the flock.

When He saw the crowds, His heart was moved with pity for them, because they were tired and scattered like sheep without a shepherd.

Then Jesus said to them, "You will all stumble over me tonight, for the Scripture says, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

After one or two warnings to a man who is factious, stop having anything to do with him,

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan to be so disciplined that they will stop their abusive speech.

Now I appeal to you in person, by the gentleness and fairness of Christ, I, Paul, who am so "condescending when face to face with you, but so courageous toward you when far away!"

to turn such a man as this over to Satan for the destruction of his lower nature, in order that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

I have already warned those who formerly committed shocking sins, and all the rest, and though so far away I warn them now, as I did on my second visit, that if I come back I will not spare them,

And I saw the new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride to join her husband.

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let everyone who hears this say, "Come." Let everyone who is thirsty come. Let everyone who wishes come and take the living water without any cost.

For I feel a divine jealousy for you, as I betrothed you to Christ, to present you as a pure bride to her one husband.

Let us be glad and shout for joy and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.

For the first or outer part of the tent, which is called the holy place, was equipped with the lamp and table and the presentation bread.

But when Christ came as the High Priest of good things that have already taken place, He went by way of that greater and more perfect tent of worship, not made by human hands, that is, not belonging to this material creation,

Yes, He is the Head of the church as His body. For He is the beginning, the first-born among the dead, so that He alone should stand first in everything.

And so He has put all things under His feet and made Him the supreme Head of the church,

But, on the other hand, we shall go on holding to the truth and in love growing up into perfect union with Him, that is, Christ Himself who is the Head.

for a husband is the head of his wife, just as Christ is the Head of the church, His body, and Saviour of it.

Such a person is not continuing in connection with the Head, from which the whole body, when supplied and united through its joints and sinews, grows with a growth that God produces.

Or, do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into union with Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

For by one Spirit all of us, Jews or Greeks, slaves or freemen, have been baptized into one body, and were all imbued with one Spirit.

For all of you who have been baptized into union with Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

for you were buried with Him in baptism and raised to life with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead.

Baptism, which corresponds to this figure, now saves you, too -- I do not mean the mere removal of physical stains, but the craving for a clear conscience toward God -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

In union with Him the whole building is harmoniously fitted together and continues to grow into a temple, sacred through its union with the Lord,

Is anyone sick among you? He should call in the elders of the church, and they should pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord,

Elders who do their duties well should be considered as deserving twice the salary they get especially those who keep on toiling in preaching and teaching.

And this they did and sent it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

So, as a joint-elder with them, a witness of the suffering borne by Christ, and a sharer of the glory that is to be uncovered, I beg the elders among you,

I left you in Crete for this express purpose, to set in order the things that are lacking, and to appoint elders in each town, as I directed you --

Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptize them into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

He who believes it and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe it will be condemned.

Jesus answered, "I most solemnly say to you, no one can ever get into the kingdom of God, unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Peter said to them, "You must repent -- and, as an expression of it, let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ -- that you may have your sins forgiven; and then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,

So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to stay on there a few days.

constantly praising God and always having the favor of all the people. And every day the Lord continued to add to them the people who were being saved.

Hence, if the whole church has met and everybody speaks in ecstasy, and illiterate people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are crazy?

And I, yes I, tell you, your name from now on is to be Peter, Rock, and on a massive rock like this I will build my church, and the powers of the underworld shall never overthrow it.

And if he refuses to listen to the church, treat him as a heathen and as a tax-collector.

For, in the first place, when you meet as a congregation, I hear that there are cliques among you, and I partly believe it.

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf and blessed it; then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take this and eat it; this is my body."

While they were eating, He took a loaf and blessed it and broke it in pieces and gave it to them, saying, "Take this; it is my body."

Is not the consecrated cup which we consecrate a sign of our sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the loaf which we break a sign of our sharing in the body of Christ?

For the account that I passed on to you I myself received from the Lord Himself, that the Lord Jesus on the night He was betrayed took a loaf of bread

Continue to obey and to be submissive to your leaders, for they are ever watching in defense of your souls, as men who will have to give account of their trust. Treat them in this way, so that they may work with joy and not with grief.

So give him a hearty Christian welcome and hold in honor men like him,

We beg you, brothers, to practice showing respect to those who labor among you, who are your leaders in the Lord's work, and who advise you; continue to hold them in the highest esteem for the sake of the work they do. Practice living at peace with one another.

Elders who do their duties well should be considered as deserving twice the salary they get especially those who keep on toiling in preaching and teaching.

You must not forget your former leaders, for it was they who brought you the message of God. Consider how they closed their lives; imitate their faith.

If you get forgiveness for people's sins, they are forgiven them; if you let people's sins fasten upon them, they will remain fastened upon them."

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you forbid on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven."

I solemnly say to you, whatever you forbid on earth must be already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth must be already permitted in heaven.

As they journeyed on from town to town, they delivered to the brothers to keep the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

Continue to obey and to be submissive to your leaders, for they are ever watching in defense of your souls, as men who will have to give account of their trust. Treat them in this way, so that they may work with joy and not with grief.

for you are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself the cornerstone.

And I, yes I, tell you, your name from now on is to be Peter, Rock, and on a massive rock like this I will build my church, and the powers of the underworld shall never overthrow it.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Thessalonian church in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: spiritual blessing and peace be to you.

so that, if I am detained, you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Then Herod and his bodyguard treated Him with contempt and made sport of Him and put a gorgeous robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate.

This is why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He persisted in doing such things on the Sabbath.

and they rose up and drove Him out of town and took Him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, to hurl Him down the cliff.

After this, Jesus went on moving about in Galilee; He would not do so in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill Him.

I know that you are Abraham's descendants, and yet you are trying to kill me, because there is no room in you for my teaching.

As a skilled architect, in accordance with God's unmerited favor given to me, I laid a foundation, and now another is building upon it. But every builder must be careful how he builds upon it;

In union with Him the whole building is harmoniously fitted together and continues to grow into a temple, sacred through its union with the Lord,

And I, yes I, tell you, your name from now on is to be Peter, Rock, and on a massive rock like this I will build my church, and the powers of the underworld shall never overthrow it.

and keep on building yourselves up, as living stones, into a spiritual house for a consecrated priesthood, to offer up, through Jesus Christ, spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God.

but they went on from Perga and arrived at Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they went to the synagogue and took seats.

And on leaving there He went into their synagogue.

They went into Capernaum, and as soon as the first Sabbath came, He went into the synagogue and began to teach.

So He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up, and as His habit was on the Sabbath, He went to the synagogue and stood up to read.

Let us stop neglecting our meeting together, as some do, but let us continue to encourage one another, and all the more because you see that the great day is drawing near.

and if children, then also heirs, heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ if in reality we share His sufferings, so that we may share His glory too.

And in the place where it was said, 'You are no people of mine,' they shall be called sons of the living God."

Remember me to Rufus, that choicest Christian, and to his mother, who has been a mother to me too.

This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is a dear child of mine and trustworthy in the Lord's work; he will call to your minds my methods in the work of Christ Jesus, just as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Because I know that after I have gone violent wolves will break in among you and will not spare the flock.

Stop being afraid, my little flock, for your Father has gladly chosen to give you the kingdom.

Because I know that after I have gone violent wolves will break in among you and will not spare the flock.

Stop being afraid, my little flock, for your Father has gladly chosen to give you the kingdom.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Thessalonian church in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: spiritual blessing and peace be to you.

so that, if I am detained, you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

He said to them, "Who do you yourselves say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Then Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for it is not man that made this known to you, but my Father in heaven. read more.
And I, yes I, tell you, your name from now on is to be Peter, Rock, and on a massive rock like this I will build my church, and the powers of the underworld shall never overthrow it.

for you are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself the cornerstone. In union with Him the whole building is harmoniously fitted together and continues to grow into a temple, sacred through its union with the Lord, and you yourselves, in union with Him, in fellowship with one another, are being built up into a dwelling for God through the Spirit.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Thessalonian church in union with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

So, if there is any appeal in our union with Christ, if there is any persuasive power in love, if we have any common share in the Spirit, if you have any tenderheartedness and sympathy,

I give you a new command, to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you too must love one another.

and always do it with joy in every entreaty I make for all of you,

Now there was but one heart and soul in the vast number of those who had become believers, and not one of them claimed that anything that he had was his own, but they shared everything that they had as common property.

Let the message of Christ continue to live in you in all its wealth of wisdom; keep on teaching it to one another and training one another in it with thankfulness, in your hearts singing praise to God with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

As we have gifts that differ in accordance with the favor God has shown us, if it is that of preaching, let it be done in proportion to our faith;

Whoever speaks in ecstasy builds up himself alone, but whoever prophesies builds up the congregation too.

Therefore, the man who speaks in ecstasy must pray for power to explain what he says.

But, on the other hand, we shall go on holding to the truth and in love growing up into perfect union with Him, that is, Christ Himself who is the Head. For it is under His direction that the whole body is perfectly adjusted and united by every joint that furnishes its supplies; and by the proper functioning of each particular part there is brought about the growing of the body for its building up in love.

At Iconium too they went to the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks came to believe.

So the churches through faith continued to grow in strength and to increase in numbers from day to day.

So some of them were convinced, and they joined Paul and Silas; also quite a number of devout Greeks and not a few women of the first rank.

But Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, and so did all his family, and from time to time many of the Corinthians heard, believed, and were baptized.

At Iconium too they went to the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks came to believe.

So the churches through faith continued to grow in strength and to increase in numbers from day to day.

So some of them were convinced, and they joined Paul and Silas; also quite a number of devout Greeks and not a few women of the first rank.

But Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, and so did all his family, and from time to time many of the Corinthians heard, believed, and were baptized.

I repeat it, I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, rivalries, slanders, gossiping, haughty pride, and disorders, and that when I come back my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn over some of those who formerly have committed shocking sins, and have not repented for them -- their impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality, which once they practiced.

For I have been informed about you, my brothers, by Chloe's people, that there are wranglings among you. I mean this, that one of you says, "I belong to Paul's party," another, "And I belong to Apollos' party," another, "And I belong to Cephas' party," another, "And I belong to Christ's party." Christ has been parceled out by you! It was not Paul who was crucified for you, was it? You were not baptized in Paul's name, were you?

for you are still unspiritual. For when there are still jealousy and wrangling among you, are you not still unspiritual and living by a human standard? For when one says, "I belong to Paul's party," and another, "I belong to Apollos' party," are you not acting as mere human creatures?

For, in the first place, when you meet as a congregation, I hear that there are cliques among you, and I partly believe it. Yes, indeed, there must be parties among you, in order that people of approved fitness may come to the front among you.

to our sister Apphia, to our fellow-soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets at your house:

I have fought the fight for the good, I have run my race, I have kept faith.

But I think it proper now to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-laborer, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger to minister to my needs,

Take your share of hardships like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

For as God's trustee a pastor must be above reproach, not stubborn or quick-tempered or addicted to strong drink or pugnacious or addicted to dishonest gain,

Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all God's people in union with Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and assistants:

This is a saying to be trusted: "Whoever aspires to the office of pastor desires an excellent work."

be shepherds of the flock of God that is among you, not as though you had to but of your own free will, not from the motive of personal profit but freely,