the Word 'church'

[wattie720]

Anyone ever really thought about where this word comes from?

Anyone ever really thought about where the idea of a universal church comes from-- either invisible or visible?

from my studies-- neither the word church.. nor a universal church comes from the original translations in Greek.

King James ordered the words 'assembly' and 'congregation' be ruled out of the KJV1611........ but these words were far more closely aligned to a NT christian assembly than the word 'church'.. which has been twisted to have so many meanings.

A huge amount of christians speak of teh word 'Church' with a big C.. referring to all believers.. but where in the bible is this? All believers in the bible are part of the Kingdom and Family of God.

The body of Christ-- in the Greek........ has no 'the' in front of it. What does this mean? Body of Christ is a local body of believers.. a local christian assembly or congregation.. not ever believer..

It can't be both local and universal.. the bible defines it one way only. The body of Christ IS the church.

In Ephesians-- 'there is one body...' this is referring to the local body at Ephesus.. not all believers. You can also remove 'there is'-- that is an insertion.

Anyway

Consider that the word church-- assembly or congregation should really be there instead

And body of Christ-- is not a universal thing.. but either figurative for the institution of Jesus' many independent local christian assemblies or is just referring to the local assembly in the NT book it is mentioning (ie.. the body at Ephesus.. or the body at Corinth)

The Dog-- this is not one universal dog.. but representative of all independent dogs.

The Bar-- not one universal bar.. but representative of all independent bars.. and most likely referring ot the one down the road from your house!

The Horse-- same as teh dog-- representative of all individual horses.. but not one universal horse.

The Hospital--- same as The Bar

etc etc

A body of Christ-- a local christian assembly of saved baptised believers.. covenanted together to carry out the Great Commission and Great Commandment.


The body of Christ-- as above.. or representative for all local, independent assemblies. Like a CEO over many different McDonald's restaurants.

[Robert R. Higby]

Michael,

Most of us here at p-net would agree with you that the word 'church' as commonly used in evangelical circles is reprehensible. In the jargon of most people, it does not describe the regenerate people of God at all but a mere religious institution. The use of the word itself is fine, however, it needs to be recognized that the common use refers to 'an institution of religion'--whether Roman Catholic, Protestant, sectarian, Jew, Buddhist, Mormon, JW, Hindu, Muslim, agnostic, or atheist. It doesn't refer to a body of regenerate believers at all & has NOTHING to do with the EKKLESIA of Christ as established the New Testament.

I agree with congregation, company, congress, assembly, senate, gathering, etc. as the real meaning. At the local level this refers ONLY to the elect regenerate saints--whether it is the elect within a family assembled at home, any two or three elect gathered in Christ's name, or a larger body assembled (but excluding false professors in the midst of such a congregation).

I strongly disagree, however, that the local assembly is the only EKKLESIA taught in the NT. Any local manifestation is simply representative of all elect of all ages--the true EKKLESIA--which is what Paul refers to in Ephesians. Any interpretation that goes contrary to this universal meaning is strained to the point of ignoring the true heart and soul what the real body of Christ's elect (assembled at all times and places universally in Christ--though not existentially in the current age) consists of.