The Church - Christ's Body
The church is not a building, but God's people—all who believe in Christ. It is called the body of Christ, the temple of God, and the bride of Christ. We are called to fellowship, worship, and service together.
Christ's Body
The church is Christ's body, with many members and diverse gifts.
12For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, form one body, so it is with Christ.
Καθάπερ γὰρ τὸ σῶμα ἕν ἐστιν καὶ μέλη ⸂πολλὰ ἔχει⸃, πάντα δὲ τὰ μέλη τοῦ ⸀σώματος πολλὰ ὄντα ἕν ἐστιν σῶμα, οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστός·
13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
καὶ γὰρ ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι ἡμεῖς πάντες εἰς ἓν σῶμα ἐβαπτίσθημεν, εἴτε Ἰουδαῖοι εἴτε Ἕλληνες, εἴτε δοῦλοι εἴτε ἐλεύθεροι, καὶ ⸀πάντες ἓν πνεῦμα ἐποτίσθημεν.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Ὑμεῖς δέ ἐστε σῶμα Χριστοῦ καὶ μέλη ἐκ μέρους.
4For just as in one body we have many parts, and not all the parts have the same function,
καθάπερ γὰρ ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι ⸂πολλὰ μέλη⸃ ἔχομεν, τὰ δὲ μέλη πάντα οὐ τὴν αὐτὴν ἔχει πρᾶξιν,
5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and each of us belongs to all the others.
οὕτως οἱ πολλοὶ ἓν σῶμά ἐσμεν ἐν Χριστῷ, ⸀τὸ δὲ καθʼ εἷς ἀλλήλων μέλη.
15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow up in every way into him who is the head, Christ.
ἀληθεύοντες δὲ ἐν ἀγάπῃ αὐξήσωμεν εἰς αὐτὸν τὰ πάντα, ὅς ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλή, ⸀Χριστός,
16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.
ἐξ οὗ πᾶν τὸ σῶμα συναρμολογούμενον καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον διὰ πάσης ἁφῆς τῆς ἐπιχορηγίας κατʼ ἐνέργειαν ἐν μέτρῳ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου μέρους τὴν αὔξησιν τοῦ σώματος ποιεῖται εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἐν ἀγάπῃ.
God's Temple
The church is God's temple where his Spirit dwells.
16Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ναὸς θεοῦ ἐστε καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ θεοῦ ⸂οἰκεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν⸃;
17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple is you.
εἴ τις τὸν ναὸν τοῦ θεοῦ φθείρει, φθερεῖ τοῦτον ὁ θεός· ὁ γὰρ ναὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἅγιός ἐστιν, οἵτινές ἐστε ὑμεῖς.
19So you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,
ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι, ἀλλὰ ⸀ἐστὲ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ,
20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ ⸂Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ⸃,
21In him the whole structure is joined together and rises into a holy temple in the Lord;
ἐν ᾧ ⸀πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ,
22and in him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.
ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς συνοικοδομεῖσθε εἰς κατοικητήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν πνεύματι.
4As you come to him, the living stone—rejected by people but chosen and precious in God's sight—
Πρὸς ὃν προσερχόμενοι, λίθον ζῶντα, ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπων μὲν ἀποδεδοκιμασμένον παρὰ δὲ θεῷ ἐκλεκτὸν ἔντιμον
5you yourselves, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
καὶ αὐτοὶ ὡς λίθοι ζῶντες οἰκοδομεῖσθε οἶκος πνευματικὸς ⸀εἰς ἱεράτευμα ἅγιον, ἀνενέγκαι πνευματικὰς θυσίας ⸀εὐπροσδέκτους θεῷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ·
Fellowship
The first Christians had a close fellowship with one another.
42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
ἦσαν δὲ προσκαρτεροῦντες τῇ διδαχῇ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ τῇ ⸀κοινωνίᾳ, τῇ κλάσει τοῦ ἄρτου καὶ ταῖς προσευχαῖς.
44All the believers were together and had everything in common.
πάντες δὲ οἱ ⸀πιστεύοντες ⸂ἦσαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ⸃ εἶχον ἅπαντα κοινά,
46Day by day they continued to meet with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they shared their food with glad and sincere hearts,
καθʼ ἡμέραν τε προσκαρτεροῦντες ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ, κλῶντές τε κατʼ οἶκον ἄρτον, μετελάμβανον τροφῆς ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει καὶ ἀφελότητι καρδίας,
47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
αἰνοῦντες τὸν θεὸν καὶ ἔχοντες χάριν πρὸς ὅλον τὸν λαόν. ὁ δὲ κύριος προσετίθει τοὺς σῳζομένους καθʼ ἡμέραν ⸂ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό⸃.
24And let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good works,
καὶ κατανοῶμεν ἀλλήλους εἰς παροξυσμὸν ἀγάπης καὶ καλῶν ἔργων,
25not neglecting to meet together, as some have made a habit of neglecting, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
μὴ ἐγκαταλείποντες τὴν ἐπισυναγωγὴν ἑαυτῶν, καθὼς ἔθος τισίν, ἀλλὰ παρακαλοῦντες, καὶ τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον ὅσῳ βλέπετε ἐγγίζουσαν τὴν ἡμέραν.
3What we have seen and heard we announce to you as well, so that you too may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
ὃ ἑωράκαμεν καὶ ἀκηκόαμεν ἀπαγγέλλομεν ⸀καὶ ὑμῖν, ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς κοινωνίαν ἔχητε μεθʼ ἡμῶν· καὶ ἡ κοινωνία δὲ ἡ ἡμετέρα μετὰ τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ μετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ·
7But if we walk in the light, as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
ἐὰν ⸀δὲ ἐν τῷ φωτὶ περιπατῶμεν ὡς αὐτός ἐστιν ἐν τῷ φωτί, κοινωνίαν ἔχομεν μετʼ ἀλλήλων καὶ τὸ αἷμα ⸀Ἰησοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ καθαρίζει ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἁμαρτίας.
Unity
Jesus prayed that his people would be one.
20"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
Οὐ περὶ τούτων δὲ ἐρωτῶ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῶν πιστευόντων διὰ τοῦ λόγου αὐτῶν εἰς ἐμέ,
21that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.
ἵνα πάντες ἓν ὦσιν, καθὼς σύ, ⸀πάτερ, ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν σοί, ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν ⸀ἡμῖν ὦσιν, ἵνα ὁ κόσμος ⸀πιστεύῃ ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας.
23I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to complete unity, so that the world may know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
ἐγὼ ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ σὺ ἐν ἐμοί, ἵνα ὦσιν τετελειωμένοι εἰς ἕν, ⸀ἵνα γινώσκῃ ὁ κόσμος ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας καὶ ἠγάπησας αὐτοὺς καθὼς ἐμὲ ἠγάπησας.
3making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
σπουδάζοντες τηρεῖν τὴν ἑνότητα τοῦ πνεύματος ἐν τῷ συνδέσμῳ τῆς εἰρήνης·
4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your calling;
ἓν σῶμα καὶ ἓν πνεῦμα, καθὼς καὶ ἐκλήθητε ἐν μιᾷ ἐλπίδι τῆς κλήσεως ὑμῶν·
5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
εἷς κύριος, μία πίστις, ἓν βάπτισμα·
6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
εἷς θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ πάντων, ὁ ἐπὶ πάντων καὶ διὰ πάντων καὶ ἐν ⸀πᾶσιν.
1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection and mercy,
Εἴ τις οὖν παράκλησις ἐν Χριστῷ, εἴ τι παραμύθιον ἀγάπης, εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύματος, εἴ τις σπλάγχνα καὶ οἰκτιρμοί,
2then make my joy complete: be of one mind, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
πληρώσατέ μου τὴν χαρὰν ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ φρονῆτε, τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγάπην ἔχοντες, σύμψυχοι, τὸ ἓν φρονοῦντες,
Christ's Bride
The church is Christ's bride, whom he will return to take home.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Οἱ ἄνδρες, ἀγαπᾶτε τὰς ⸀γυναῖκας, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς ἠγάπησεν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν καὶ ἑαυτὸν παρέδωκεν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς,
27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and without fault.
ἵνα παραστήσῃ ⸀αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ ἔνδοξον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, μὴ ἔχουσαν σπίλον ἢ ῥυτίδα ἤ τι τῶν τοιούτων, ἀλλʼ ἵνα ᾖ ἁγία καὶ ἄμωμος.
32This mystery is profound—but I am speaking of Christ and the church.
τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο μέγα ἐστίν, ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω εἰς Χριστὸν καὶ εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.
7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory, for the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
χαίρωμεν καὶ ⸀ἀγαλλιῶμεν, καὶ ⸀δώσομεν τὴν δόξαν αὐτῷ, ὅτι ἦλθεν ὁ γάμος τοῦ ἀρνίου, καὶ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ ἡτοίμασεν ἑαυτήν,
8She was given fine linen to wear, bright and clean" — for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῇ ἵνα περιβάληται βύσσινον ⸀λαμπρὸν καθαρόν, τὸ γὰρ βύσσινον τὰ δικαιώματα τῶν ἁγίων ἐστίν.
2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
καὶ τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἁγίαν Ἰερουσαλὴμ καινὴν εἶδον καταβαίνουσαν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἡτοιμασμένην ὡς νύμφην κεκοσμημένην τῷ ἀνδρὶ αὐτῆς.
9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me. "Come," he said, "I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
Καὶ ἦλθεν εἷς ἐκ τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀγγέλων τῶν ἐχόντων τὰς ἑπτὰ φιάλας, ⸂τῶν γεμόντων⸃ τῶν ἑπτὰ πληγῶν τῶν ἐσχάτων, καὶ ἐλάλησεν μετʼ ἐμοῦ λέγων· Δεῦρο, δείξω σοι τὴν ⸂νύμφην τὴν γυναῖκα⸃ τοῦ ἀρνίου.