{"id":531,"date":"2021-05-20T20:44:02","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T20:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/angelobiblestudy.com\/?page_id=531"},"modified":"2021-05-20T20:47:25","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T20:47:25","slug":"jesus-gives-church-meaning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/angelobiblestudy.com\/?page_id=531","title":{"rendered":"Jesus Gives “Church” Meaning"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Jesus Gives \"Church\" Meaning<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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by Eric Lyons, M. Min.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Greek word\u00a0ekklesia<\/i>, translated as \u201cchurch\u201d in most English Bibles, simply means \u201cassembly.\u201d In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, \u201cI will build my church (ekklesia<\/i>).\u201d Hence, we could read this verse, \u201cI (Jesus) will build my assembly.\u201d Paul wrote, \u201cThe churches of Christ salute you\u201d (Romans 16:16). Again, this world translated \u201cchurches\u201d could be translated \u201cassemblies.\u201d<\/p>

Interestingly, the same term used in the two verses above (ekklesia<\/i>) also is used at times in reference to secular assemblies. For example, in Acts 19:32 the term\u00a0ekklesia<\/i>\u00a0is used to speak of the mob at Ephesus. The text reads: \u201cSome therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly (ekklesia<\/i>) was confused.\u201d<\/p>

One might ask, \u201cHow do I know if the text is speaking about a secular assembly or the church?\u201d Answer: The modifying words in the context of a particular passage are what make it possible to distinguish the kind of assembly to which the Bible writers were referring. We know that the assemblies Paul mentioned in Romans 16:16 are churches because\u00a0ekklesia<\/i>\u00a0is modified by the phrase \u201cof Christ<\/b>.\u201d Likewise, in Acts 20:28, we know the assembly mentioned is the church because it is modified by the phrase, \u201cof<\/b>\u00a0God<\/b>, which\u00a0he<\/b>\u00a0hath purchased with\u00a0his<\/b>\u00a0own blood\u201d (emp. added). The word \u201cassembly\u201d is set apart from secular assemblies in these passages because the context points to a group of people owned by Christ.<\/p>

The religious world needs to understand that\u00a0Jesus is the one who gives\u00a0ekklesia<\/i>meaning<\/b>. When mere human names and terms are placed alongside \u201cchurch,\u201d then the name no longer possesses the meaning that God intended for it to have. Christians should wear the name of Christ (and Christ only) because He purchased the church (Acts 20:28) and said it was His (Matthew 16:18).<\/p>

Without the work of Jesus, nothing would separate us from man-made assemblies. He gave\u00a0ekklesia<\/i>\u00a0a new meaning in the first century, and continues to give it meaning today when we wear His name.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jesus Gives “Church” Meaning by Eric Lyons, M. Min.\u00a0 The Greek word\u00a0ekklesia, translated as \u201cchurch\u201d in most English Bibles, simply means \u201cassembly.\u201d In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, \u201cI will build my church (ekklesia).\u201d Hence, we could read this verse, \u201cI (Jesus) will build my assembly.\u201d Paul wrote, \u201cThe churches of Christ salute you\u201d (Romans 16:16). […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-531","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","wpbf-post"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t