Church

I wrote this for someone in our church and I want to put it where I can find it in the future. Putting it here seems the best choice.

Church

This is a quick overview of the word ‘ekklesia’ usually translated ‘church’ in the New Testament.

The word was used in classical Greek to refer to an assembly of people. It was used of the assembling of the army as well as the assembling of the citizens of a city. In both cases it refers to a visible group of people.

The Hebrew of the Old Testament was translated into Greek some time after Malachi was written and before Matthew. This translation, called the Septuagint, was widely used by the New Testament writers when they would quote from the Old Testament. The word ‘ekklesia’ was used in this translation. Here are some of the places where it was used.

Deut 9:10 And the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words that the LORD had spoken with you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly.

Deut 18:16 just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’

Deut 23:2 No one born of a forbidden union may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD. 

Deut 31:30 Then Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished, in the ears of all the assembly of Israel: 

In each of these cases the word refers to a visible gathering of people.

The word ‘ekklesia’ is, of course, also used in the New Testament. It is usually translated ‘church’ but as the verses below show, not always.

Acts7.38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.

Acts19.32, 39 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together…. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. 

In each case, the word refers to a visible group of people.

The point here is not that there is no biblical concept of an invisible church, that is, all the elect, those with a true faith. To be sure, there is within the church both sheep and goats, wheat and weeds, those who are regenerate and those who aren’t. The point is only that the word ‘ekklesia’ does not speak to that concept. The New Testament word ‘church’, ‘ekklesia’, is describing a visible group of people.

There is, obviously, more to say about this. But I hope that this will do for now.