In the biblical context, communities are integral to the narrative of God's people, reflecting both the social and spiritual dimensions of life as ordained by God. The concept of community is woven throughout Scripture, from the early formation of the Israelite nation to the establishment of the early Christian church.

Old Testament Communities

The Old Testament presents the community primarily through the lens of the Israelite nation, which was chosen by God to be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6). The Israelites were organized into tribes, each descending from the twelve sons of Jacob, and these tribes formed the larger community of Israel. The communal life of Israel was governed by the Law, which provided guidelines for worship, justice, and social relations, emphasizing the importance of living in harmony with one another and with God.

The community was central to the covenant relationship between God and His people. The communal aspect of worship is evident in the festivals and sacrifices that required the gathering of the people, such as the Passover (Exodus 12:14-20) and the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). The communal identity of Israel was also reinforced through shared experiences, such as the Exodus from Egypt and the conquest of Canaan.

New Testament Communities

In the New Testament, the concept of community is expanded through the teachings of Jesus and the formation of the early church. Jesus emphasized the importance of love and unity among His followers, stating, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). The early Christian community, as described in the Book of Acts, exemplified this principle by living in fellowship, sharing possessions, and supporting one another (Acts 2:42-47).

The Apostle Paul further developed the theology of community in his epistles, using the metaphor of the body to describe the church. He wrote, "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another" (Romans 12:4-5). This imagery underscores the interdependence and diversity within the Christian community, where each member has a unique role to play.

Community and the Kingdom of God

The biblical vision of community is ultimately tied to the Kingdom of God, where believers are called to live as a reflection of God's reign on earth. The community of believers is to be a light to the world, demonstrating the values of the Kingdom through acts of love, justice, and mercy. Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) provide a blueprint for communal living that aligns with the values of the Kingdom.

Throughout Scripture, the community is portrayed as a place of belonging, accountability, and spiritual growth. It is within the context of community that believers are encouraged to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24) and to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). The biblical narrative affirms that community is not merely a social construct but a divine institution designed to reflect God's character and purposes in the world.1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
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1 Corinthians 6:9
Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Topicalbible.org

Acts 2:42
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Topicalbible.org

(n.) Plural of Community.3817. Leummim -- descendant of Dedan
... of Dedan NASB Word Usage Leummim (1). Leummim. Plural of lom; communities; Leum
mim, an Arabian -- Leummim. see HEBREW lom. 3816, 3817. Leummim. 3818 . ...
/hebrew/3817.htm - 6k

Other Presbyterian Communities.
... STATISTICS OF CHURCHES. Other Presbyterian Communities. The Associate
Presbyterians have about one hundred ministers, one hundred ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/other presbyterian communities.htm

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished. ... In discussing the subject, we shall treat,
first of families, then of larger communities, and of the world. ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

Alexandria and Rome - the Jewish Communities in the Capitals of ...
... THE PREPARATION FOR THE GOSPEL: THE JEWISH WORLD IN THE DAYS OF CHRIST CHAPTER V.
ALEXANDRIA AND ROME - THE JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN THE CAPITALS OF WESTERN ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v alexandria and rome.htm

Of the Two Different and Dissimilar Communities of Angels, which ...
... Book XI. Chapter 33."Of the Two Different and Dissimilar Communities of Angels,
Which are Not Inappropriately Signified by the Names Light and Darkness. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 33 of the two different.htm

The Church and Rural Public Thought
... It will be impossible to give more than a few illustrations of present needs and
opportunities for service in this respect in the smaller communities. ...
/.../vogt/church cooperation in community life/chapter vi the church and.htm

Some Preliminary Definitions
... church. Brownstown school, to the south, Hendrickson's to the east, and
Whetstone to the west made up other school communities. ...
/.../church cooperation in community life/chapter i some preliminary definitions.htm

Interdenominational Readjustment
... Here and there a minister stirs up some local community, some definite progress
is made, attention is attracted from other communities and they may have a few ...
/.../chapter viii interdenominational readjustment.htm

Of Special Duties of Religious Persons. ...
... that in most religious communities active spirits have got the advantage to possess
themselves of prelatures and spiritual pastorships over the contemplative ...
/.../chapter vii of special duties.htm

The Church in Babylon
... is in Babylon.' But it seems so extremely unlikely that a single individual, with
no special function, should be bracketed along with the communities to whom ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the church in babylon.htm

The Jewish Dispersion in the West - the Hellenists - Origin of ...
... Whatever their religious and social isolation, it was, in the nature of thing,
impossible that the Jewish communities in the West should remains unaffected by ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the jewish dispersion.htm

Communities (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Community. Multi-Version Concordance
Communities (2 Occurrences). Amos 1:6 Thus said Jehovah ...
/c/communities.htm - 7k

Province (66 Occurrences)
... In the older provinces these districts corresponded generally with the urban
communities which had been the units of sovereignty before the advent of the Romans ...
/p/province.htm - 38k

Nazirite (10 Occurrences)
... 9. Samuel's Case 10. Token of Divine Favor 11. Did Not Form Communities 12.
Among Early Christians 13. Parallels among Other Peoples ...
/n/nazirite.htm - 21k

Ministry (44 Occurrences)
... whose message was chiefly to the unconverted, while to the second and third classes
belonged exhortation and instruction within the Christian communities. ...
/m/ministry.htm - 51k

Church (110 Occurrences)
... "God has commanded his people to organize themselves into distinct visible
ecclesiastical communities, with constitutions, laws, and officers, badges ...
/c/church.htm - 89k

Idolatry (14 Occurrences)
... The first and second commandments are directed against idolatry of every form.
Individuals and communities were equally amenable to the rigorous code. ...
/i/idolatry.htm - 21k

Hellenism
... As the older communities on the mainland and on the islands began to flourish, they
felt the need, arising from various causes, for further colonization. ...
/h/hellenism.htm - 26k

Hellenist
... As the older communities on the mainland and on the islands began to flourish, they
felt the need, arising from various causes, for further colonization. ...
/h/hellenist.htm - 26k

Essenes
... They dwell as numerous communities in many cities and villages of Judea." It will
be observed that this contradicts the statement above that there were only ...
/e/essenes.htm - 38k

General (9 Occurrences)
... In apostolic times the sole authority in Christian communities, outside Old Testament
Scripture, was "the Lord." But as the creative period of Christianity ...
/g/general.htm - 49k

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