Tuesday, April 10, 2012

An Excellent Biblical Definition of the Church

On Sunday our church family was studying through I Peter chapter two. Not surprisingly, verses five and nine generated a good bit of discussion concerning the church. As I read verse nine several times, I was struck that it is an excellent definition of the church.

I Peter 2:9 in a few different translations:

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (ESV)

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (HCSB)

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (KJV)

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (NIV)

Sometimes we make life too complicated. In attempting to define things such as the church, let's simply let scripture speak whenever it provides definitions. I Peter 2:9 is the best I've ever seen for the church.

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