Comunhão com os irmãos
A comunhão com os irmãos é marca da igreja verdadeira. Os cristãos primevos perseveravam na comunhão — partindo pão, orando e encorajando-se mutuamente.
Comunhão verdadeira
Perseveravam na doutrina dos apóstolos e na comunhão. A comunhão autêntica envolve amor sacrificial e acolhimento mútuo.
Then they that received his word were baptized, and in that day souls were increased, about three thousand;
and [they] were lasting stably in the teaching of the apostles, and in communing of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And dread was made to each man. And many wonders and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem, and great dread was in all.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common.
They sold possessions and chattel, [or substances, or goods], and parted those things to all men, as it was need to each.
And each day they dwelled stably with one will in the temple, and brake bread about houses, and took meat with full out joy [or with gladness] and simpleness of heart,
and praised together God, and had grace to all the folk [or all the people]. And the Lord increased them that were made safe, each day into the same thing.
And behold we together in the stirring of charity, and of good works;
not forsaking our gathering together, as it is the custom to some men, but comforting [them], and by so much the more, by how much ye see the day nighing.
The song of degrees. Lo! how good and how merry it is; that brethren dwell together.
As ointment in the head; that goeth down into the beard, into the beard of Aaron. That goeth down into the collar of his cloth;
as the dew of Hermon, that goeth down into the hill of Zion. For there the Lord sent blessing; and life till into the world, that is, without end.
Which tookest together sweet meats and fellowship with me; we went with consent in the house of God.
Therefore it is better, that two be together than one; for they have profit of their fellowship.
If one falleth down, he shall be underset of the tother; woe to him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to raise him up.
And if twain sleep together, they shall be nourished together; how shall one be made hot?
And if any man hath [the] mastery against one, twain [or two] against-stand him; a threefold cord is broken of hard.
Amor fraternal
Amai-vos com amor fraternal sincero. Encorajem-se mutuamente e carreguem os fardos uns dos outros.
And make ye chaste your souls in obedience of charity, in love of brotherhood; of simple heart love ye together more busily.
Hold ye hospitality together with-out grutching;
loving together the charity of brotherhood. Each come before to worship other [or Coming before together in honour];
Therefore if any comfort is in Christ, if any solace of charity, if any fellowship of Spirit, if any inwardness of mercy doing,
[ful] fill ye my joy, that ye under-stand the same thing, and have the same charity, of one will, and feel the same thing;
The word of Christ dwell in you plenteously, in all wisdom; and teach and admonish yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, in grace singing in your hearts to the Lord.
and be ye together benign, [or of good will], merciful, forgiving together, as also God forgave to you in Christ.
For, brethren, ye be called into freedom [or into liberty]; only give ye not freedom [or liberty] into occasion of flesh, but by charity of [the] Spirit serve ye together.
For which thing comfort ye together, and edify ye each other, as ye do.
If we say, that we have fellowship with him, and we wander in darknesses, we lie, and do not truth.
But if we walk in light, as also he is in light, we have fellowship together; and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.
Brethren, henceforward joy ye, be ye perfect, excite ye [or and teach ye]; understand ye the same thing; have ye peace, and God of peace and of love shall be with you.
I give to you a new commandment, that ye love together, as I have loved you, and that ye love together.