In this post, I am going to quote all the verses which speak of the churches of Christ, in order to show that though the church is one, being the spiritual body of Christ,

“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

“If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:17

“As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Now the body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,’ it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. Or if an ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,’ it does not for this reason belong any less to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’ Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary, and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety, whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

“And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.” Ephesians 1:22-23

“Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So [also] husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man shall leave [his] father and [his] mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:22-33

It consists of many congregations that are scattered all throughout the world:

“He traveled through Syria and Cilicia bringing strength to the churches.” Acts 15:41

“Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.” Acts 16:5

“who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I am grateful but also all the churches of the Gentiles; greet also the church at their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the firstfruits in Asia for Christ… Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.” Romans 16:4-5, 16

“Only, everyone should live as the Lord has assigned, just as God called each one. I give this order in all the churches.” 1 Corinthians 7:17

“But if anyone is inclined to be argumentative, we do not have such a custom, nor do the churches of God.” 1 Corinthians 11:16

“since he is not the God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the holy ones, women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says.” 1 Corinthians 14:33-34

“Now in regard to the collection for the holy ones, you also should do as I ordered the churches of Galatia… The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca together with the church at their house send you many greetings in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 16:1, 19

“We want you to know, brothers, of the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,” 2 Corinthians 8:1

“With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. And not only that, but he has also been appointed our traveling companion by the churches in this gracious work administered by us for the glory of the Lord [himself] and for the expression of our eagerness.” 2 Corinthians 8:18-19

“As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker for you; as for our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ. So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to them.” 2 Corinthians 8:23-24

“I plundered other churches by accepting from them in order to minister to you…  And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches.” 2 Corinthians 11:8, 28

“In what way were you less privileged than the rest of the churches, except that on my part I did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!” 2 Corinthians 12:13

“and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia… And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ;” Galatians 1:2, 22

“For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you suffer the same things from your compatriots as they did from the Jews,” 1 Thessalonians 2:14

“Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you endure.” 2 Thessalonians 1:4

“John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,” Revelation 1:11

“which said, ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.’” Revelation 1:11

“This is the secret meaning of the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” Revelation 1:20

“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God.” Revelation 2:7

“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor shall not be harmed by the second death.” Revelation 2:11

“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna; I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17

 

 

 

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