Bible verses about "cooperation" | Mace

³ then they came and presented to him a paralytic, who had four men to carry him.

⁷ Now having called the twelve, he sent them out by two and two, giving them power to exorcize spirits:

¹² then they returned to Jerusalem, from the mountain of olives, which is a sabbath-day's journey from it. ¹³ When they were arrived there, they went up into an upper room, where Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, Simon the Zelot, and Judas the brother of James used to resort, ¹⁴ and unanimously persevere in prayer with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brethren being present.

²⁰ neither pray I for these alone, but for those also who shall believe on me through their preaching. ²¹ that they all may be one, as thou, father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

¹ However some that arrived from Judea, told the Gentile converts, unless you are circumcised agreeably to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved. ² upon which Paul and Barnabas having warmly contested the point with them, it was resolved, that Paul and Barnabas and some others should go to Jerusalem to consult the apostles upon this question. ³ so they set out, accompanied part of the way by the church, and pass'd thro' Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles, which gave great joy to all the brethren. ⁴ and being arrived at Jerusalem, they were receiv'd by the church, by the apostles, and presbyters, to whom they related all that God had done by them. ⁵ but some of the sect of the Pharisees who had embraced the faith, started up, pretending that the Gentiles ought to be circumcised, and observe the law of Moses. ⁶ The apostles therefore, and the presbyters assembled to deliberate upon this affair. ⁷ and after the question had been much canvass'd, Peter rose up, and said, my brethren, you know that a considerable time since God chose me from among you to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and bring them to the faith. ⁸ God who knows their hearts has granted them a testimonial, by giving them the holy spirit, even as he did to us: ⁹ making no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by the faith. ¹⁰ why therefore do you tempt God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear? ¹¹ but we believe that it is by the favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are to be sav'd, as well as they. ¹² The whole assembly were very silent, whilst Barnabas and Paul related what miracles and prodigies God had wrought among the Gentiles by their ministry. ¹³ After they had done speaking, James assum'd the discourse, and said, my brethren, give me your attention. ¹⁴ Simon has related how God began to visit the Gentiles, to chuse from among them a people consecrated to his name. ¹⁵ and this is agreeable to the oracles of the prophets: as it is written, ¹⁶ "after this I will return and build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down: ¹⁷ I will repair its ruins, and raise it up: that the rest of mankind, even all the nations, that profess my name, may seek the Lord. ¹⁸ he that does all these things, is the Lord himself that has said it." for the works of God are all known to him from the beginning of the world. ¹⁹ wherefore my opinion is not to disquiet the Gentile converts: but only to write to them, ²⁰ that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, from fornication, from animals that are strangled, and from their blood. ²¹ for as to the law of Moses, that has been published in every city a considerable time, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day. ²² Then the apostles, the presbyters, and the whole church thought it proper to select some out of their own body to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch: such as Judas surnam'd Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, ²³ whom they charg'd with this letter. The apostles, the presbyters, and the brethren, to the Gentile brethren at Antioch, in Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting. ²⁴ Whereas we have been appriz'd, that some who went from us, have embarass'd you with their discourse, and unsettled your minds, maintaining, that you ought to be circumcised, and to observe the law, though we gave them no such injunction: after having been assembled, ²⁵ we unanimously judg'd it proper to send particular deputies to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men that have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ we therefore send Judas and Silas to inform you in person of this affair. ²⁸ for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions; ²⁹ that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the flesh of strangled animals, and from fornication: you will do well to preserve your selves from these practices. farewel. ³⁰ Being thus dispatch'd, they went to Antioch; where having assembled all the faithful, they deliver'd the letter: from the reading of which, ³¹ they were affected with joy at the comfortable contents, as for Judas and Silas, ³² they being also prophets, they consolated and confirm'd the brethren by several discourses. ³³ and after they had stay'd there some time, with the good wishes of the brethren, they had leave to go to the apostles. ³⁴ however Silas thought fit to stay at Antioch, ³⁵ where Paul and Barnabas continued, teaching and preaching the doctrine of the Lord, with many others. ³⁶ Some time after, Paul said to Barnabas, let us return to visit all those cities, where we have preach'd the word of the Lord, to see what condition the brethren are in. ³⁷ upon which Barnabas propos'd to take John surnam'd Mark, with them. ³⁸ but Paul did not think it proper to take one that had quitted them at Pamphylia, refusing to accompany them in their ministry. ³⁹ and the contention was so sharp between them, that they separated: so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas, and having been recommended by the brethren to the favour of God, ⁴¹ he departed, and passing through Syria and Cilicia, he settled the churches there.

¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, chosen to declare the gospel dispensation, ² which God had promised by his prophets in the holy scriptures, ³ with relation to his son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was of the lineage of David as to his body, ⁴ but as to his holy spirit miraculously declared to be the son of God, by his resurrection from the dead: ⁵ by whose favour I have received the office of an apostle to bring the Gentiles every where to the obedience of faith preached in his name: ⁶ among whom Jesus Christ has also called you: ⁷ to all the beloved of God, the saints by this vocation, who are in Rome, grace to you, and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is celebrated through the whole world. ⁹ for God is my witness, to whom I am entirely devoted, in preaching the gospel of his son, that I constantly make mention of you, in my prayers, requesting, ¹⁰ if it be God's will, that I might now at length have the happiness of coming to you. ¹¹ for I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, in order to establish you: ¹² or indeed that we may have mutual consolation from the faith which is in common to you and to me. ¹³ now I would not have you ignorant, my brethren, that I often purposed to come to you, tho' I have been hindered hitherto, that I might be useful among you as well as among other Gentiles. ¹⁴ I owe what service I can do to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, to the learned, and to the illiterate. ¹⁵ so, that as far as it depends upon me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also, who are at Rome. ¹⁶ for I am not ashamed of the gospel, since it is divinely effectual to salvation, to everyone that believes, to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ There it is that divine justification is revealed to be wholly by faith: as it is written, " the just shall live by faith." ¹⁸ there the divine wrath is revealed from heaven against all impiety, and injustice of men, who wickedly suppress the truth. ¹⁹ because what should be known of God they are acquainted with; for God hath manifested it unto them. ²⁰ for ever since the creation of the world, his eternal power and divinity, things in themselves invisible, are clearly seen, being perceived by the things that are made; so that they are without excuse: ²¹ because when they knew God, they did not with gratitude glorify him as God, but their reasoning became extravagance, and their minds, void of judgment, were involv'd in darkness. ²² pretending to be wise, they became fools: ²³ the honour due to God, who is immortal, they transferr'd to idols representing men, who are mortal, to birds, and beasts, and insects. ²⁴ wherefore God abandon'd them to the impure passions of their own hearts, so that they themselves dishonour'd their own bodies; ²⁵ they changed the true God for an idol, and adored and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed for ever. ²⁶ amen. for this cause God gave them up to infamous passions: for even the sex perverted the instinct of nature: ²⁷ and the men unnaturally leaving the sex, were inflamed with mutual passions, which they shamefully indulged, and received in their own persons, the retribution that was justly due to such enormities. ²⁸ As they did not seek the favour of God, by worshipping him, God gave them over to a depraved sense, to act unworthy of human nature; ²⁹ they were full of all injustice, fornication, mischief, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, contention, fraud, malignity; ³⁰ whisperers, backbiters, enemies of God, injurious, proud, vain, inventers of vices, disobedient to parents, void of judgment, ³¹ fidelity, and natural affection; implacable, and unmerciful: ³² who knowing the divine rule of right, did not perceive that they who commit such things are worthy of death, and not only they who do the same, but they who give countenance to those that do them.

⁴⁰ let all things be done with decency, and without disorder.

³ endeavouring to preserve the spiritual union by your affectionate attachment to one another.

¹ If then there be any christian consolation, any charitable relief, any communion of the spirit, if any tenderness of compassion, ² compleat my joy, by pursuing the same view, living in mutual love, by being unanimous, and cultivating that harmony. ³ Do nothing out of a spirit of contention, or for vain-glory, but modestly look upon others as if they were better than yourselves. ⁴ let no man consult only his private interest, but let every man consult likewise the interest of others. ⁵ for the same temper of mind ought to be in you as was in Christ Jesus: ⁶ who tho' he was the image of God, did not affect to appear with divine majesty, but divested himself thereof, ⁷ by assuming the form of a servant: being made in the likeness of men, ⁸ and his whole exterior showing nothing more than a meer man, he abased himself, and carried his submission so far as to die, even the death of the cross. ⁹ wherefore God has highly exalted and given him a name, which is above every name; ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus both angels and men, the living and the dead, should pay their adorations, ¹¹ and that every nation should confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the father. ¹² Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obey'd the gospel, not only when I was with you, but much more now while I am absent, continue the work of your own salvation, whatever persecutions you apprehend: ¹³ for it is God that influences your desires and endeavours, out of his benevolence to you. ¹⁴ do every thing without murmuring and disputes: ¹⁵ that you may be without reproach, the inoffensive spotless children of God in the midst of a depraved and perverse generation (among whom you should shine as stars in the world, ¹⁶ you, who display the doctrine of eternal life) that in the day of Christ I may have the satisfaction of not having pursued my laborious course in vain. ¹⁷ and if my blood should serve as a libation to ratify your faith, I should rejoice and congratulate with you all thereupon; ¹⁸ and you too should be glad and congratulate me upon that account. ¹⁹ However, I hope by the favour of the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you very soon, that I may have some encouragement by knowing the state of your affairs: ²⁰ for there is no one that is so dear to me as he, and no one will more sincerely interest himself in your concerns. ²¹ the most consult their private advantage, and neglect the dispensation of Jesus Christ. ²² you know he has stood the test, and has serv'd with me in the gospel, as a son serves with his father. ²³ I hope therefore to send him to you as soon as I find what turn my affairs shall take: ²⁴ nay, I trust in the Lord, that I myself too shall visit you very soon. ²⁵ however I thought it necessary to send you Epaphroditus my brother, my collegue in the ministry, and my fellow-soldier, whom you had sent to supply my wants: ²⁶ for he long'd to see you all, and was greatly concern'd, that you should hear he was sick. and indeed he was sick almost unto death: ²⁷ but God had pity on him, and not on him only, but on me likewise, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ I sent him therefore with the greater dispatch, that I might have the less disquietude, by the satisfaction you will find in seeing him again. ²⁹ receive him then in the Lord with all alacrity, and let such be the objects of your esteem: ³⁰ for he was upon the brink of death for the service of Christ, having expos'd his life to the greatest dangers, to perform those kind offices, which you could not do yourselves.