SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH (ekklēsia)

This Greek term, ekklēsia, is from two words, ek, "out of" and kalēo, "call." This word had a secular use (i.e., citizens called to a town meeting, cf. Acts 19:32,39,41). The Septuagint (Koine Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) used this term to translate "congregation of Israel" (Qahal, BDB 874, KB 1078, cf. Num. 16:3; 20:4; Deut. 31:30; Acts7:38).

The early NT church saw themselves as a continuation of the OT people of God. They were the new Israel (cf. Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 3:29; 6:16; 1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6), the fulfillment of God's worldwide mission (cf. Gen. 3:15; 12:3; Exod. 19:5-6; Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46,47; Acts 1:8; Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed., pp. 1035-1059).

See SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

This term is used in several senses in the New Testament.

  1. a special, called town hall meeting ‒ Acts 19:32,39,41 (this sense noted in Herodotus)
  2. most usages in the NT refer to local congregations of believers
  3. sometimes a regional aspect
    1. Acts 8:3; 9:31
    2. 1 Cor. 16:1,19
    3. 2 Cor. 8:1
    4. Gal. 1:2,22
  4. churches started by Paul (collectively)
    1. Rom. 16:4,5,16
    2. 1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17; 11:16
    3. 2 Cor. 8:18-19,23-24
  5. rarely the universal aspect is highlighted
    1. Matt. 16:18 (first use in the Gospels)
    2. 1 Cor. 10:32; 11:22; 12:28
    3. all usages in Ephesians (a cyclical letter)
    4. Phil 3:6
    5. Col. 1:18,24
  6. the concept of the full complement of believers, living and dead ‒ Heb. 12:23

The church is a gathered people, not a building. There were no church buildings for hundreds of years. In James (one of the earliest Christian books) the church is referred to by the term "synagōgē" (the assembly). This term for the church occurs only in James (cf. James 2:2; 5:14).

The term "church (ekklēsia) is only one of several words and phrases used to describe the new people of God (i.e., those who have faith in Jesus).

  1. saints (many verses)
  2. children (many texts)
  3. heirs (many texts)
  4. sons of God (Matt. 5:9)
  5. disciples (Matt. 10:42)
  6. His elect (Matt. 24:31; Luke 18:7; Rom. 8:33)
  7. Christians (Acts 11:26)
  8. flock of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2)
  9. beloved of God (Rom. 1:7)
  10. the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:12; Col. 1:24)
  11. sons of Abraham (Gal. 3:7-9)
  12. the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16)
  13. brethren (Phil. 4:1; Col. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13)
  14. chosen of God (Col. 3:12)
  15. church of the Living God (1 Tim. 3:15)
  16. holy priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6)

 

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