Church Government

and having appointed to them by vote elders in every assembly, having prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God,

And Peter and the apostles answering, said, `To obey God it behoveth, rather than men;

`Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,

Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, — read the full passage →

For to Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> the kingdom, And He is ruling among nations.

Jesus answered, `Thou wouldest have no authority against me, if it were not having been given thee from above; because of this, he who is delivering me up to thee hath greater sin.'

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that the things lacking thou mayest arrange, and mayest set down in every city elders, as I did appoint to thee;

Remind them to be subject to principalities and authorities, to obey rule, unto every good work to be ready,

Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest, — read the full passage →

The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching,

Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject, for these do watch for your souls, as about to give account, that with joy they may do this, and not sighing, for this <FI>is<Fi> unprofitable to you.

and He gave some <FI>as<Fi> apostles, and some <FI>as<Fi> prophets, and some <FI>as<Fi> proclaimers of good news, and some <FI>as<Fi> shepherds and teachers,

whether to governors, as to those sent through him, for punishment, indeed, of evil-doers, and a praise of those doing good;

it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,

tell us, therefore, what dost thou think? is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?' — read the full passage →

For, even as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, so also <FI>is<Fi> the Christ,

for of God it is a ministrant to thee for good; and if that which is evil thou mayest do, be fearing, for not in vain doth it bear the sword; for of God it is a ministrant, an avenger for wrath to him who is doing that which is evil.

And some, indeed, did God set in the assembly, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, afterwards powers, afterwards gifts of healings, helpings, governings, divers kinds of tongues;

Stedfast <FI>is<Fi> the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth; — read the full passage →

I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men: — read the full passage →

so that he who is setting himself against the authority, against God's ordinance hath resisted; and those resisting, to themselves shall receive judgment.

Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest, — read the full passage →

and all things He did put under his feet, and did give him--head over all things to the assembly,

For a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. — read the full passage →

for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually;

Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest,

For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it,

For our citizenship is in the heavens, whence also a Saviour we await--the Lord Jesus Christ--

And we have known that to those loving God all things do work together for good, to those who are called according to purpose;

I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men: — read the full passage →

`And in the days of these kings raise up doth the God of the heavens a kingdom that is not destroyed--to the age, and its kingdom to another people is not left: it beateth small and endeth all these kingdoms, and it standeth to the age.

And He is changing times and seasons, He is causing kings to pass away, and He is raising up kings; He is giving wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those possessing understanding.

Elders who <FI>are<Fi> among you, I exhort, who <FI>am<Fi> a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be revealed a partaker, — read the full passage →

For a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.

A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him, to shew to his servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and he did signify <FI>it<Fi> , having sent through his messenger to his servant John,

Many <FI>are<Fi> the purposes in a man's heart, And the counsel of Jehovah it standeth.

But God <FI>is<Fi> judge, This He maketh low--and this He lifteth up.

for because of this also pay ye tribute; for servants of God they are, on this very thing attending continually; — read the full passage →

Let every soul to the higher authorities be subject, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities existing are appointed by God, — read the full passage →

For those ruling are not a terror to the good works, but to the evil; and dost thou wish not to be afraid of the authority? that which is good be doing, and thou shalt have praise from it, — read the full passage →

Rivulets of waters <FI>is<Fi> the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.

As for you, ye devised against me evil--God devised it for good, in order to do as <FI>at<Fi> this day, to keep alive a numerous people;

And from Miletus, having sent to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly,

and Jesus having called them near, said, `Ye have known that the rulers of the nations do exercise lordship over them, and those great do exercise authority over them, — read the full passage →

Paul and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministrants;

And I come in unto the governors beyond the River, and give to them the letters of the king; and the king sendeth with me heads of a force, and horsemen;

And in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar--Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother, tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene--

and if this be heard by the governor, we will persuade him, and you keep free from anxiety.'

and having bound him, they did lead away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

And I say to the king, `If to the king <FI>it be<Fi> good, letters let be given to me for the governors beyond the River, that they let me pass over till that I come in unto Judah:

and they give the laws of the king to the lieutenants of the king and the governors beyond the river, and they have lifted up the people and the house of God.

And Solomon hath twelve officers over all Israel, and they have sustained the king and his household--a month in the year is on each one for sustenance;

because nothing shall be impossible with God.'

every Writing <FI>is<Fi> God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for setting aright, for instruction that <FI>is<Fi> in righteousness, — read the full passage →

Thou hast known that <FI>for<Fi> all things Thou art able, And not withheld from Thee is <FI>any<Fi> device:

Give for yourselves men, wise and intelligent, and known to your tribes, and I set them for your heads;

to all give ye honour; the brotherhood love ye; God fear ye; the king honour ye.

render, therefore, to all <FI>their<Fi> dues; to whom tribute, the tribute; to whom custom, the custom; to whom fear, the fear; to whom honour, the honour.

In the multiplying of the righteous the people rejoice, And in the ruling of the wicked the people sigh.

O the happiness of the nation whose God <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah, Of the people He did choose, For an inheritance to Him.

Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them. — read the full passage →

and to each one of you was given the grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,

Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord, whether to a king, as the highest, — read the full passage →

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, chosen men out of themselves to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren--

with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,

And Jesus said to him, `Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thine understanding--

because the mind of the flesh <FI>is<Fi> enmity to God, for to the law of God it doth not subject itself,

Be mindful of those leading you, who did speak to you the word of God, whose faith--considering the issue of the behaviour--be imitating,

but ye <FI>are<Fi> not so, but he who is greater among you--let him be as the younger; and he who is leading, as he who is ministering;

`And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly, and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it;

And there was given to me a reed like to a rod, and the messenger stood, saying, `Rise, and measure the sanctuary of God, and the altar, and those worshipping in it; — read the full passage →

Jesus answered, `My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my officers had struggled that I might not be delivered up to Jews; but now my kingdom is not from hence.'

Without counsels do a people fall, And deliverance <FI>is<Fi> in a multitude of counsellors.

And concerning the spiritual things, brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant; — read the full passage →

for it behoveth the overseer to be blameless, as God's steward, not self-pleased, nor irascible, not given to wine, not a striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Then, indeed, the assemblies throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace, being built up, and, going on in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety--God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!

Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of the conscience,

then those, indeed, who did gladly receive his word were baptized, and there were added on that day, as it were, three thousand souls,

feed the flock of God that <FI>is<Fi> among you, overseeing not constrainedly, but willingly, neither for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind,

they say to him, `Caesar's;' then saith he to them, `Render therefore the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;'

Ministrants--in like manner grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not given to filthy lucre, — read the full passage →

Beloved, every spirit believe not, but prove the spirits, if of God they are, because many false prophets have gone forth to the world;

Daniel hath answered and said, `Let the name of God be blessed from age even unto age, for wisdom and might--for they are His. — read the full passage →

`Judges and authorities thou dost make to thee within all thy gates which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, for thy tribes; and they have judged the people--a righteous judgment. — read the full passage →

And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration, — read the full passage →

Stedfast <FI>is<Fi> the word: If any one the oversight doth long for, a right work he desireth; — read the full passage →

And having come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders, they declared also as many things as God did with them;

holding--according to the teaching--to the stedfast word, that he may be able also to exhort in the sound teaching, and the gainsayers to convict;

and this good news of the reign shall be proclaimed in all the world, for a testimony to all the nations; and then shall the end arrive.

for God did so love the world, that His Son--the only begotten--He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during. — read the full passage →

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that the things lacking thou mayest arrange, and mayest set down in every city elders, as I did appoint to thee; — read the full passage →

The well-leading elders of double honour let them be counted worthy, especially those labouring in word and teaching, — read the full passage →

for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity,

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born out of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth; to him who did love us, and did bathe us from our sins in his blood, — read the full passage →

which in His own times He shall shew--the blessed and only potentate, the King of the kings and Lord of the lords, — read the full passage →

and My people on whom My name is called be humbled, and pray, and seek My face, and turn back from their evil ways, then I--I hear from the heavens, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.

For I wish you to know how great a conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, — read the full passage →

A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him, to shew to his servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and he did signify <FI>it<Fi> , having sent through his messenger to his servant John, — read the full passage →