Corpo de Cristo
A Igreja é o Corpo de Cristo — organismo vivo onde cada membro tem função única e indispensável. Cristo é a cabeça; nós somos seus membros.
Um corpo, muitos membros
Assim como o corpo é um e tem muitos membros, assim é Cristo. Nós somos o corpo de Cristo e individualmente seus membros.
For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ.
Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body, and individually [you are] members of it [each with his own special purpose and function].
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Am I therefore to take the members of Christ and make them part of a prostitute? Certainly not!
For just as in one [physical] body we have many parts, and these parts do not all have the same function or special use, so we, who are many, are [nevertheless just] one body in Christ, and individually [we are] parts one of another [mutually dependent on each other].
There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]—
From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love.
Cristo, a cabeça
Ele é a cabeça do corpo, que é a igreja. O corpo cresce e se edifica em amor quando cada parte faz o seu trabalho.
He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything. [1 Cor 15:20]
Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church.
Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].
For no one ever hated his own body, but [instead] he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members (parts) of His body.