Church Government

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. — read the full passage →

For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; — read the full passage →

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not? — read the full passage →

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. — read the full passage →

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; — read the full passage →

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; — read the full passage →

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. — read the full passage →

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; — read the full passage →

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: — read the full passage →

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. — read the full passage →

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. — read the full passage →

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: — read the full passage →

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. — read the full passage →

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;

And they delivered the king’s commissions unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: — read the full passage →

I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. — read the full passage →

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; — read the full passage →

Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. — read the full passage →

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. — read the full passage →

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

They say unto him, Cesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; — read the full passage →

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: — read the full passage →

Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. — read the full passage →

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. — read the full passage →

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. — read the full passage →

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. — read the full passage →

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: — read the full passage →

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. — read the full passage →

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, — read the full passage →

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; — read the full passage →

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; — read the full passage →

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: — read the full passage →