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.
a special, called town hall meeting ‒ Acts 19:32,39,41 (this sense noted in Herodotus)
most usages in the NT refer to local congregations of believers
sometimes a regional aspect
Acts 8:3; 9:31
1 Cor. 16:1,19
2 Cor. 8:1
Gal. 1:2,22
churches started by Paul (collectively)
Rom. 16:4,5,16
1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17; 11:16
2 Cor. 8:18-19,23-24
rarely the universal aspect is highlighted
Matt. 16:18 (first use in the Gospels)
1 Cor. 10:32; 11:22; 12:28
all usages in Ephesians (a cyclical letter)
Phil 3:6
Col. 1:18,24
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).
J.
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.
a special, called town hall meeting ‒ Acts 19:32,39,41 (this sense noted in Herodotus)
most usages in the NT refer to local congregations of believers
sometimes a regional aspect
Acts 8:3; 9:31
1 Cor. 16:1,19
2 Cor. 8:1
Gal. 1:2,22
churches started by Paul (collectively)
Rom. 16:4,5,16
1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17; 11:16
2 Cor. 8:18-19,23-24
rarely the universal aspect is highlighted
Matt. 16:18 (first use in the Gospels)
1 Cor. 10:32; 11:22; 12:28
all usages in Ephesians (a cyclical letter)
Phil 3:6
Col. 1:18,24
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).
Church - SPECIAL TOPIC
Hate, Special Topic by Dr. Bob Utley, professor of hermeneutics (retired).
www.freebiblecommentary.org
J.
