CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Community and Care</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/c/community_and_care.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/genesis/2-18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/c/community.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Community and Care</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/c/community_and_brotherhood_in_service.htm" title="Community and Brotherhood in Service">◄</a> Community and Care <a href="/topical/c/community_and_celebration.htm" title="Community and Celebration">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Introduction</b><br><br>The concepts of community and care are deeply embedded in the biblical narrative, reflecting God's design for human relationships and His desire for His people to live in harmony and mutual support. The Bible presents community as a fundamental aspect of human existence, beginning with the creation of man and woman and extending through the establishment of Israel, the teachings of Jesus, and the formation of the early Church. Care within the community is portrayed as a reflection of God's love and a practical expression of faith.<br><br><b>Old Testament Foundations</b><br><br>The Old Testament lays the groundwork for understanding community and care through the covenant relationship between God and His people. In Genesis, God declares, "It is not good for the man to be alone" (<a href="/genesis/2-18.htm">Genesis 2:18</a>), highlighting the inherent need for companionship and community. The family unit, tribes, and the nation of Israel serve as primary examples of community life.<br><br>The Law given to Israel includes numerous provisions for caring for one another, particularly the vulnerable. <a href="/leviticus/19-18.htm">Leviticus 19:18</a> commands, "Love your neighbor as yourself," a principle that undergirds the social and ethical life of the community. The Israelites are instructed to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner (<a href="/deuteronomy/10-18.htm">Deuteronomy 10:18-19</a>), reflecting God's justice and compassion.<br><br><b>Prophetic Insights</b><br><br>The prophets often called Israel back to genuine community and care, condemning social injustice and neglect of the needy. <a href="/isaiah/1-17.htm">Isaiah 1:17</a> exhorts, "Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow." The prophetic vision includes a restored community where righteousness and care for one another prevail.<br><br><b>New Testament Teachings</b><br><br>In the New Testament, Jesus exemplifies and teaches about community and care. His ministry is marked by compassion and service, as seen in His healing of the sick, feeding of the hungry, and association with the marginalized. Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan (<a href="/luke/10-25.htm">Luke 10:25-37</a>) powerfully illustrates the call to love and care for others, transcending social and ethnic boundaries.<br><br>The early Church, as described in the Book of Acts, embodies a vibrant community characterized by shared life and mutual care. <a href="/acts/2-44.htm">Acts 2:44-45</a> states, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This communal life is a testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the believers' commitment to one another.<br><br><b>Pauline Epistles</b><br><br>The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of community and care within the body of Christ. In <a href="/bsb/1_corinthians/12.htm">1 Corinthians 12</a>, he describes the Church as one body with many members, each contributing to the well-being of the whole. Paul writes, "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it" (<a href="/1_corinthians/12-26.htm">1 Corinthians 12:26</a>).<br><br>Paul's letters frequently encourage believers to bear one another's burdens (<a href="/galatians/6-2.htm">Galatians 6:2</a>), practice hospitality (<a href="/romans/12-13.htm">Romans 12:13</a>), and build each other up in love (<a href="/ephesians/4-16.htm">Ephesians 4:16</a>). These exhortations underscore the interconnectedness of the Christian community and the call to care for one another as an expression of faith.<br><br><b>Practical Expressions of Care</b><br><br>The Bible provides numerous practical examples of care within the community. The provision for widows and orphans, the sharing of resources, and the support of those in ministry are all expressions of biblical care. <a href="/james/1-27.htm">James 1:27</a> defines pure religion as "to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."<br><br>The New Testament also highlights the role of spiritual gifts in building up the community. Each believer is endowed with gifts for the common good (<a href="/1_corinthians/12-7.htm">1 Corinthians 12:7</a>), and their use is a means of serving and caring for one another.<br><br><b>Conclusion</b><br><br>The biblical vision of community and care is rooted in the character of God and His redemptive purposes for humanity. Through the teachings of Scripture, believers are called to live in loving, supportive communities that reflect God's love and justice to the world.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/c/community.htm">Community</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/c/community_of_goods.htm">Community of Goods</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/compacted.htm">Compacted (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/condense.htm">Condense (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/solid.htm">Solid (13 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/loosen.htm">Loosen (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/marble.htm">Marble (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/clay.htm">Clay (50 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/concord.htm">Concord (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/epicureans.htm">Epicureans (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/salt.htm">Salt (45 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/witch.htm">Witch (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/witchcraft.htm">Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nest.htm">Nest (22 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/open.htm">Open (586 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/loose.htm">Loose (219 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/libnah.htm">Libnah (18 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/locust.htm">Locust (25 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/weak.htm">Weak (102 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fir-tree.htm">Fir-tree (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/firm.htm">Firm (111 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/firtree.htm">Firtree</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/felt.htm">Felt (40 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/full.htm">Full (1047 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fir.htm">Fir (22 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fracture.htm">Fracture (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/fat.htm">Fat (150 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/i/iscariot.htm">Iscariot (11 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/trunk.htm">Trunk (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/thin.htm">Thin (39 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tight.htm">Tight (9 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/table.htm">Table (125 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/trim.htm">Trim (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/treaty.htm">Treaty (25 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/ram.htm">Ram (96 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/ever-living.htm">Ever-living (20 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/dense.htm">Dense (11 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/masters.htm">Masters (59 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses (9295 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/match.htm">Match (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/press.htm">Press (57 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/pact.htm">Pact (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/park.htm">Park (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/beersheba.htm">Beersheba (33 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bolt.htm">Bolt (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/contract.htm">Contract (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/convention.htm">Convention (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/coal.htm">Coal (7 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/confederacy.htm">Confederacy (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/commonwealth.htm">Commonwealth (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/close.htm">Close (186 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/assemblies.htm">Assemblies (48 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/alliance.htm">Alliance (12 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/alabaster.htm">Alabaster (6 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/simeon.htm">Simeon (48 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/shook.htm">Shook (33 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/settle.htm">Settle (63 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/scatter.htm">Scatter (65 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/head.htm">Head (4291 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jacob's.htm">Jacob's (34 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/g/geology.htm">Geology</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/temple.htm">Temple (614 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/g/graecia.htm">Graecia</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/birds.htm">Birds (125 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/judas.htm">Judas (42 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/community.htm">Community (77 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/covenant.htm">Covenant (309 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/builded.htm">Builded (65 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/joshua.htm">Joshua (211 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/teaching.htm">Teaching (372 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/teacher.htm">Teacher (103 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/teach.htm">Teach (172 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/palestine.htm">Palestine (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job (60 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/hezekiah.htm">Hezekiah (124 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/hard.htm">Hard (733 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/harden.htm">Harden (22 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/hardened.htm">Hardened (45 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/heart.htm">Heart (1223 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/well.htm">Well (2882 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/c/community_and_brotherhood_in_service.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Community and Brotherhood in Service"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Community and Brotherhood in Service" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/c/community_and_celebration.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Community and Celebration"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Community and Celebration" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>