Universal Fellowship

In the book of First Corinthians, Paul tried to address many problems in the church in Corinth. But how was this epistle concluded? The conclusion was the fellowship, both spiritually and financially, of the Body of Christ (Chapter 16).

In Chapter 16, Paul connected the church in Corinth which was in Achaia (today's Greece) with the churches in Galatia (today's northern Turkey, in v1), the church in Jerusalem (in Israel, in v3), and the churches in Asia (today's southern Turkey, in v19). It was a universal fellowship, the circulation of the Body of Christ!

Perhaps I can say that a healthy local church would stay in the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Or you may say that staying in the fellowship of the Body of Christ will make a local church healthy.

Though the administration of a local church is local, the fellowship and the testimony should be universal. This is the normal church life. On one hand it is dear and near, but on the other hand it is broad and far-reaching.

P.S. You may think that Paul's effort was not a big deal. It was a huge deal nearly 2000 years ago! Who would have such a view and practice 2000 years ago?