Discussion on usage of “church” in the New Testament

Ed Chait

When the NT uses the word “church”, is God strictly referring to the local church or is He referring to a universal Body of Christ comprised of everyone who is saved? Do we have an article on this?

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Joe Maxey Ed..check out GQ article “What is the Church”

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 8:58am

Ed Chait Thanks Joe. I read that article and it expresses my understanding of the matter. I’m wondering what the consequences would be of believing that “Church” in the NT strictly refers to the local church body of believers as opposed to also including the universal body of believers?

Like · Reply · December 14 at 9:35am

Tim White Let me pipe in here. Most references to Church in the NT are about a specific Church. The word is sometimes used as the general work of Christ, similar to how we would use school when we say that every child should go to school. A more accurate guage for what a Church is can be seen in the treatment of the local Church in the NT. Each local Church had it own strengths, weaknesses, and challenges, and would be judged on its heart for worship, truth, and service.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 10:30am

Tim White This is easiest seen in Revelation 2 & 3.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 10:30am

Tim White Each local Church in the NT were autonomous apart from the apostolic authority given by Christ to twelve men.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 10:33am

Ed Chait Thanks Tim. Do you believe “Church” ever refers to a nebulous (to us anyway) global body of saved believers?

Like · Reply · December 14 at 10:33am

Tim White I do not think we will be judged as a universal Church, challenged as a universal Church, nor can we function like a universal Church until we be unified after the rapture. The instructions for each NT Church (Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesians, Laodicia, etc) were too specific and limited to that particular congregation.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 10:36am

Tim White I know this is an unpopular stance, and I certainly will not be dogmatic about it, and hopefully not obnoxious. But this is where I land in my study.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 10:37am

Dean Revell I think we will be unified after the general resurrection; there will be nothing to cause division in the eternal state.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 10:38am

Ed Chait Good discussion, thanks brethren.

Like · Reply · December 14 at 10:41am

Joe Maxey Here’s some more food for thought on this matter…Church
The word translated “church” in the English Bible is ekklesia. This word is the Greek words kaleo (to call), with the prefix ek (out). Thus, the word means “the called out ones.” However, the English word “church” does not come from ekklesia but from the word kuriakon, which means “dedicated to the Lord.” This word was commonly used to refer to a holy place or temple. By the time of Jerome’s translation of the New Testament from Greek to Latin, it was customary to use a derivative of kuriakon to translate ekklesia. Therefore, the word church is a poor translation of the word ekklesia since it implies a sacred building, or temple. A more accurate translation would be “assembly” because the term ekklesia was used to refer to a group of people who had been called out to a meeting. It was also used as a synonym for the word synagogue, which also means to “come together,” i.e. a gathering. “Body of Christ” Since believers have been united with Christ through spiritual baptism, they are sometimes corporately referred to as the body of Christ. (Rom. l2:4-5; 1 Cor. l2:11,13,l8,27; Col. l:l8; Eph. 5:30) The idea seems to be that the group of Christians in the world constitute the physical representation of Christ on earth. It is also a metaphor which demonstrates the interdependence of members in the church, while at the same time demonstrating their diversity from one another. (Rom. 12:4; 1 Cor. 12:14-17)
The Temple of God
(1 Cor. 3:l6; Eph. 2:2l,22; 1 Pet. 2:5).
The Jerusalem From Above or The Heavenly Jerusalem
(Gal. 4:26; Heb. l2:22). Both of these terms (as well as “temple”) illustrate how the Old Testament notions of outward sanctuary have been replaced with the literal dwelling of God in his people.
Bride of Christ or Christ’s Betrothed
(Eph. 5:25-32; 2 Cor. 11:2). These titles refer to the love and loyalty existing between Christ and believers.
– See more at: http://www.xenos.org/classes/um1-1a.htm#sthash.sz4TVJJ7.dpuf

The New Testament Definition of the Church

Definition: The Universal Church derives its definition…

XENOS.ORG|BY DENNIS MCCALLUM

Like · Reply · Remove Preview · 1 · December 14 at 10:42am

Tim White Joe, isn’t it true that most people understand the word “Church” based on what they see, experience and learn instead of where the word comes from? Language evolves and I would dare say that the word Church today represents a called out group more than it does a location of gathering by common usage.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 10:46am

Joe Maxey Yes, but word and usage evolution is critical to understanding historical and in this particular case, exegesis.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 11:20am

Tim White Yes, I agree. It was a poor choice when chosen. It is important for us theologs to understand that today.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 11:23am

Joseph Ford Along with everything else in the Bible, it depends on context, context, context.

Like · Reply · December 14 at 7:15pm

Ed Chait Hi Joseph. I agree that it depends on context, but there are Christians who believe that Church *always* refers to the local church. Not the building, but the local church body of believers. That’s why I’m curious about the question.

Like · Reply · December 14 at 7:35pm

Joseph Ford Ed, I agree. Just look at the Catholics. They believe “Church” only refers to Catholics. We Protestants are “separated brethren.”

Like · Reply · 1 · December 14 at 8:05pm

Alyson Dreyer Unless directed to a specific church, I see church as the universal church, all believers since the Resurrection Pentecost until the rapture.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 15 at 1:08pm

Ed Chait I’m still trying to figure out the possible repercussions of believing that church strictly refers to the local church. Not really coming up with much of anything.

Like · Reply · December 15 at 4:21pm

Tim White Well, the low hanging fruit is that there is no hierarchy in the denomination. A pastor in one local congregation does not authority over another congregation or the members of another Church. On the other hand, the members of a local Church MAY be unwilling to fellowship with other Christians because they are not local members (but those are the extreme).

Like · Reply · 1 · December 15 at 4:24pm

Ed Chait Yes, I think it would tend to make local churches less willing to fellowship with other local churches, or at least be more selective about what churches to do stuff with. That could be a pro or a con.

Like · Reply · December 15 at 4:55pm · Edited

Tim White There is a problem with the “us vs. them” syndrome, but that is going to exist until we are redeemed as long as humans are members of a Church.

Like · Reply · 1 · December 15 at 4:59pm

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Discussion on usage of “church” in the New Testament

Ed Chait

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