Luther on the church and caring for "body and soul."

[Martin Luther]: “From this story (Acts 6) we learn in the first place how a Christian community [Gemeine] should be constituted. In addition, we have a true pattern of spiritual government [geistlichen Regiments] that the apostles here provide. They care for souls, occupy themselves with preaching and prayer, and yet also see to it that the body is cared for; for they suggest several men who are to distribute the goods [Güter], as you have heard. Thus the Christian rule is concerned for the people in both body and soul [Leib und Seele] so that no one suffers want, as Luke tells us, that all were richly fed and well cared for in both body and soul.

“This is a very fine pattern and example, and it would be well for us to do likewise, if only the people were so minded. A city could be divided, as here, into four or five parts, and every part would receive a preacher [Prediger] and several deacons to supply the people with preaching, distribute the goods, visit the sick, and see to it that no one suffers want. But we do not have the persons for that. Therefore, I do not have the courage to start it until our Lord God Christ will do it …. When you desire to introduce a common chest [gemeinen Kasten], you must know what kind of officials [Aemter] preside over a community [Gemeine]. A ‘bishop’ means a steward [Amtmann] of God who is to distribute the divine and spiritual gifts, preach the Gospel, and supply the people with the Word of God. He must have ministers [Diener], and these are the deacons who serve the community [Gemeine] in such a way that they have a list of all the poor people and care for them in all their needs with the money of the community [Gemeine], visit the sick, and in every way handle the supplies with great care” (Church Postil: Gospel Portion, “On the Day of St. Stephen, Holy Martyr,” 1525; Kirch.=Post. Ev. Theil 1525; Walch1.11:2754-56; St. Louis edition, 11:2065).

Quoted in Walther's Kirche und Amt, p. 382