WHAT IS… “THE CHURCH”?

Jesus is the Builder and Savior of His church Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that

you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

The church is worthy of prayerful study… The church is “the body of Christ” - Eph 1:23 It is "the fullness of Him who fills all in all“ -

Eph1:23 It is part of God's "eternal purpose" - Eph 3:10-11 Christ "loved the church and gave Himself for it" -

Eph 5:25 Jesus' design is to present it as "a glorious

church" - Eph 5:26-27 He “nourishes and cherishes” the church - Eph

5:29-30

What exactly is “the church”? What is this "church" Jesus said He

would build? What is this "church" that Jesus loves,

nourishes, and cherishes? What is this "church" that some have

unfortunately redefined?

Defining the term “church”

G1577εκκλησιαekklesia

ek-klay-see'-ahFrom a compound of G1537 and a derivative of

G2564; a calling out, that is, (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.-STRONG’S

Defining the term “church”

"In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word 'ecclesia', which is

synonymous with the Hebrew 'kahal'of the Old Testament, both words meaning

simply an assembly.” (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

G1577εκκλησια, ekklesia Thayer Definition:

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

1b) the assembly of the Israelites1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously

1d) in a Christian sense1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

1d2) a company of Christian, 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 sake1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are

united into one body1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heavenPart of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564

Citing in TDNT: 3:501, 394

Look to Acts 19… There are two very different examples of the

word commonly translated “church”, ekklesia:It is the word “assembly” in verse 32 and 41,

which was a mob come together; and it is the word “assembly” in verse 39, which refers to the legislative assembly.

Therefore, usage of "ekklesia" merely emphasizes the "assembled" nature of the church; that is to say, it refers to a gathering, an assembly of people

G1577εκκλησια, ekklesia Thayer Definition:

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

1b) the assembly of the Israelites1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously

1d) in a Christian sense1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

1d2) a company of Christian, 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 sake1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are

united into one body1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heavenPart of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564

Citing in TDNT: 3:501, 394

Compare Thayer’s definition with context… 1Corinthians 14:19 “yet in the church I

would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

1Corinthians 14:35  “And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”

G1577εκκλησια, ekklesia Thayer Definition:

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

1b) the assembly of the Israelites1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously

1d) in a Christian sense1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

1d2) a company of Christian, 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 sake1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are

united into one body1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heavenPart of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564

Citing in TDNT: 3:501, 394

Compare Thayer’s definition with context… 1Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, Silvanus, and

Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

G1577εκκλησια, ekklesia Thayer Definition:

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

1b) the assembly of the Israelites1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously

1d) in a Christian sense1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

1d2) a company of Christian, 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 sake1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are

united into one body1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heavenPart of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564

Citing in TDNT: 3:501, 394

Compare Thayer’s definition with context… 1Corinthians 1:1 “Paul, called to be an

apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

G1577εκκλησια, ekklesia Thayer Definition:

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

1b) the assembly of the Israelites1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously

1d) in a Christian sense1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

1d2) a company of Christian, 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 sake1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are

united into one body1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heavenPart of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564

Citing in TDNT: 3:501, 394

Compare Thayer’s definition with context… Ephesians 1:22 “And He put all things

under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

G1577εκκλησια, ekklesia Thayer Definition:

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

1b) the assembly of the Israelites1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously

1d) in a Christian sense1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

1d2) a company of Christian, 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 sake1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are

united into one body1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heavenPart of Speech: noun feminine

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564

Citing in TDNT: 3:501, 394

Compare Thayer’s definition with context… Hebrews 12:22  “But you have come to

Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect”

The church is “the body of Christ” Ephesians 1:22 “And He put all things under His feet, and

gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Colossians 2:19 “and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”

1Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Romans 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

The church is “the bride of Christ” 2Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous for

you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Revelation 19:6-9, 21:2

The church is “the Household of God” 1Timothy 3:14-15 Matthew 12:48-50 Mark 10:28-30 1Timothy 5:1-2

The church is “the Kingdom of Christ” Colossians 1:13 “He has delivered us from

the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love”

Revelation 1:9  “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

The church is “the Temple of God” Ephesians 2:19 “Now, therefore, you are no longer

strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

1Peter 2:5 “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1Cor 3:16-17, 2Cor 6:16-7:1

What is the church? An assembly, or a great company of

peopleMade up of those redeemed by the blood of

Christ.

In describing the blessings we have within, the church is also

called… The body of Christ The bride of Christ

The household of God The kingdom of Christ

The temple of God

King of all Kings: ChristHis kingdom: The church

His subjects: Those who obey Him