Introduction
Our English word ‘church’ is translated in the New Testament from the Greek compound word ‘ekklesia.’ ‘Ek’ means ‘out’ and ‘klesia’ means ‘called.’ Thus a simple meaning of the word is ‘called out.’
In New Testament times Greek was the universal language thus it was spoken by Jews and Greeks and most Gentile people. While the word means ‘called out’ yet, to the people of that day with their varied backgrounds it meant more than ‘called out.’
The Holy Spirit selected a word from the Greek vocabulary to represent the people of God. God’s Spirit used a word that was rich in imagery. A study of this word will throw additional light on the meaning of the term and will help to grasp a better understanding of what the church is. The roots of the word extend into Greek, Jewish and Christian backgrounds. Thus it would be well to analyse it from these three points of view.
1. THE GREEK BACKGROUND OF THE WORD.
A. Among ancient Greeks the word ‘ekklesia’ referred to an assembly of citizens of a free Greek city which came together to transact business.
B. Associated with the word were three distinct ideas. The participants were free. No slave was admitted to the assembly. Only the free-born could attend. This idea is in harmony with several passages concerning God’s people, John 8:32 / John 1:17 / Romans 6:16.
Christians have been set free from sin by the blood of Christ. We are no longer in bondage to Satan and sin. The truth of God’s word has set us free from ignorance revealing the message of salvation and the way to heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. While we are his servants it is a voluntary service that we render. We are not forced to be his servants. Thus we are free in every sense of the word.
The participants enjoyed citizenship. Foreigners regardless of how good their motives, were excluded from the assembly. Note Paul’s statement in Philippians 3:20 ‘For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.’
Citizenship in the Roman Empire was exclusive to most people. Many would pay a high price in order to be citizens. We are privileged to have a spiritual citizenship, which was purchased for us by the blood of Christ. Acts 20:28 tells us that we were purchased by His blood. The participants transacted business. They always came together for a purpose. So too, the Lord’s ekklesia has business to transact. The primary business of Christians is to live like Christ, teach others and assemble to worship.
2. THE JEWISH BACKGROUND OF THE WORD.
A. One of the famous translations of the Old Testament was the Septuagint which was made around 300 B.C. in Egypt by seventy-two Hebrew scholars. It was a translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek which had become the universal language at that time.
What did the Hebrew word translated as ekklesia mean to the Jews of that day?
They obviously chose the word because it would best convey the Hebrew meaning.
B. In the Old Testament the word applied to two conditions of the Israelites.
First, it was a gathering by appointment or agreement. Physical Israel, the people of God, assembled for various reasons—for councils, for going to war, complaints, instructions and worship, they were God’s ekklesia.
Second, it referred to the society of Israel whether assembled or scattered to their tents and homes they were still his ekklesia.
3. THE CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND.
A. Sir William Ramsey a foremost archaeologist says that the early Christians used the term in a “technical” and “non-technical” manner. It was used in a non-technical sense to denote any assembly such as that mentioned in Acts 7:38. Another example is Acts 19:37.
In a technical sense, Ramsey says that the Christians used the word to denote the church universal in the sense that each part is carved out of the whole.
B. While the most common use of the term was in a universal sense yet a study of the word in its various contexts will reveal that it is used in several different senses when speaking of God’s people. The context determines its use.
An example of its universal use is found in Matthew 16:18 ‘and on this rock, I will build My church.’
Also, Ephesians 5:23 ‘For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the saviour of the body.’
It can refer to the church in a certain area, Acts 9:31 / Romans 6:14 / 1 Corinthians 16:1.
4. Also the word can be used in a local sense, 1 Corinthians 1:2 / Colossians 4:16.
5. It can refer to the faithful within a family plus others, Romans 16:3-5 / Colossians 4:15 / Philemon 1-2.
In Acts 12:12 we read concerning Peter, ‘And when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.’
There is no indication this was a local congregation that had assembled.
The many that had gathered in Mary’s house were however the ‘ekklesia.’ They were not fragmenting the church by such a meeting. There was nothing unscriptural about such a meeting.
A present-day example of this would be our Tender Loving Care groups which meet once each month in someone’s house. They do not cease to be the church because they are few in number compared to the whole assembled church. The concept that a group of Christians gathering together at some location other than a church building is not the church is a misconception of the different ways the word church is used in the New Testament. As Ramsey says, ‘it is a part carved out of the whole. I may have a block of cheese but then slice off a part of the block. I still have cheese’.
When the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized and ‘went on his way rejoicing’ was he the church? He was a small piece carved out of the whole.
In Matthew 18:20 Jesus said, ‘For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them.’
Regardless of how small the group may be the Lord’s presence is with them.
1 Peter 2:9 is a great definition for the Greek word ekklesia.
‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God.’
Each of us has been ‘called out of darkness’ this is a good definition of ekklesia, called out.
6. Ekklesia can also refer to local congregations in an assembled capacity. In 1 Corinthians 14, we have several examples of where the word is used for the local congregation, 1 Corinthians 14:22-23.
Thus the church can be scattered or it can come together in one place, 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 / 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.
In these passages, it is clear Paul is using the word church to apply to the church in Corinth in an assembled capacity.
Conclusion
A study of the word ‘ekklesia’ shows that the word does not apply to any building which is the concept many people have of this word. The New Testament word ekklesia did not refer to a denomination although today denominations are called churches.
All denominations including the Catholic church and Orthodox churches came into existence centuries after the Lord’s ekklesia was established in the early part of the first century (30/33) which makes it almost 2000 years old.
The bringing together of God’s people into one institution called the church was in the eternal purpose of God. Through these people which the Holy Spirit chose to call the church, God would reveal His great scheme of redemption to the entire world.
In Ephesians 3:10-11 Paul writes, ‘To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
Since we have been blessed to be called out of darkness into His marvellous light, let that light radiate wherever we go or as Jesus said, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven’ Matthew 5:16
We who are God’s ekklesia have a great responsibility. Let’s be motivated by God’s love to never be ashamed to let our light shine.
