Lexical Summary ekklésia: Church, assembly, congregation Original Word: ἐκκλησία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance assembly, church. From a compound of ek and a derivative of kaleo; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both) -- assembly, church. see GREEK ek see GREEK kaleo HELPS Word-studies 1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom. [The English word "church" comes from the Greek word kyriakos, "belonging to the Lord" (kyrios). 1577 /ekklēsía ("church") is the root of the terms "ecclesiology" and "ecclesiastical."] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ek and kaleó Definition an assembly, a (religious) congregation NASB Translation assembly (3), church (74), churches (35), congregation (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1577: ἐκκλησίαἐκκλησία, ἐκκλεσιας, ἡ (from ἔκκλητος called out or forth, and this from ἐκκαλέω); properly, a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly; so used 1. among the Greeks from Thucydides (cf. Herodotus 3, 142) down, an assembly of the people convened at the public place of council for the purpose of deliberating: Acts 19:39. 2. in the Sept. often equivalent to קָהָל, the assembly of the Israelites, Judges 21:8; 1 Chronicles 29:1, etc., especially when gathered for sacred purposes, Deuteronomy 31:30 (Deuteronomy 32:1); Joshua 8:35 (Joshua 9:8), etc.; in the N. T. thus in Acts 7:38; Hebrews 2:12. 3. any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance or tumultuously: Acts 19:32, 41. 4. in the Christian sense, a. an assembly of Christians gathered for worship: ἐν ἐκκλησία, in the religious meeting, 1 Corinthians 14:19, 35; ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις, 1 Corinthians 14:34; συνέρχεσθαι ἐν ἐκκλησία, 1 Corinthians 11:18; cf. Winers Grammar, § 50, 4a. b. a company of Christians, or of those who, hoping for eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs according to regulations prescribed for the body for order's sake; aa. those who anywhere, in city or village, constitute such a company and are united into one body: Acts 5:11; Acts 8:3; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 6:4; Philippians 4:15; 3 John 1:6 (cf. Winer's Grammar, 122 (116)); with specification of place, Acts 8:1; Acts 11:22; Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 6:4; Revelation 2:1, 8, etc.; Θεσσαλονικέων, 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; Λαοδικέων, Colossians 4:16; with the genitive of the possessor, τοῦ Θεοῦ (equivalent to יְהוָה קֲהַל, Numbers 16:3; Numbers 20:4), 1 Corinthians 11:22; and mention of the place, 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1. Plural, αἱ ἐκκλησίαι: Acts 15:41; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 2 Corinthians 8:19; Revelation 1:4; Revelation 3:6, etc.; with τοῦ Θεοῦ added, 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Romans 16:16; with mention of the place, as τῆς Ἀσίας, Γαλατίας, etc.: 1 Corinthians 16:1, 19; 2 Corinthians 8:1; Galatians 1:2; τῆς Ἰουδαίας ταῖς ἐν Χριστῷ, joined to Christ (see ἐν, I. 6b.), i. e. Christian assemblies, in contrast with those of the Jews, Galatians 1:22; ἐκκλησίαι τῶν ἐθνῶν, gathered from the Gentiles, Romans 16:4; τῶν ἁγίων, composed of the saints, 1 Corinthians 14:33. ἡ ἐκκλησία κατ' οἶκον τίνος, the church in one's house, i. e. the company of Christians belonging to a person's family; others less aptly understand the phrase of the Christians accustomed to meet for worship in the house of someone (for as appears from 1 Corinthians 14:23, the whole Corinthian church was accustomed to assemble in one and the same place; (but see Lightfoot on Colossians 4:15)): Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2. The name ἡ ἐκκλησία is used even by Christ while on earth of the company of his adherents in any city or village: Matthew 18:17. bb. the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth; collectively, all who worship and honor God and Christ in whatever place they may be: Matthew 16:18 (where perhaps the Evangelist employs τήν ἐκκλησίαν although Christ may have said τήν βασιλείαν μου); 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 5:23ff,27,29,32; Philippians 3:6; Colossians 1:18, 24; with the genitive of the possessor: τοῦ κυρίου, Acts 20:28 (R Tr marginal reading WH τοῦ Θεοῦ); τοῦ Θεοῦ, Galatians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 3:15. cc. the name is transferred to the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven: Hebrews 12:23 (on this passage see in ἀπογράφω, b. and πρωτότοκος, at the end). (In general, see Trench, § 1, and B. D. under the word “Church” (Greek ekklēsia) describes God’s redeemed people called out from the world to assemble before Him. In the Septuagint it often renders “assembly” of Israel (for example, Deuteronomy 4:10), preparing the way for New-Testament usage, where it consistently designates those who belong to Messiah and live under His covenant lordship. The Church in the Gospels Jesus introduces the term only twice. In Matthew 16:18 He promises, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it”, grounding the Church on His person and victorious mission. Matthew 18:17 applies ekklēsia to congregational discipline, showing that even in its embryonic stage the Church possesses authority to bind and loose in accordance with heaven (18:18). The Birth of the Church in Acts Pentecost (Acts 2) marks the public inauguration of the Church as the Spirit unites believers into one body (see 1 Corinthians 12:13). From that moment Acts alternates between singular and plural uses: Luke highlights growth (Acts 16:5), generous sharing (Acts 4:32), persecution (Acts 8:1-3), and missionary outreach (Acts 13:1-3), presenting the Church as both organism and organization under apostolic oversight. Local Congregations and the Universal Body Paul greets “the church of God in Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2) while speaking of “all the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16). The same word therefore embraces: 1. Specific assemblies meeting in homes (Romans 16:5; Philemon 2). Unity and diversity co-exist: each local church is fully church, yet never independent from the whole. Leadership and Order Acts 14:23 records appointment of elders in every church. Paul instructs about overseers and deacons so that “you will know how to conduct yourself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Discipline (1 Corinthians 5), corporate decision making (Acts 15:22), orderly worship (1 Corinthians 14:26-40), and care for widows (1 Timothy 5:16) belong to the Church’s stewardship. Worship and Edification Gatherings feature prayer, teaching, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and singing (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 11; Colossians 3:16). Spiritual gifts are given “for the building up of the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12), and even tongues are to be interpreted “so that the church may be edified” (14:5). Women and men participate according to apostolic guidelines (1 Corinthians 11:5; 14:34-35), preserving both order and mutual encouragement. Mission and Evangelism God’s strategy for world evangelization is church-centered. From Antioch disciples are commissioned (Acts 13:3); offerings are collected “for the saints” across the Mediterranean (1 Corinthians 16:1). The Thessalonian churches become examples so “the word of the Lord rang out” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). The Great Commission is fulfilled as churches plant churches (Acts 14:27; Titus 1:5). The Church as Body and Bride of Christ Ephesians portrays a twofold mystery: Relationship to Israel Hebrews 2:12 applies Psalm 22:22 to the assembly gathered around the risen Messiah, showing continuity with the worshiping congregation of Israel. Yet Paul affirms a distinction between “the church of God” and ethnic Israel (1 Corinthians 10:32). Romans 11 depicts grafting of Gentiles into the olive tree, maintaining God’s covenantal faithfulness to Abraham while uniting Jew and Gentile in one new man (Ephesians 2:15-16). Eschatological Outlook Revelation addresses seven churches (Revelation 1:4, 11) representing the whole Church throughout the age. Christ walks among the lampstands, purifying and encouraging His people until the consummation. At His return the Church will join the heavenly assembly of “the righteous spirits made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23) and celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9). Practical Ministry Implications • Christ alone builds the Church; faithful proclamation and shepherding cooperate with His sovereign work. The 114 New-Testament occurrences of ekklēsia display a rich tapestry: one people, many gatherings; heavenly identity, earthly expression; present witness, future glory. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 16:18 N-AFSGRK: μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν καὶ πύλαι NAS: I will build My church; and the gates KJV: I will build my church; and the gates INT: my church and [the] gates Matthew 18:17 N-DFS Matthew 18:17 N-GFS Acts 5:11 N-AFS Acts 7:38 N-DFS Acts 8:1 N-AFS Acts 8:3 N-AFS Acts 9:31 N-NFS Acts 11:22 N-GFS Acts 11:26 N-DFS Acts 12:1 N-GFS Acts 12:5 N-GFS Acts 13:1 N-AFS Acts 14:23 N-AFS Acts 14:27 N-AFS Acts 15:3 N-GFS Acts 15:4 N-GFS Acts 15:22 N-DFS Acts 15:41 N-AFP Acts 16:5 N-NFP Acts 18:22 N-AFS Acts 19:32 N-NFS Acts 19:39 N-DFS Acts 19:41 N-AFS Acts 20:17 N-GFS Strong's Greek 1577 |
    |