The Church Defined (Continued)

4. LOCAL VERSUS UNIVERSAL (Continued)
1. According to the Scriptures (Continued)
39. A local body of believers (1 Corinthians 14:28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
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40. Multiple bodies of believers (1 Corinthians 14:33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
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41. Multiple bodies of believers (1 Corinthians 14:34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
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1. This is a difficult passage.
2. Throughout the other passages, it seems as though the word church refers to a single body of believers.
3. Now it appears that there could be multiple bodies of believers at Corinth, or that they sometimes go into other areas.
42. A local body of believers (1 Corinthians 14:35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
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43. The body of believers at Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
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44. Multiple bodies of believers (1 Corinthians 16:1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
    See All...; 1 Corinthians 16:19The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
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45. The local body of believers at Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
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46. Multiple bodies of believers (2 Corinthians 8:1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
    See All..., 18, 19, 23, 24; 2 Corinthians 11:8I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
    See All..., 28; 2 Corinthians 12:13For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
    See All...; Galatians 1:2And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
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47. The local body of believers at Jerusalem (Galatians 1:13For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
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48. Multiple bodies of believers in Judaea (Galatians 1:22And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
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49. Christ as the head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
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1. Specifically written to the church at Ephesus
2. Very much applies to all believers
50. The church might know the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
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1. The local body of believers at Ephesus
2. Very much applies to all believers
51. A local body of believers, though it could be argued (Ephesians 3:21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
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52. A local body of believers, but also applies to all believers (Ephesians 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
    See All..., 24, 25, 27, 29, 32)
53. The local body of believers at Jerusalem (Philippians 3:6He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
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54. Local body of believers (Philippians 4:15
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55. Applies to both local and multiple bodies of believers (Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
    See All..., 24)
56. A local body of believers in the house of Nymphas (Colossians 4:15Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
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57. A local body of believers in Laodicea (Colossians 4:16And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
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58. A local body of believers (1 Thessalonians 1:1Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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59. Multiple bodies of believers in Judaea (1 Thessalonians 2:14For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
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60. A local body of believers (2 Thessalonians 1:1Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
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61. Multiple bodies of believers (2 Thessalonians 1:4So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
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62. A local body of believers (1Timothy 3:5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
    See All..., 15; 1 Timothy 5:16If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
    See All...; Philemon 1:2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
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63. A local body of believers, though this could be arguable (Hebrews 2:12Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
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64. Believers whose names are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
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65. A local body of believers (James 5:14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
    See All...; 1 Peter 5:13The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
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66. A local body of believers, but could be argued (3 John 1:6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
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67. A local body of believers (3 John 1:9I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
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68. Multiple bodies of believers in Asia (Revelation 1:4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
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69. A local body of believers (Revelation 2:1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
    See All..., 8, 12, 18; Revelation 3:1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
    See All..., 7, 14)
70. Multiple bodies of believers (Revelation 2:7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
    See All..., 11, 17, 23, 29; Revelation 3:6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
    See All..., 13, 22; Revelation 22:16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
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2. Local
1. The vast majority of New Testament references to a church are that of a local body of believers.
2. Varying numbers are given, but many agree that at least 90 of the 114 references are to a local body of believers.
3. Universal
1. Some refuse to believe in a universal body of believers, but rather refer to these mentions as a generic reference.
1. They would state that these references mean that which is true of one New Testament church is true of every New Testament church.
2. They would refer to such verses as Matthew 18:17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
   See All..., Acts 20:28Take 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.
   See All..., and 1 Timothy 3:5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
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2. There are, however, some verses that seem to speak of the “church” as all of the saved.
4. Thoughts on the Local versus Universal Argument
1. The local church
1. The focus of the New Testament is on a local visible body of believers.
2. The apostle Paul had no trouble calling the believers at Corinth “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
   See All...).
3. The Lord does His work in and through this means throughout the New Testament.
2. The universal church
1. This is mentioned in the New Testament, but is such a minority as to show us that it is not God’s emphasis in this age.
2. We know that it is viable because just as Paul called the church at Corinth “the body of Christ,” he also included himself in that body (1 Corinthians 12:13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
   See All...) and he was not a member at Corinth.
3. This body has not met, nor will it meet until gathered in heaven.