How the Word "Church" is Used in the New Testament
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Written by Tim Harris
Published: 21 September 2012
Bible and notebook
In this article, I attempt a comprehensive look into how the word "church" is used in the New Testament (NT).
This is an important study in modern times because society has redefined the English word "church" and this makes it challenging to separate what is from what should be.
"Church" Defined
In the NT, the Holy Spirit used a single Greek word that we translate "church:" ἐκκλησίᾳ (ekklesia)—along with five variations.
Strong's Concordance defines this word as "an assembly, congregation, church; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers."
In total, this word is found 114 times in the NT.
Ekklesia is comprised of two Greek words: ek, which means "out from and to", and kaléō, which means "to call." In other words, the word literally means "the called out" or, when applied specifically to Jesus' church, "the called out of the world and to Jesus."
Similarly, regarding the word ekklesia, Vine notes:
[Ekklesia] has two applications to companies of Christians, (a) to the whole company of the redeemed throughout the present era...(b) in the singular number (e.g., Matt. 18:17, RV marg., "congregation"), to a company consisting of professed believers..."
The word "church" appears three times in the gospels, all of them in Matthew.
The first use occurs with Peter's "great confession" that Jesus is indeed the Christ (the Messiah) of GOD.
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
(Matt. 16:13-20 NIV)
Here, Jesus establishes that He has one church—a point that Paul later echoed in Eph. 4:4-6 ("there is one body").
The other two gospel occurrances of "church" are found in Matthew 18. In this context, Jesus is teaching on how to handle situations where our brother sins against us.
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
(Matt. 18:15-20 NIV)
This text can be somewhat tricky, in my opinion, to properly discern.
If we back up to Matt. 18:1, we see that this conversation originates because the disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
With Jesus having died, risen from the grave, and ascended to heaven, the kingdom of heaven was ready! In Acts 1, the 120 disciples were together in Jerusalem. In Acts 2, on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends just as Jesus had promised, upon the disciples. That same day, 3,000 souls were baptized into Jesus and He added each of them to His church (Acts 2:38-47).
In these early days, it seems that all (or nearly all) the Christians were located in Jerusalem (Acts 6:7). After the martyrdom of Stephen, Saul of Tarsus began severely persecuting the church (Acts 8:1, 3), which caused the Christians to scatter throughout Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles who remained in Jerusalem.
The Christians went everywhere preaching Jesus.
In Samaria, Philip the evangelist performed miracles and many Samaritans believed and were baptized (Acts 8:4-13).
At that point, there were Christians in Jerusalem and Samaria, as well as those who had scattered to the surrounding region. Next we see that an Ethiopian official became a Christian (Acts 8:26-39). Then Philip preached in Azotus and each city until he arrived in Caesarea (Acts 8:40).
Saul heard of Christians in Damascus (Syria) and went on a crusade to erradicate them, but Jesus intervened.
Upon repenting and fasting three days, Jesus sent a local Christian named Ananias with a message for Saul. Saul obeyed, submitting to baptism, and immediately joined the Christians in Damascus (Acts 9:1-22).
So, it had become clear at this point that Jesus' church had spread far beyond the city of Jerusalem.
In Acts 9:31, we find the first plural use of the word "church."
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
(Acts 9:31 NKJV)
Interestingly, the NKJV translates the word "churches," whereas the NIV, NASB, and AMP (and perhaps other translations) translate the word "church." The YLT version uses the word "assemblies."
It's important to note that this is still the word ekklesia that the Spirit used. In context, it seems more likely to me that this is a reference to the Christians throughout these regions of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, rather than specific individual assemblies in the areas.
Here's the difference:
It's either:
"The entire body of Christ—all the saved—in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified."
Or:
"The individual congregations of Christians in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified."
In this case, regardless of our understanding, we get the message. However, in other passages, how we interpret the use of the word "church" can impact our understanding of what the Scripture is saying.
I don't mean to over-complicate things, but this distinction really matters.
church 400 clr 8894We shouldn't assume all Christians in a town or city (always) assembled together.
We shouldn't assume all Christians in a town or city (always) assembled together.
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Culture has a tendency to significantly impact our individual perception of "church."
While today the norm in many societies is for Christians to meet together in a church-owned building, this was not so in the first century.
Except for the very early days where the church in Jerusalem sometimes met in the temple courts, the majority of the assemblies we read about in the NT are in people's homes.
Meeting in homes, in most situations, necessitates smaller group sizes.
Thus, a Scripture reference to "the church in Samaria," for example, does not necessarily mean "the one congregation of Christians in Samaria that always met together." More on this later.
In Acts 11:19-22, we learn that some Christians scattered at Stephen's martyrdom had traveled to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, and "a great number" became Christians.
In verses 25-26, we find that Saul and Barnabas assembled "with the church" in Antioch for one year.
Does this mean that all Christians in Antioch met together, or simply that Saul and Barnabas met with the various congregations in the city of Antioch?
Acts 13:1-3 seems to indicate that the Antioch Christians all met together, at least on this occasion. Unfortunately, we just don't know. What we shouldn't do, however, is assume with certainty.
As Paul and Barnabas traveled back through the cities of Lystra, Iconium and Antioch of Pisidia, strengthening the new Christians, they "appointed elders in every church" (Acts 14:21-23).
Here, the word "church" seems to be a reference to specific assemblies of Christians. Yet, Paul later told Titus (Titus 1:5) to appoint elders in every city, so it is possible Acts 14:23 could be referring to appointing elders among the Christians in each area, or it could be an indication that there was one assembly of Christians who always met together in these locations.
Upon returning to Antioch of Syria, Paul and Barnabas called the church together (Acts 14:26-27; clearly a reference to all Christians in the city, regardless of whether they all regularly met as one group or multiple).
Sometime after their return to Antioch, Christians from Judea came to Antioch, teaching that Christians must be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas argued against this false doctrine, and they eventually agreed to go ask the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
In Acts 15:3-4, we find that "the church" sent Paul and Barnabas on their way, and, upon arriving in Jerusalem, they were greeted by "the church," along with the apostles and elders.
In my understanding, both of these uses are referring to the assembled Christians in Antioch (verse 3) and Jerusalem (verse 4). The Jerusalem church (i.e., all the saints in Jerusalem) would almost certainly have been too numerous to have all assembled as a single congregation for regular collective worship. I conclude that the word "church" in Acts 15:22 is likely referring to the assembled group of Christians who had come to witness and participate in the discussion over this specific matter.
Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
(Acts 15:22)
A long time after returning to Antioch, Paul chose Silas to accompany him in revisiting the Christians "in every city" (Acts 15:36) and they went through Syria and Cilicia and strengthened "the churches."
Like Acts 9:31, the plural form of "church" is translated, but in this case there is more agreement among translations, with NKJV, NASB, NIV and AMP all using the word "churches." YLT translates the word "assemblies."
Regardless, the point seems clearly to be that Paul and Silas traveled around to encourage the Christians at each place, taking the letter from the Jerusalem elders and the apostles, as they went, and strengthened "the churches" (Acts 16:5).
Later, after trips to numerous places, including the region of Galatia and Macedonia, Paul returned to Antioch, strengthening the church at Caesarea along the way (Acts 18:22).
And the last two uses of the word "church" in the book of Acts are found in Acts 20. In Acts 20:17, Paul called for the "elders of the church" in Ephesus.
Upon meeting these men, Paul reminded them to shepherd the "church of God" over which the Holy Spirit had made them overseers (Acts 20:28).
(In the following sections, I cover the uses of "church" in the NT letters as they are ordered in our Bibles instead of as they were written chronologically.)
Interestingly, the letter to the Romans is addressed:
7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people...
(Rom. 1:7 NIV)
The letter is not sent to a single congregation, but to the saints in the city. In fact, Paul doesn't use the word "church" until the closing comments of Romans.
In the final chapter, the word "church" occurs five times. This chapter gives us significant insight into the church at Rome, as well as an indication as to how the church might have been organized in other locations.
1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
In verse 1, what is clear is that Phoebe is a Christian who served the saints in Cenchrea (a town near Corinth) and, apparently, had recently arrived (or would be soon arriving) there in Rome—the location of the Christians to whom Paul was writing. Additionally, it is obvious that Paul knew Phoebe, her reputation and her plans, indicating he was in the area at the time. (Paul apparently wrote Romans from the city of Corinth, during his three-month stay in Greece prior to his trip to Jerusalem [see Acts 19:29-20:4; Rom. 15:22-29].)
Is Paul saying that Pheobe is a servant of the Lord's body who happens to live in Cencrea? Or, is he saying that Phoebe is a servant of the (one) assembly in the town of Cenchrea? It seems more likely to me that Paul is saying, "...Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the portion of Jesus' church that lives in Cenchrea...", as opposed to "...a servant of the [one] assembly in Cenchrea...". However, both could easily be true.
In verses 3-4, Paul instructed the Christians in Rome to greet the church that is in Aquila and Priscilla's house. The word church here seems to be referring to a specific congregation—those who assembled at Aquila and Priscilla's house.
Continuing on, Paul wrote:
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. ...
23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.
(Rom. 16:1-16, 23)
In verse 14 and 15, Paul seems to be pointing to two additional congregations (assemblies; churches), probably meeting in two of the mentioned saints' homes. This is strong evidence that the "church in Rome," as we might verbalize it, was comprised of multiple congregations. (Interestingly, the phrase "church in/of/at Rome" is not contained in Scripture.)
In verse 16, the phrase "The churches of Christ greet you" seems to indicate that the location where Paul was when he was writing (Corinth) was also comprised of multiple assemblies. Yet, in verse 23, Paul says Gaius was "the host of the whole church," so it could be that there was one congregation in the city of Corinth and others in the surrounding area, such as in Cencrea. Again, we simply don't know.
As even a child could read, the Bible is chalk full of references to the church. Sadly, certain “adults” who wanna be teachers of the law but don’t know what they’re talking about and with a grip against the church wanna put every church in the same box and condemn them altogether! Very sad indeed
Dave, once again you post something from a book that a man had written. When will you post something that the Holy Spirit had revealed to you psrsonally as you personally read and studied the Word of GOD Almighty.
Dave, by posting this, you show that you do not read or study the Word of GOD Almighty, you only read books written by men about the Word of GOD Almighty
Now just one more time, the 501C3 Tax exempt business called 'church' cannot be found anywhere in the Scriptures, yet you want to continue to defend an organization which is not in the Scriptures, and is not of GOD Almighty.
Dave, i know you do not want the truth, but the truth is what will set you free to Worshipping GOD Almighty in Spirit and in truth.
It’s not surprising you missed all the scripture in the article. One of the reasons you believe so many false teachings is because you won’t read anything that challenges your false opinions.
Earlier you condemned moonlight. You called her “dim”.
In other posts you condemn such behavior in other people but whenever you do it, then its just fine. That kinda puts you right up there with all the other hypocrites Jesus confronted.
Once again, in all this time, you still can’t understand your own silly comments and how they often contradict and self-destruct.
For example, you condemn articles written by other people simply because the people are human. Quiz, you’re also human !! Can’t you see the obvious contradiction ⁉️⁉️ I’ve been trying to help you with this before your name was The Quiz ‼️
So your rule for everybody else is: “don’t read anybody else just what I write”.
Dave, i have not once seen you post anything the Holy Spirit has revealed to you.
Messiah says that He, the Holy Spirit will take what is Messiahs and make that known to you.
That being said, when will you post something, anything, the Holy Spirit revealed to you personally, as you have personally read and studied the Word of GOD Almighty for yourself.
Oh, thats right, you do not believe the Holy Spirit is capable of revealing anything to anyone today.
Quiz posts - Oh, that's right, you do not believe the >>>Holy Spirit is capable<<< of revealing anything to anyone today.
Not only that Quiz but David claims the set apart >>>Holy Spirit >of< the Father is IN-capable of keeping people from sinning on a daily basis!
But then it makes sense when you understand that David teaches the heresy of continual sinning perfectionism! Imagine Quiz, what heaven will be like for David, for the more he sins the more perfect he is!!!
Oh wait, he will not be there because the saints will be worshipping on the Sabbath (Isaiah 66:23!) and David keeps BAAL day or SUN-day and is NOT a saint then!
David posts -' As even a child could read, the Bible is chalk full of references to the church'
REALLY DAVID! NO KIDDING?
David try to at least once pay attention to the subject here in this thread!
THERE IS NO DISAGREEMENT that the Bible clearly says there is YHWH Church mentioned MANY times in the Bible but the discussion IS YHWH's Church NO LONGER exist in CULT denominations but in ONLY homes Churches today! Got it now Einstein???
So your article you post while hiding under your bed is irrelevant to the topic junior of WHICH 'church' is clearly described in the Bible! GEESH!
HERE ARE THEY THAT KEEP THE COMMANMENTS OF YHWH >>>and<<< HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF THE MESSIAH!
" But then it makes sense when you understand that David teaches the heresy of continual sinning perfectionism! Imagine Quiz, what heaven will be like for David, for the more he sins the more perfect he is!!! " -- Fix-A-Flat Teddy
Once again dear readers Teddy bugs is claiming sinless perfectionism on this side of eternity. Truth is only Jesus Christ for his 33 years on Earth could claim sinless perfectionism on this side of eternity because he's God
In typical cultist fashion Teddy bugs is claiming to be God by claiming to be sinless and by this doing so helping to fulfill the prophetic warnings from Jesus Christ himself that there would be false messiah's in the last days
Matthew 24:5
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many
Got it now Einstein??? 